Freak goal hurts Tipp in loss to Galway
LIDL National Football League Division 1 Round 5
Tipperary 2-9
Galway 2-14
Tipperary's hopes of upsetting an undefeated Galway side were dented significantly by a freak goal during the opening half of an entertaining Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 clash at Bansha on Saturday evening.
However, Galway proved themselves the more accomplished outfit and were good value for their five-point win, but there is no doubting the fact that a Róisín Leonard strike had a significant impact on this contest.
The Premier County had just out-scored their opponents 1-5 to 0-1, recovered from the concession of an early goal to Leanne Coen and carved out a three-point advantage when a miss-hit Róisín Leonard free snuck in under Lauren Fitzpatrick's crossbar and tied the game in the 20th minute and helped the visitors into a 2-6 to 1-6 interval lead.
Playing with the elements Galway proved the much craftier side after the break and led by nine points, 2-14 to 1-8, before Tipperary rallied late in the game.
Galway led 1-2 to 0-1 early on thanks in no small part to Lucy Hannon who set Coen up for a composed finish in the fourth minute. Points from Anna Rose Kennedy and Caitlin Kennedy preceded a terrific Aishling Moloney goal and Tipperary led 1-3 to 1-2 with nine minutes on the clock. Three more Moloney points put Tipp three clear by the 18th minute.
Róisín Leonard’s free in the 20th minute tied the game and Galway added three points before the break to take control. Tipp managed to add two points to their tally during the third quarter, but Galway fired over five of their own during this period with Tracey Leonard responsible for three.
Not to be out-done Róisín Leonard fired over two more glorious Galway points and when Tracey Leonard added a free in the 54th minute the visitors were nine clear.
An Aishling Moloney free brought 19 scoreless minutes to a conclusion for Tipp before an alert Moloney lobbed a 65th minute free into the Galway net to give the home support something to cheer.
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Roisin Leonard (Galway)
SCORERS – Tipperary: Aishling Moloney 2-5 (1-4 frees), Roisin Howard 0-2, Anna-Rose Kennedy, Caitlin Kennedy 0-1 each.
Galway: Tracey Leonard 0-8 (6 frees), Roisin Leonard 1-4 (1-0 free), Leanne Coen 1-0, Barbara Hannon, Lucy Hannon 0-1 each.
TEAMS - Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Lucy Spillane, Maria Curley, Emma Cronin; Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert, Caitlin Kennedy; Anna-Rose Kennedy, Cora Maher; Aishling Moloney, Niamh Lonergan, Caoimhe Condon; Angela McGuigan, Roisin Howard, Ava Hennessy.
Subs: Elaine Fitzpatrick for Maher (22), Orla O'Dwyer for McGuigan (37), Roisin Daly for Lonergan (37), Sarah Everard for Spillane (52), Emma Buckley for Fennessy (52), Laura Dillon for Condon (56).
Galway: Dearbhle Gower; Mairead Coyne, Sarah Lynch, Shauna Molloy; Fabienne Cooney, Barbara Hannon, Charlotte Cooney; Leanne Coen, Louise Ward; Mairead Seoighe, Tracey Leonard, Olivia Divilly; Lucy Hannon, Roisin Leonard, Sarah Conneally.
Subs: Meghan Glynn for Conneally (25), Riona Ní Flatharta for Seoighe (29-HT blood), Lisa Gannon for Coyne (48), Riona Ní Flatharta for Hannon (50), Orla Murphy for Molloy (58), Lynsey Noone for Seoighe (58), Amy Coen for L Coen (61), Niamh Daly for C Cooney (63), Linda Booth for F Cooney (64), Bronagh Murphy for Lynch (64).
Referee: Eamon Moran (Kerry).