Kerry hold off Tipp rally

LADIES FOOTBALL: TG4 Munster Senior Championship Round 2

Tipperary 0-7

Kerry 1-6

Report: Michael Heverin at Clonmel Sportsfield

Photos: Vincent Flynn

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Lauren Cunningham (Tipperary)

SCORERS: - Tipperary: Emma Morrissey 0-2 (1 free), Sarah English, Nora Martin, Niamh Martin, Lauren Cunningham, Kirsty Crotty Ryan 0-1 each.

Kerry: Jadyn Lucey 1-1, Siofra O’Shea 0-3 (2 frees), Aisling O’Connell, Mary O’Connell 0-1 each.

Had Tipperary produced the same form in the first half as they did in the second against Kerry on Sunday, then they could have secured a second major shock in the space of eight days.

Following on from the win over Cork the previous weekend, Tipperary knew that they faced an even bigger challenge against Munster senior champions Kerry, who needed a win to keep their own hopes alive following their opening day loss to Waterford.

Despite trailing by six points at the interval, 1-4 to 0-1, Tipp came out a rejuvenated side in the second and outscored Kerry 0-6 to 0-2. At the final whistle, Kerry were a relieved side to return home with a win, while Tipp were disappointed not to take another big Munster scalp.

Tipp struggled in the first half, and Sarah English’s point in the sixth minute to equalise Siofra O’Shea’s opening score from a free in the second minute, was their only score.

They were pinned back in their own half, and conceded three points in a row before a Jadyn Lucey goal gave the Kingdom a deserved six point lead at the interval.

Lucey, O’Shea and Niamh Carmody were the main attacking threats, Anna Galvin and Mary O’Connell were on top at midfield, and Emma Costello was at the heart of a defence that withstood Tipperary’s best efforts.

Lauren Cunningham was central to many of Tipp’s most promising attacks, but unfortunately when frees were won, Emma Morrissey was uncharacteristically off target from two.

After dominating the first two minutes of the game, Kerry took the lead from a Siofra O’Shea free and it looked like Lauren Cunningham had equalised two minutes later but her shot came back off the upright. At the other end, Tipperary had a let-off when goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick’s attempted pass to a defender was intercepted by Jadyn Lucey whose shot went narrowly wide when a goal looked on.

Tipp were level when Emma Morrissey put Sarah English through the centre to hit a fine point in the sixth minute, but they would go through the next 24 without scoring again. Lucey restored the Kerry lead, and then O’Shea from a free and a brilliant score from Mary O’Connell made it 0-4 to 0-1 after 21 minutes. Fouls on Niamh Martin and Cunningham had given Morrissey the chance to keep the scoreboard ticking over but she was disappointed to see both frees tail wide.

Kerry were pressing for goals and their first chance fell to Rachel Dwyer, but her shot was well saved by Fitzpatrick five minutes from the interval. But she could nothing about a Lucey shot a minute later, who created space for herself before shooting low to the right corner.

Tipp were still struggling to create chances but they had one more before the break when Kirsty Crotty Ryan saw a shot rebound off the crossbar.

Tipp’s second half revival was aided by a Kerry technical breach after five minutes that allowed Morrissey point an easy free. Then two minutes later the green shoots became more apparent when the outstanding Cunningham pointed following the best Tipp move of the game, with Morrissey and Sandra English involved in the build-up.

The home crowd were now fully behind the team and brilliant defending from Nora Martin to break up a dangerous Kerry move drew as big a cheer as a score. At the other end, a high ball caused panic in the Kerry square, but goalkeeper Ciara Butler was brave to avert the danger but injured herself in making the save and had to be replaced.

But the momentum was still with Tipperary and when Crotty Ryan hit a monster point, it brought it back to a one score game, 1-4 to 0-4 in the 47th minute. Kerry hadn’t scored at this stage in the second half as they battled to weather the Tipp storm.

But a minute later they broke their second half duck with a fine point from inspirational captain Siofra O’Shea. Then Tipp came back stronger again, Cunningham starting a lovely move that was finished by Nora Martin, and then Morrissey fielding a lofted Crotty Ryan ball to split the uprights.

Once again Kerry stalled the Tipp momentum with a crucial score from Aisling O’Connell. Deep into injury time, Tipp pressed again with Niamh Martin bringing it back to a two points margin, before the final whistle brought their brave effort to an end.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry 8); Tara Hoare (Templemore 7), Maria Curley (Templemore 8), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers 7); Kate Cashman (Templemore 7), Nora Martin (Sliabh na mBan 8), Sarah English (Ardfinnan 8); Laura Morrissey (Brian Borus 7), Niamh Martin (Sliabh na mBan 8); Clara English (Ardfinnan 7), Lauren Cunningham (Holycross/Ballycahill 8), Heather Spillane (Fethard 7); Kirsty Crotty Ryan (Moyle Rovers 7), Anna Carey (Clonmel Commercials 7), Emma Morrissey (Aherlow 7).

Subs: Angela McGuigan (St. Sylvester’s 7) for Carey (51), Ava Ryan (Moyne-Templetuohy 7) for Cashman (55).

Kerry: Ciara Butler (7); Roisin Rahilly (7), Deirdre Kearney (8), Eilis Lynch (7); Aisling O’Connell (7), Emma Costello (8), Aoife Dillane (7); Anna Galvin (8), Mary O’Connell (8); Niamh Carmody (8), Niamh Ní Chonchuir (7), Caoimhe Evans (7); Rachel Dwyer (7), Siofra O’Shea (8), Jadyn Lucey (8).

Subs: Leah McMahon (7) for Dwyer (36), Mary Ellen Bolger (7) for Ciara Butler (44 inj), Kelly Enright (7) for Carmody (55), Megan O’Connor (NR) for Evans (60).

Referee: Justin Murphy (Cork).