Tipp ladies face relegation clash against Kerry

TIPPERARY v KERRY

Mallow

Saturday 14th August

Throw-in @ 2.00pm

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary ladies footballers face into a trapdoor scenario for the second time in four seasons when they take on Kerry in the All-Ireland senior relegation semi-final this Saturday.

It would be a bitter disappointment if Tipperary’s stay at senior level were to last just two seasons, off the back of their previous intermediate success in 2017 seeing them stay just one season before being relegated in 2018 at the hands of Cavan.

This campaign has been blighted from the word go through injury. The cruciate knee injury to Aishling Moloney and the broken ankle sustained by Emma Morrissey in the National League game against Dublin has hampered the team massively, particularly in attack where they have struggled to put up match-winning totals.

On top of that, Ashling McCarthy hasn’t featured following a knee injury sustained towards the end of the AFLW season, but she is nearing a return and remains to be seen if she can contribute in this salvage operation.

However, Tipperary’s losses to Cork and Meath in the group stages of the championship have been put in context by the fact that both teams are through to the All-Ireland semi-finals with Meath in particular taking to the senior grade like ducks to water having come up from intermediate level just last year.

Tipperary face a Kerry side that were very competitive in their group games against Galway and Donegal, however, both those sides failed to reach an All-Ireland semi-final so Declan Carr’s charges will feel if they can get off to a positive start against the Kingdom, they can get the result they need.

There was a lot to like in the performances against Cork and Meath, but it is in front of goal where Tipperary fell short and they will need to take their chances.

Relegation playoffs bring a different form of pressure and having been through that process three years ago should stand to Tipperary who will need the likes of Orla O’Dwyer, Maria Curley and Roisin Howard to lead from the front.

With O’Dwyer and Howard also part of the Tipperary senior camogie panel preparing for an All-Ireland quarter final on Saturday week, they will be keen to get the win over Kerry to secure their senior status and go onto focus on camogie for the rest of the campaign.

If Tipperary fall to Kerry, they will have one final chance to save themselves in a relegation final against the losers of Cavan or Tyrone who meet on August 21st, Cavan being the side that relegated Tipperary in controversial fashion three years ago.