Niamh Lonergan of Tipperary in action against Jennifer Dunne of Dublin during the Lidl Ladies NFL Round 2 match between Tipperary and Dublin at Ardfinnan in Tipperary. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Tipp Ladies find Dublin too hot to handle

LIDL Ladies Football National League Division 1 Round 2

 

 

Tipperary     2-8

Dublin            6-9

 

By Nigel McCarthy in Ardfinnan

 

Newly promoted Tipperary got a taste of the level they aim to get to as league and All Ireland champions Dublin recorded an impressive win in Ardfinnan.

Goals were the order of the day for the Sky Blues as they raised six green flags – three in each half – with two each for Siobhan Killeen and Lyndsey Davey in an emphatic Dublin performance.

Tipperary played their part in an entertaining game but Dublin’s superior movement and firepower were the telling factors by the full-time whistle.

A quick-fire start by the Dubs saw them race into a 2-1 to 0-0 lead inside the opening four minutes. Killeen found the bottom corner in the opening minute, before Davey scored their second three minutes later.

In the sixth minute Tipperary landed their opening score, a point from Caoimhe Condon, but Dublin stretched their lead out to nine points when Nicole Owens found the net shortly after.

Points from Owens, Carla Rowe and Killeen, were responded to by Aishling Moloney for Tipp, and six minutes from the break Roisin Daly intercepted a Dublin kick-out and goaled with a cool finish to cut Dublin’s half-time lead to 3-4 to 1-3.

The All-Ireland champions started the second half as they had the first with a palmed goal from Davey after a good run and pass down the right from second-half substitute Kate Sullivan. 

Points from Elaine Fitzpatrick and Moloney reduced the deficit, but a goal from Killeen put 12 points between the sides as Dublin continued to hold the upper hand.

Midway through the second-half a speculative long pass from Rowe bounced over the head of the onrushing Tipp goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick and ended up in the empty net, although Tipp got back into the game and a goal from Aishling Moloney from a free with 11 minutes to go lifted the home side.

But a couple of missed shots at goal halted their momentum and two points from the impressive Davey and one from Oonagh Whyte sealed a comprehensive win for Bohan’s charges. 

 

MATCH DIGEST

Scorers – Tipperary: Aishling Moloney 1-5 (1-1 frees), Roisin Daly 1-1, Caoimhe Condon, Elaine Fitzpatrick 0-1 each.

Dublin: Lyndsey Davey 2-3, Siobhan Killeen 2-1, Carla Rowe 1-2, Nicole Owens 1-1, Oonagh Whyte 0-2.

 

TEAMS - Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Elaine Buckley, Maria Curley, Emma Cronin; Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert, Cora Maher; Anna Rose Kennedy, Elaine Fitzpatrick; Niamh Lonergan, Aishling Moloney, Roisin Daly; Laura Dillon, Caoimhe Condon, Siobhan Everard.

Subs: Roisin McGrath for Dillon (38), Orla Winston for Lonergan (38), Rachel O’Donnell for Cronin (38), Anna Carey for Everard (38), Courtney Lonergan for Maher (46).

Dublin: Rachel Fleming; Martha Byrne, Rachel Ruddy, Kate Fitzgibbon; Sarah Fagan, Olwen Carey, Laura Magee; Siobhan McGrath, Jennifer Dunne; Aoife Kane, Siobhan Woods, Carla Rowe; Nicole Owens, Lyndsey Davey, Siobhan Killeen.

Subs: Ciara Ruddy for R Ruddy (ht), Kate Sullivan for Byrne (ht), Niamh Hetherton for Woods (38), Oonagh Whyte for Killeen (41), Lucy Collins for Dunne (44), Eabha Rutledge for Rowe (52), Hannah Leahy for Kane (52), Ciara McGuigan for Owens (55), Eve Keogh for McGrath (58). 

Referee: Garryown McMahon (Mayo)