Tipp continue strong start by easing past Cavan

LADIES FOOTBALL: LIDL National League Division 2 Round 2

Tipperary 3-13

Cavan 0-10

Report: Michael Dundon at Fethard Town Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Aisling Moloney (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Aisling Moloney 1-7 (1-0 pen, 0-4 frees); Emma Morrissey 1-1; Roisin Daly 1-0; Ava Fennessy 0-2; Niamh Martin, Marie Creedon, Sarah Ryan 0-1 each.

Cavan: Lauren McVeety 0-6; Aisling Gilsenan 0-3 (2 frees); Aisling Walls 0-1.

An eleven-point winning margin flattered Tipperary but the merit of their success over Cavan in the second round of the National Football League on Sunday was beyond question.

Two wins from two games has Peter Creedon’s squad sitting pretty at the top of the table with Roscommon next up as the Premier ladies further their bid to reclaim division one status.

All the indications are that they will be very much in the frame when the honours are being decided, though there is still a considerable way to go yet.

The growing popularity of the ladies game was reflected in the fine attendance at the magnificent all-weather facility in Fethard with Tipp making the running from the start.

Aisling Moloney was Tipp’s trump card in attack, her class standing out a mile, but she had quality players all around her with Anna Rose Kennedy, a powerful, strong-running midfielder, Marie Creedon mixing defensive and attacking duties effectively, and Cliona O’Dwyer tenacious in defensive and constructive in setting up attacks.

Ava Hennessy too was causing Cavan defence problems and it was she who opened Tipp’s account, to which Aisling Moloney quickly added two points as Tipp moved 0-3 to 0-1 clear after nine minutes.

Lauren McVeety was Cavan’s main inspiration in attack and she notched three first half points but Tipperary were always that bit more creative and with Emma Morrissey, Marie Creedon, Sarah Ryan and the irrepressible Aisling Moloney finding their range confidently, Tipperary went in at half-time 0-9 to 0-5 ahead.

It was by no means an unbridgeable gap for Cavan and Aisling Wall’s early point on resuming raised their hopes, but Tipp were in no mood to relinquish their grip. After Ava Fennessy and Aisling Moloney had Tipp points came the decisive moment of the game when midfielder Niamh Martin was dragged to the ground as she bore down on goal. Cavan goalie Elaine Walsh got her hand to Aisling Moloney’s penalty but could not prevent it reaching the net to give Tipp a 1-11 to 0-7 lead, twelve minutes into the second half.

Aisling Sheridan had a great goal chance for Cavan shortly afterwards but blazed wide. Tipp were containing the opposition and they finally put the game to bed in the 55th minute when Emma Morrissey finished a fine Tipp move with a simple tap-in for a 2-12 to 0-9 lead.

The icing on the cake was sub Roisin Daly’s goal, four minutes into added time, Aisling Moloney being the provider, and rounding off a huge personal contribution to the win.

Unbeaten after two rounds, Tipperary are riding the crest of the wave, but more testing opposition lies ahead. Clearly manager Peter Creedon has his charges physically and mentally in a good place and the hope is that these wins will boost confidence and morale to facilitate a speedy return to the top tier in the league. Tipp fans left Fethard on Sunday in buoyant mood and justifiably so.

This is a good Tipperary squad, with quality to come off the bench also, and the manager used eight subs on Sunday, giving valuable match-time to the fringe players. However in Aisling Moloney Tipperary have a magnificent leader whose athleticism and skill on the ball will bother any opposition, even in the higher division. Despite receiving considerable attention from the Cavan defence, she had a stormer, not just taking scores, but creating them for colleagues as well.

Midfielder Anna Rose Kennedy put in a mighty shift, her strong running into the heart of the Cavan defence drawing fouls and creating chances. Marie Creedon’s influence grew with the game, her linking between defence and attack crucial to the Tipp counter-attacks, while Cliona O’Dwyer was another to have huge influence on the outcome, her pace and tenacity nipping many Cavan attacks in the bud.

These were not alone in furthering the Tipp cause. Emma Morrissey, a late inclusion, justified her selection with a strong performance while captain Maria Curley, Lucy Spillane and Ava Fennessy were others to catch the eye.

Cavan, who were suffering their second defeat, did not deserve to be as much behind at the finish and up to Tipperary’s second goal were still in with a chance. However, lapses in front of goal, from play and frees, did not help their cause and they can have no complaint about the outcome. Lauren McVeety and Aisling Gilsenan were key figures in attack while Shauna Lynch, Neassa Byrd, and Ciara Brady also played their hearts out.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry 6); Maria Curley (Templemore 7), Emma Morrissey (Aherlow), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers 6); Nora Martin (Sliabh na mBan 6), Lucy Spillane (Fethard 7), Cliona O’Dwyer (Brian Borus 7); Ann Rose Kennedy (Aherlow 7), Niamh Martin (Sliabh na mBan 6); Neassa Towey (Templemore 6), Marie Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields 7), Sarah Ryan (Arravale Rovers 6); Ava Fennessy (Clonmel Commercials 7), Aisling Moloney (Cahir 9), Clara English (Ardfinnan 6).

Subs: Elaine Kelly (Cappawhite 6) for English (42); Angela McGuigan (Eadestown 6) for Ryan (47); Sarah English (Ardfinnan 6) for Niamh Martin (49); Maureen Murphy (Brian Borus 6) for Towey (56), Roisin Daly (Moyne-Templetuohy 7) for Fennessy (56); Nicole Shelley (Mullinahone 6) for Nora Martin (56); Laura Morrissey (Brian Borus 6) for O’Dwyer (60); Niamh Mackey (Clonmel Commercials 6) for Spillane (60).

Cavan: Elaine Walsh (6); Shauna Lynch (6), Ciara Brady (6), Christina Charters (6); Anna Dencher (6), Neasa Byrd (7), Deirbhile Lynch (6); Ally Cahill (7), Aisling Sheridan (6); Aisling Walls (6), Lauren McVeety (8), Keri McCormack (6); Ciara Finnegan (6), Niamh Keenaghan (7), Aisling Gilsenan (7).

Subs: Geraldine Smith (6) for McCormack (44); Aisling Doughty (6) for Walls (50); Muireann Smith (6) for Gilsenan (57); Muireann Cusack (6) for Finnegan (57), Aine Reilly (6) for Brady (59).

Referee: Patrick Smith (Waterford)