Tipp edge past Donegal to reach quarter finals

LADIES FOOTBALL: TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Group 1 Round 3

Tipperary 0-11

Donegal 1-6

Report: Michael Heverin

at Canon Hayes Park, Bansha

Tipperary never trailed as they beat Donegal by two points in the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship on Saturday to book a place in the quarter-finals against Meath.

It was Tipperary’s best display to date in both the Munster and All-Ireland campaigns, racing into a 0-4 to no score lead midway through the opening half, and restricting Donegal to a single point from play in the first half.

A much improved Donegal display brought them back to within a point at the halfway stage of the second half, 0-10 to 1-6, with a Jodie McFadden goal kickstarting the Ulster side’s revival, but Tipperary saw out the closing minutes, with a late Aisling Moloney point from a free putting a little more daylight between the sides.

A superb display from Anna Rose Kennedy helped Tipperary to 0-8 to 0-3 lead at the interval, with the Aherlow star hitting four superb points from play. Kirsty Crotty Ryan had hit their opening point in the first minute, added a second four minutes from the break, with Emma Morrissey and Aisling Moloney from a free also getting on the scoreboard.

Donegal had to wait until the nineteenth minute for their first score, a pointed free from Susanne White, and she pointed from another free a minute later. Tipperary were dominating play and restricted Donegal to half chances. The Ulster side’s first score from play didn’t come until three minutes before the half time hooter from Blaithnaid McLaughlin.

Tipperary looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they extended their lead to 0-10 to 0-3 eleven minutes into the second half, with Moloney pointing two frees.

But with the risk of the game running away from them, Donegal rallied and hit 1-3 without reply. A swift counter attack cut open the Tipp defence through the centre and Katie Dowds stroked over a lovely point. Then following a foul on Eva Gallagher, Jodie McFadden pointed the free.

The Donegal pressure on the Tipp defence was now relentless, and after a high kick came back off the upright, McFadden was first to react to shoot low past Lauren Fitzpatrick in the Tipperary goal. When McFadden pointed another free to make it 0-10 to 1-6, the alarm bells were ringing for Tipperary.

But after the pain of losing too many tight games in both league and championship this season, this time they shut up shop at the back. They held the visitors scoreless for the final quarter – Donegal were reduced to fourteen players in the closing stages with a yellow card for half-back Blaithnaid McLaughlin – with Aisling Moloney wrapping up the scoring for Tipperary.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Nora Martin, Lucy Spillane, Emma Cronin; Sarah English, Maria Curley, Clara English; Laura Morrissey, Emma Morrissey; Neassa Towey, Anna Rose Kennedy, Nicole Shelly; Angela McGuigan, Aishling Moloney, Kirsty Crotty Ryan.

Subs: Aoibhe O’Shea for Shelly (23), Ava Fennessy for Crotty Ryan (44), Issy Carr for Towey (46), Ava Ryan for McGuigan (53).

Donegal: Claire Friel; Shauna McFadden, Abigail Temple Asokuh, Sophie McFeeley; Blaithnaid McLaughlin, Evelyn McGinley, Cait Gillespie; Roisin Rodgers, Rhiana McColgan; Susanne White, Katie Dowds, Fenna McManamon; Eva Gallagher, Jodie McFadden, Niamh Boyle.

Subs: Aoife McDermott for McManamon (45), Ava Walsh for Gillespie (49), Mia Bennett for Gallagher (53), Abbie McGranaghan for White (58), Florence Naughton for Rodgers (58).

Referee: Angela McCarthy (Dublin).