Tyrone Minor Ladies Settle For A Draw

Saturday 19.04.2014

Club

It ended all square in the Ulster Championship Rd 3 game between Tyrone and Monaghan played in Donaghmore on Saturday afternoon. The final score was Tyrone 3-12 Monaghan 4-9. However, this is a game that the Red Hand girls on the one hand will have been disappointed not to win but on the other hand relieved not to have been beaten.

Tyrone opened strongly with a Shannon Monaghan goal followed by points from Emma Smyth (2) and Niamh O’Neill to open up a 6 point lead after five minutes of play. Monaghan then showed their attacking threat when they pulled themselves back into the game with a goal. Tyrone responded with points from Siobhan Sheerin and Melissa McCann and were dominating possession but failed to capitalise recording several wides and  a number of times dropping the ball short into the keeper’s hands. Monaghan took advantage of a defensive lapse and dispatched the ball into the Tyrone net again to keep themselves in the game. As the Red Hands struggled to make a mark on the score board the Farney girls racked up another six points and restricted Tyrone to only two points in the second quarter of the first period to lead by two points at the break.

Whatever was said in the Tyrone changing room at half-time worked wonders for Tyrone as Siobhan Sheerin rattled the Monaghan net twice in the opening minute to once again give Tyrone the lead. Monaghan kept them selves in touch with a goal and a point from play to keep things level. Tyrone were again struggling to make scores recording several wides and easily losing possession in attacking positions. Siobhan Sheerin and Emma Smyth slotted over points from play while Sheerin added another from a free to give Tyrone a three point advantage with 15 minutes left to play. The teams then traded two points each with Emma Smyth and Niamh O’Neill scoring for Tyrone. However, just as it looked as if the Red Hands would see this game out for a win, in the dying seconds of the game Monaghan took advantage of a defensive error and put the ball in the Tyrone net to make it all square just as the referee reached for his whistle to blow full-time.

Following the game manager Kevin Bogle said “I’m happy enough to come away with a point today. This very tough game will stand to us and we know we have a lot of things to work on and improve. I’m glad that the girls are gutted not to have to have won but we remain unbeaten after 3 games and have two weeks now to prepare for our next game against Cavan”.

Team: Laura Kane, Ciara Fox, Joanne Barrett, Aileen Tuohy, Hannah Ward, Cailin McCann, Deirdre McCarroll, Meabh Mallon, Niamh O’Neill (0-2), Aimee Arnold, Emma Smyth (0-4), Grainne Rafferty, Melissa McCann (0-2), Siobhan Sheerin (2-4) Shannon Monaghan (1-0): Subs Emma Quinn