Key players set to return for Tipp's crunch tie

LADIES FOOTBALL: TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship Group 2 Round 3 Preview

By Michael Heverin

TIPPERARY v KILDARE

Clonmel Sportsfield

Saturday, 20th June

Throw-in @ 3.00pm

Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath)

A Tipperary side that was missing four key players for the heavy defeat to Kerry will have two of those back for the crunch tie against Kildare on Saturday.

Tipperary were over-run in the middle third in the first round loss to Kerry when they were without the Martin sisters, Nora & Niamh; team captain Anna-Rose Kennedy and versatile forward Heather Spillane.

Kennedy and Spillane will return for Saturday’s game when Tipperary face a test of their resolve following the eighteen points drubbing to Kerry. Nora Martin remains on the long-term injury list while Niamh is playing AFL in Australia.

“Those four players form the engine room of our side and to lose them all for the one game was a massive blow. They were all there throughout the Munster championship. But it will be great to have Anna-Rose and Heather back”, said team manager David Power looking ahead to the game.

Kerry’s win over Kildare last weekend means that if Tipperary beat the Lilywhites they will go through to the All-Ireland quarter finals for the second year in a row. However, a draw would see the Leinster side progress as they have a superior scoring difference of four points – Tipp lost to Kerry by eighteen points, Kildare lost by fourteen. A draw or defeat would also push Tipperary into a relegation play-off.

So that will focus the mind for Power’s side in their most crucial game to date this season.

And a vastly improved performance on their defeat to Kerry in Tralee will be needed to overcome the defeated Leinster finalists, who pushed winners Dublin all the way in the provincial decider.

Kerry proved much too strong for both Tipperary and Kildare as they secured a home quarter final following two comprehensive wins, so who reacts better to those setbacks should decide the outcome in Clonmel.

Power’s take on the Kerry game was blunt this week as he looked ahead to the weekend – “It was our worst performance of the year by a country mile. I don’t mind losing but we just didn’t perform”.

The Sliabh na mBan clubman described Saturday’s game as a great opportunity to get their season back on track and reach an All-Ireland quarter final for the second year in a row.

“All our focus since the Kerry game has been on Kildare, we have set our stall out for this game.

The players were really disappointed with how they performed against Kerry, following a positive Munster campaign, when we beat Cork and could have beaten Kerry.

“But we win together and we lose together. We have put our head down since the last game and if we get the performance that we want then we have a great chance to win the game”, he added.

Tipperary will not underestimate the Kildare challenge. They beat Meath in the Leinster championship – a Meath side that were last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists and overcame Tipp at the quarter final stage – and pushed Dublin all the way in the final.

And a Tipperary defence that struggled to contain the Kerry attack will have to be alert to contain the threat from players such as Aoife Rattigan, Molly Aspell and Alannah Prizeman.

However, Emma Cronin, Maria Curley and Sarah English have been in brilliant form throughout the season for Tipperary and will relish the challenge.

Anna-Rose Kennedy’s return will bolster midfield, where Laura Morrissey has also been in top form, and Tipperary will be looking to Emma Morrissey, Lauren Cunningham, Heather Spillane and Kirsty Crotty Ryan to avail of the chances that come their way.