Tipp’s focus on Donegal after Galway loss
LADIES FOOTBALL: TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Group 1 Round 1
Galway 1-13
Tipperary 0-7
Report: Darren Kelly at Tuam Stadium
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Olivia Divilly (Galway)
SCORERS - Galway: Olivia Divilly 0-5 (1 free); Kate Slevin 0-4 (2 frees); Leanne Coen 1-0; Ailbhe Davoren 0-2; Louise Ward, Kate Thompson 0-1 each.
Tipperary: Aishling Moloney 0-6 (3 frees); Emma Morrissey 0-1.
Tipperary gave way to Connacht champions Galway who began their All-Ireland Senior Championship campaign with an impressive second quarter on Saturday to run out comfortable nine point victors.
The Tribeswomen did the damage with 1-8 unanswered, including Leanne Coen’s goal, to lead 1-10 to 0-1 at half-time but Tipperary put in a much improved second half display.
Galway took the stiff wind at the start and opened on two minutes with Louise Ward slotting over. Olivia Divilly also got off the mark in the sixth minute.
It wasn’t one way traffic as Tipperary dropped a couple of balls towards Aishling Moloney. Caitlin Kennedy also struck low but off target. However, a free won by Ava Fennessy on eighteen minutes led to Moloney converting a free.
That was after a seven-minute hold up when Galway attacker Shauna Hynes was injured. Her replacement was 2024 captain Ailbhe Davoren who also played a pivotal role.
The key score was the goal on 22 minutes. Divilly, Nicola Ward and Davoren played a part before the latter passed across to the unmarked Coen who kicked to the net. And from there, the hosts proceeded to dominate.
Kate Thompson, Divilly (2) and Davoren made it 1-6 to 0-1 as Tipperary struggled with kick outs. That being said, they did drop three dangerous balls towards the opposing square, but keeper Dearbhla Gower showed good hands.
At the other end, Galway added four more white flags starting with Divilly that could have been a goal. Kate Slevin added two points either side of Davoren’s second.
Slevin tallied straight after the restart, but Galway only managed three scores during the period. Slevin got the second on 43 minutes before Divilly struck her fifth in injury time.
Tipperary will take from solace from their second half effort, though an injury to Kennedy will be a concern. Moloney delivered five points, three from play, while Emma Morrissey punched the air after slotting one over from the right.
Moloney also twice went for goal, once hitting the crossbar. But Galway’s first half display was enough to take the win before heading to Donegal in seven days while Tipperary have two weeks to prepare to host the Ulster side where a win will see them into an All-Ireland quarter final.
TEAMS – Galway: Dearbhla Gower; Bronagh Quinn, Sarah Ní Loingsigh, Kate Geraghty (Capt); Hannah Noone, Nicola Ward, Chellene Trill; Louise Ward, Siobhan Divilly; Leanne Coen, Shauna Hynes, Kate Thompson; Emme Noone, Olivia Divilly, Kate Slevin.
Subs: Ailbhe Davoren for Hynes (11 inj); Andrea Trill for Slevin (51), Lynsey Noone for Thompson (51), Aisling Madden for L Ward (54), Sophie Healy for C Trill (58).
Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry, Capt); Nora Martin (Sliabh na mBan), Lucy Spillane (Fethard), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers); Issy Carr (Holycross/Ballycahill), Maria Curley (Templemore), Sarah English (Ardfinnan); Anna Rose Kennedy (Aherlow), Caitlin Kennedy (Aherlow); Laura Morrissey (Brian Borus), Ava Ryan (Moyne-Templetuohy), Aoibhe O’Shea (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone); Angela McGuigan (St Sylvesters), Aishling Moloney (Cahir), Ava Fennessy (Clonmel Commercials).
Subs: Sinead O’Carroll (Ardfinnan) for Carr (30); Neassa Towey (Templemore) for C Kennedy (36 inj); Emma Morrissey (Aherlow) for L Morrissey (39); Nicole Shelly (Brian Borus) for O’Shea (41); Clara English (Ardfinnan) for Ryan (59).
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).