What could have been for Tipp after another one-point defeat

The proverbial dead-rubber, this Ladies Football National League Division 2 final round tie on Sunday belied its status. It was a thriller with both sides going hell for leather to secure the points on offer and third place in the final standings.

LADIES FOOTBALL: Lidl National League Division 2 Round 7

Tipperary 3-4

Donegal 2-8

Report: Michael Dundon at Fethard Town Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Anna Rose Kennedy (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Tipperary: Angela McGuigan, Neassa Towey, Marie Creedon 1-0 each; Anna Rose Kennedy, Aisling Moloney (1 free) 0-2 each.

Donegal: Susanne White 0-6 (3 frees); Niamh McLoughlin, Katie Herron 1-0 each; Niamh Boyle, Katie Long 0-1 each.

Neither could make promotion and both were free of relegation worries but with the provincial championships around the corner it was a contest which should prime both for their next outings, Tipp against Kerry in Munster, and Donegal against Armagh in Ulster.

Donegal shaded the verdict, but it could so easily have gone Tipp’s way. In injury time, trailing by a point, Tipp’s Angela McGuigan got through one-on-one with Donegal goalkeeper Clare Friel but the Sliabh na mBan striker went for a winning goal, rather than the easy point on offer to draw, only to see her well-struck effort smothered by the custodian.

Tipperary were certainly worth a share of the spoils, if not their fourth win in their seven game campaign. In earlier games scoring had not come easy but on Sunday they hit Donegal for three first half goals as they established a half-time lead of 3-1 to 1-3. The first came after seven minutes when the impressive Angela McGuigan confidently finished a four-girl move to put Tipp ahead 1-0 to 0-1.

Their joy was short-lived as three minutes later, Katie Herron split the Tipp defence to give Ciara Dwan in the Tipp goal no chance but two minutes afterwards Tipp had another green flag, Neassa Towey receiving from Marie Creedon to strike home for a 2-0 to 1-1 advantage.

It was end-to-end stuff that fully engaged the gathering. Susanne White pointed a Donegal free to which Ailing Moloney responded for Tipp, also from a free, and in the 22nd minute Tipp completed their hat-trick of first half goals with Marie Creedon applying the finishing touch, punishing slack Donegal defending.

At half-time Tipperary led 3-1 to 1-3, having seen an Ailing Moloney free come off the timber just before half-time. How valuable that possible point would have been later on!

Tipp were the better side in the third quarter but five wides and a few shots falling short denied them the scores that would have put daylight between them and the Donegal girls.

Tipp were 3-3 to 1-6 ahead after 48 minutes when they had goalkeeper Ciara Dwan dismissed for hauling down a Donegal forward. She was replaced by the experienced Lauren Fitzpatrick with Marie Creedon, the outfield player, sacrificed to introduce the sub goalie.

Donegal took full advantage of their extra player, hitting two points before Niamh McLaughlin, their best player, punished a Tipp turn-over to race through for a 54th minute goal that put them 2-8 to 3-3 ahead.

Advantage Donegal but Tipp fought like tigers and after Donegal had Shannon McLaughlin sidelined, Aisling Moloney blazed over the bar when a goal might well have come on the hour mark.

Still Tipp pushed forward and when a mix-up in the Donegal defence presented Angela McGuigan with the chance, she bore down on goal but her effort for a green flag was smothered by the Donegal goalie.

This was the fourth time in this campaign that Tipp lost by a point, which, along with their three wins, indicates clearly that Tipp are comfortable at this level and with a modicum of good fortune might have moved up a division. With the Munster championship just around the corner they are in a good spot to grapple with big guns Cork and Kerry.

Anna Rose Kennedy had a powerful game at midfield, doing an enormous amount of fetching and carrying in addition to hitting two points from play. Aisling Moloney was closely watched by Donegal, but she was still Tipp’s go-to player. Angela McGuigan was another to work her socks off while goalie Ciara Dwan, clubmate Katelyn Downey, along with Laura Morrissey, Maria Curley, Neassa Towey and Marie Creedon also made significant contributions for Tipp.

In Niamh McLaughlin, Donegal had a player of exceptional ability and with a phenomenal work-rate. Susanne White, Evelyn McGinley, Roisin Rodgers, and Niamh Boyle were others to turn in top-drawer performances for them.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Ciara Dwan (Boherlahan-Dualla 6); Cliona O’Dwyer (Brian Borus 6), Nora Martin (Sliabh na mBan 7), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers 6); Sarah English (Ardfinnan 6), Maria Curley (Templemore, Capt 6), Katelyn Downey (Boherlahan-Dualla 7); Laura Morrissey (Brian Borus 7), Anna Rose Kennedy (Aherlow 9); Heather Spillane (Fethard 6), Aisling Moloney (Cahir 7); Anna Downey (Cahir 6); Neassa Towey (Templemore 6), Angela McGuigan (Sliabh na mBan 7), Marie Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields 6).

Subs: Emma Morrissey (Aherlow 6) for Downey (HT); Clara English (Ardfinnan 6) for Spillane (HT), Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry 6) for Creedon (47); Emer McCarthy (Galtee Rovers 6) for O’Dwyer (52).

Donegal: Clare Friel (7); Shannon McLaughlin (6), Laoise Ryan (6), Evelyn McGinley (6); Caoimhe Keon (7), Patrice Boyle (7), Tara Hegarty (6); Roisin Rodgers (6), Niamh Boyle (6); Jodie McFadden (6), Niamh McLaughlin (8), Katie Long (6); Susanne White (7), Katie Herron (6), Amy Boyle-Carr (6).

Subs: Lezza Cunningham (6) for P Boyle (42).

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).