Tipp withstand Wexford fightback

LADIES FOOTBALL: Lidl National League Division 2 Round 1

Wexford 2-1-7 (15)

Tipperary 2-0-12 (18)

Report: Michael Heverin at Samaritans St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Emma Morrissey (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Wexford: Grace Donovan 1-2; Aoife Cullen 0-4 (1x2play, 2x1frees); Ciara Roban 1-1; Ciara Banville 0-2.

Tipperary: Emma Morrissey 2-4 (1-0 pen, 2x1 frees); Sarah English, Kirsty Crotty Ryan 0-2 each, Laura Morrissey, Clara English, Lauren Cunningham, Aoibhe O’Shea 0-1 each.

Tipperary survived a late fright to secure a vital away win over Wexford in the National Ladies Football League Division 2 opening round clash on Sunday afternoon.

A superbly converted penalty from Emma Morrissey ten minutes into the second half, the second goal from the Aherlow player, put Tipperary six clear, and they still held that advantage, 2-12 to 1-9 two minutes into injury time.

But then completely against the run of play, Wexford struck for a goal from Grace Donovan, and as the Model County pushed for another goal for an unlikely draw, the Tipp defence held its nerve until referee Conor McCarthy blew the final whistle.

Tipperary should never have been in the position to survive such a nervy finish. Six points up after ten minutes and then looking comfortable for much of the second half with a similar margin, they twice allowed newly promoted Wexford back into the game.

It’s a concern for new boss David Power and it tempered his satisfaction at a first win in his new role.

“We made hard work of it at times, and after building up leads we let Wexford back into it. Unforced turnovers were an issue and we should never have conceded the two goals; they came from us turning over the ball cheaply. We have a lot to learn, and there are lot of young girls out there and this is the only way they will learn”, he said.

Yet, he was happy with the points from what was a tricky first away fixture in the new campaign.

“It was always going to be tough so it was important to get the result. We are trying to do different things at training and it’s going to take a number of games to get what we want. But they are trying, and the level of commitment over the past few months is amazing. It’s baby steps and building blocks and getting ready for our next game on Sunday against Cavan in Clonmel”, Power added.

Tipp couldn’t have asked for a better start, 1-4 to 0-1 up in ten minutes, with the points from newcomer Lauren Cunningham in the first minute, Kirsty Crotty Ryan, and two from Emma Morrissey, one a free and the other from a lovely move involving Maria Curley, Heather Spillane, and Anna Carey in the build-up.

The goal came from another flowing team move, started by Carey, with Cunningham providing the assist for Emma Morrissey to the shoot to the net. Cunningham is a significant addition to the team, the former All Ireland intermediate winner with her native Down now playing with Holycross/Ballycahill.

However, Wexford capitalised on some sloppy Tipp defending, turning over possession, and a point from Ciara Banville and a goal from Ciara Roban got them right back into the game – the goal followed a tap and go Wexford free under the new rules that Tipp defended poorly.

By half time Tipp led 1-7 to 1-4, with further points from Laura Morrissey, Sarah English, and Kirsty Crotty Ryan, to Wexford replies from Ciara Roban and Ciara Banville.

Another significant impact of the new rules came two minutes into the second half when Aoife Cullen hit a superb two pointer to reduce the Tipp lead to a single point.

But Tipp responded well and hit 1-2 without reply, points from Emma Morrissey and Clara English, and the goal from the penalty spot from Morrissey again following a foul on Cunningham, for a 2-9 to 1-6 lead.

The margin fluctuated between four and six points for the remainder of the half, with Tipp points from a Morrissey free, Sarah English and substitute Aoibhe O’Shea, with Grace O’Donovan pointing two for Wexford, and Aoife Cullen from a free after Tipp were penalised after not keeping three players in the opposition half.

That should have been the end of the drama, but the late Wexford goal saw Tipp just hanging on to their lead and the final whistle was met with more relief than elation as they face Cavan at home in round 2 next Sunday.

TEAMS – Wexford: Siobhan Clarke (6), Kate English (7), Aoife Tormey (7), Kellyanne Dempsey (7), Julia Dempsey (7), Aisling Halligan (6), Niamh Cullen (7), Beibhin McDonald (8), Orlagh Kehoe (7), Ciara Banville (8), Ciara Roban (8), Aoife Cullen (8), Roisin Hughes (6), Ailis Neville (6), Grace Donovan (8).

Subs: Orlaith Byrne (6) for Neville (34), Aoife Fortune (6) for A Cullen (46), Emma Tomkins (6) for Roban (50), Ciara Bridges (NR) for Donovan (61).

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry 6), Tara Hoare (Templemore 7), Maria Curley (Templemore 8), Nora Martin (Sliabh na mBan 7), Nichole Shelly (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 6), Laura Morrissey (Brian Borus 6), Sarah English (Ardfinnan 8), Niamh Martin (Sliabh na mBan 7), Anna-Rose Kennedy (Aherlow 7), Clara English (Ardfinnan 7), Emma Morrissey (Aherlow 9), Heather Spillane (Fethard 6), Lauren Cunningham (Holycross/Ballycahill 8), Anna Carey (Clonmel Commercials 6), Kirsty Crotty Ryan (Moyle Rovers 8).

Subs: Angela McGuigan (St. Sylvesters 6) for Spillane (44), Katelyn Downey (Boherlahan-Dualla 6) for Shelly (44), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers 7) for Hoare (48), Ava Ryan (Moyne/Templetuohy 6) for C English (53), Aoibhe O’Shea (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 6) for Crotty Ryan (53), Shona Lang (Brian Borus NR) for S English (58).

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).