Tyrone Ladies Suffer Opening Day Defeat

Monday 02.02.2015

Club

Tyrone 2-3        Kerry 1-11

Tyrone turned in a spirited second half performance at snowy Dromore on Sunday but still came up short by five points against Kerry in their national league opener. They will take heart however from that thirty minute period and a more focussed team performance. Kerry had threatened to run riot in the opening half with Clare O’Sullivan bagging 0-4 as the visitors reached the break leading 0-9 to 0-0.

Tyrone did have first half chances but debut girl Emma Smyth and Gemma Begley missed the best of these to ensure the Red Hands went in at the break scoreless. Tyrone needed serious improvement if they were to get off the mark never mind make a game of it. Several positional and personnel changes at the break ensured that happened.

Aishing O’Kane replaced Michaela McGuigan and Angie McShane came in for Karen Quinn, Christiane Hunter went back from half back to pick up O’Sullivan with Begley and Woods linking up at midfield. Those switches had an immediate impact and Tyrone were right back in the tie when the talented Tori McLaughlin finished the ball to the Kerry net. Indeed it could have been even better for Tyrone only for two stunning saves from Kerry goalkeeper Edel Murphy during that opening spell of home pressure.

Lorraine Conwell found the net and McLaughlin and a returning Joline Donnelly hit points but at the other end Kerry responded with what proved to be a killer goal.

Hunter, Shannon Quinn at full back full back and Emma Mulgrew were outstanding in that second half ensuring the Kerry forwards had to live off scraps. O’Sullivan and Louise Galvin were held scoreless in a much improved second half showing as Tyrone displayed the sort of battling qualities that will be needed if they are to survive in this division.

Tyrone scorers Tori McLaughlin 1-1, Lorraine Conwell 1-0, Joline Donnelly 0-2

Kerry Scorers Claire O’Sullivan 0-4 , Megan O’Connell 1-0, Louise Ni Mhuirteartaigh, Jane Lynch, Aisling Leonard, Amanda Brosnan , Andrea Murphy, Louise Galvin and Sarah Houlihan all 0-1

Tyrone Shannon Lynch, Karen Quinn, Shannon Quinn, Emma Louise Mulgrew, Christiane Hunter, Neamh Woods, Maria Donnelly, Neamh O’Neill, Emma Hegarty, Michaela McGuigan, Gemma Begley, Emma Smyth, Joline Donnelly, Lorraine Conwell, Tori McLaughlin

Subs Aishling O’Kane For McGuigan, Angie McShane For Quinn (HT) Grainne Rafferty For Smyth, Clare Muldoon For Hegarty.