Templemore rise back to senior level

LADIES FOOTBALL: Camida Tipperary Intermediate Championship Final

Templemore 3-11

Ardfinnan 1-11

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Neassa Towey (Templemore)

SCORERS - Templemore: Neassa Towey 0-5 (2 frees); Fiona McHale 1-2 (0-1 free); Shona McBride, Zara Hennessy 1-0 each; Kate Nevin, Aine Delaney, Emma Fitzpatrick, Kate Delaney 0-1 each.

Ardfinnan: Clara English 0-7 (6 frees); Ava Gleeson 1-1, Gemma May Barrett, Sinead O'Carroll, Aoibhinn Maher 0-1 each.

Templemore are back in the senior ranks of Tipperary ladies football after a powerful second-half performance saw them overcome Ardfinnan in Sunday's Intermediate final in Golden.

Having lost the 2024 final to Cappawhite before Ardfinnan ended their challenge at the semi-final stage last year, this was a sweet victory for the Mid Tipp side.

It didn't look that way initially as Sinead O'Carroll, Clara English and Ava Gleeson helped Ardfinnan race three points ahead inside five minutes.

Templemore struggled for possession early, but once they settled, their pace on the counter and direct kick-passing began to cause serious problems.

Former Mayo inter-county footballer Fiona McHale and player of the match Neassa Towey were prominent as Templemore moved 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after seventeen minutes, only for Ardfinnan to respond with the game's opening goal. Ava Gleeson's attempted point dropped short and, after causing problems under the high ball, possession eventually fell kindly for Gleeson to find the net and give Ardfinnan a major boost.

Templemore were undeterred in their efforts, despite that concession. Emma Fitzpatrick, Towey, and Kate Delaney helped them regain control before a superbly worked goal arrived in the 29th minute. Caithlyn Treacy claimed the kick-out before Kate Cashman produced an excellent kick-pass into the corner.

From there, Templemore worked the ball across goal for Shona McBride to finish from close range. That sent Templemore into half-time leading 1-7 to 1-5 and they carried that momentum into the second period.

Towey was outstanding around midfield and landed the opening two points after the restart as Templemore began to tighten their grip.

Ardfinnan remained within striking distance, largely thanks to the accuracy of English from frees, but they struggled to break down a Templemore defence superbly marshalled by Maria Curley.

With ten minutes remaining, the margin was still only three, but Templemore were playing the better football and their decisive second goal arrived through substitute Zara Hennessy in the 51st minute.That gave them breathing room before McHale put the result beyond doubt six minutes later, finishing a flowing move from close range for Templemore's third goal.

Áine Delaney followed with a fine point approaching the hour mark and the celebrations could begin.

For Templemore, Intermediate champions in 2018 before suffering relegation from Senior in 2023, this was the culmination of a difficult journey back to the top grade.

For Ardfinnan, meanwhile, it was another painful ending after suffering defeat in the Intermediate final for the second successive year.

TEAMS - Templemore: Ruth Johnson; Ciara Kennedy, Ciara Walsh, Tara Hoare; Aoife Naughton, Maria Curley, Kate Cashman; Caithlyn Treacy, Neassa Towey; Emma Fitzpatrick, Fiona McHale, Shona McBride; Aine Delaney, Kate Nevin, Kate Delaney.

Subs: Nicole Buckley for Hoare (40); Grainne Gleeson for Walsh (44); Zara Hennessy for Delaney (47); Julie Grey for McBride (53); Stephanie Treacy for Naughton (60+1).

Ardfinnan: Megan Lonergan; Molly Purcell, Eimear O'Connor, Alice Purcell; Samantha Lambert, Sarah English, Clara O'Brien; Gemma May Barrett, Sinead O'Carroll; Kathy Ryan, Ava Gleeson, Niamh O’Farrell; Clara English, Claire Hyland, Caoimhe Mulcahy.

Subs: Aoibhinn Harris for O'Brien (41); Aoibhinn Maher for Ryan (44); Ava Slattery for Mulcahy (60+1).

Referee: Mike Duffy (Arravale Rovers).