Tipp relishing another crack at Kerry

LADIES FOOTBALL: TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship Round 1

By Michael Heverin

KERRY v TIPPERARY

Austin Stack Park, Tralee

Sunday, 7th June

Throw-in @ 2.00pm

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)

Following a mixed Munster Championship in which they recorded a famous away win in Cork but then lost to both Kerry and Waterford, the Tipperary ladies footballers start their All-Ireland campaign with a re-match on Sunday.

In a group that also includes Kildare, the opening clash against Kerry is a daunting one, especially after the Kingdom retained their provincial crown to make it three-in-a-row titles in Munster.

But the Tipperary performance in last month’s game in Clonmel offers considerable hope. They lost by just two points, 1-6 to 0-7, and after a disappointing first half, outscored Kerry by six points to two in the second and held them scoreless in the second half until the 48th minute.

That second half display, coming after the breakthrough win in Cork a week earlier, confirmed manager David Power’s belief that his side can now trade punches with the top teams.

Tipp couldn’t quite maintain that form when going down by four points, 0-12 to 0-8, in their final group game away to Waterford when a final spot could have been the prize with a big enough win.

But after a somewhat disappointing league campaign, Tipperary rose to the challenge of championship football and showed that they were not over-awed when facing some of the elites of the game.

Manager David Power is certainly relishing another crack at Kerry so soon after the Clonmel game.

“We were not a million miles away from them that day,” he began.

“We didn’t do enough in the first half but the second was very good. This is a great opportunity for us now after our performances in a very competitive Munster championship.”

He added that the target was to get into the top two in their group to qualify for the All-Ireland quarter finals.

“I think it will be a tight group but if we keep developing the way we are then we will be fine,” he added.

However, he will be missing two of his key players for the Kerry game – and for the rest of the campaign – with the loss of sisters Nora & Niamh Martin. Nora injured her cruciate knee ligament in the defeat to Waterford while Niamh has returned to Australia to resume her AFL career.

“They will be a big loss, they were outstanding against Cork and again against Kerry, but their absence will give other players on the panel a chance,” said Power of his Sliabh na mBan clubmates.

Kerry, All-Ireland champions as recently as 2024, will be a considerable challenge for Tipp, with players such as team captain Siofra O’Shea, Jadyn Lucey, Rachel Dwyer, Emma Costello, and Niamh Carmody all having an outstanding season.

But Tipperary have already shown this year that when at their best they are a match for any team. Aherlow’s Emma Morrissey is a real danger woman in attack, a fact noted by all opposition teams based on the close attention she receives, but that creates space for a player such as Down native Lauren Cunningham, small in stature but huge in heart, who has become a real scoring threat since joining the squad.

The Ardfinnan sisters, Sarah & Clara English, are both pivotal members of the team, and Sarah’s forays forward from wing back add an extra dimension to the Tipp attack. Maria Curley has been a pillar all season at fullback, and she and her Templemore clubmates, Tara Hoare and Kate Cashman, form a powerful spine to the defence.

Lauren Fitzpatrick has been outstanding in goal, complementing her brilliant shot-stopping ability with her licence to roam as an additional out-fielder and provide an extra option for her defence.

Aherlow’s Anna-Rose Kennedy is an inspirational captain, and what an achievement it would be for her if she could lead Tipperary to a famous victory in Kerry on Sunday.