Late goal sees Tipp past Kerry

LADIES FOOTBALL: Munster Minor Championship Round 1

Tipperary 3-6

Kerry 1-10

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Tipperary: Aoife Shelly 1-1; Grace Hogan 0-3 (1 free); Julie Grey, Sarah English 1-0 each; Issy Carr, Sinead O’Carroll 0-1 each.

Kerry: Muireann Teehan 0-9 (6 frees); Hannah Ni Gearailt 1-0; Anna O’Sullivan 0-1.

Tipperary got their Munster Minor Championship campaign off to the best possible start with a two point win over Kerry in Fethard Town Park on Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring just under a minute in with a well-taken point by Grace Hogan. Kerry responded with multiple attacks, but they struggled to convert with wides from Muireann Teahan and Sadhbh O’Sullivan hampering their early momentum.

As the half progressed, Tipperary found their rhythm and Julie Grey struck a crucial goal in the 23rd minute, followed by another goal minutes later from Aoife Shelly, putting Tipp in a strong position.

Kerry attempted to fight back, with points from Mary Kate Smith, Anna O’Sullivan, and Muireann Teahan keeping them in the contest. However, their inefficiency in front of goal was evident as they registered several wides throughout the half.

Kerry made an early impact at the start of the second half with a goal by Hannah Nic Gearailt in the 37th minute, giving them a significant boost. They continued to press forward, earning a point from a free by Muireann Teahan on the three quarter mark, and a few wides by Hannah Nic Gearailt and Siofra Randles. However, their aggression also led to discipline issues, with Roisin Daly receiving a yellow card two minutes later.

Tipperary responded well, with Grace Hogan scoring a point from a free and Sinead O’Carroll from play.

Tipperary continued to apply pressure, with additional points from Aoife Shelly and Grace Hogan. Despite Kerry’s best efforts, including another point from Muireann Teahan, their high number of wides proved costly.

The late exchanges were closely contested, but Tipperary delivered a crucial moment in the 59th minute, when Sarah English struck a decisive goal, extending their advantage.

Kerry, however, kept pushing forward, with Lori O’Conor and Mary Kate Smith adding points from play. Their attacking efforts were somewhat hampered by missed opportunities, with Muireann Teahan and others registering wides at key moments.

Teahan did manage to convert a free and followed it up with another well-taken point from play, keeping Kerry within touching distance. However, despite further substitutions aimed at injecting fresh energy into their squad, they couldn’t quite bridge the gap.

Tipperary, meanwhile, held firm in defence, absorbing Kerry’s pressure while also creating enough scoring chances to see out the game.

Tipperary’s ability to convert goal-scoring opportunities proved to be the difference, while Kerry’s tally of wides ultimately left them just short in a well-fought battle.

Tipperary’s next game is at home to Clare on the weekend of March 22nd.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Kate Hennessy (Rockwell Rovers); Erin Grace (Cahir), Tara Bourke (Templemore), Kate Cremins (Arravale Rovers); Abi Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Issy Carr (Holycross/Ballycahill), Emaleigh Cuddihy (Fethard); Molly Crowe (Galtee Rovers, Capt), Sinead O’Carroll (Ardfinnan); Sophia O’Grady (Arravale Rovers), Lucy O’Brien (St Patrick’s), Julie Grey (Templemore); Grace Hogan (Arravale Rovers), Aoife Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris), Eavann Duffy (Moyle Rovers).

Subs: Maeve Cunneen (Silvermines St Odhrans) for O’Grady (38); Sarah English (Brian Borus) for Grey (38); Kate Nevin (Templemore) for Shelly (40); Lily Maher (Arravale Rovers) for Hogan (45).

Kerry: Anne O’Shaughnessy; Seodhla Colleran, Grace Murphy, Roisin Daly; Jamie Lee O’Connor, Siofra Randles, Leona O’Sullivan; Aoise O’Donoghue, Anna O’Sullivan; Hannah Nic Gearailt, Muireann Teehan, Lucy O’Connor; Sadhbh O’Sullivan, Mary Kate Smith, Priya O’Donovan.

Subs: Lori O’Connor for S O’Sullivan (HT); Keeva Riordan for A O’Sullivan (38); Naoise Burke for Colleran (40); Dervla Healy for O’Donovan (45); Chloe McHugh for Nic Gearailt (52); Saoirse Harkin for Randles (60).

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).