Ladies take down Tipp at the death

Tyrone 1-7 Tipperary 0-9

A BRILLIANT fight-back during the closing stages of this keenly contested tie saw the Tyrone ladies snatch a National League Division Two victory from the jaws of defeat with the very last kick of the game in Omagh on Sunday.

The Red Hand side never led throughout the previous 61 minutes. But they came good at just the right time when Chloe McCaffrey’s free with the final kick of the match earned them the win.

It’s the team’s second win of their Division Two campaign, and owes everything to the commitment and determination displayed throughout this tie, which Tipperary dominated almost from start to finish.

Blustery conditions made good play difficult, but it was Tyrone who enjoyed the advantage of the wind during that first half. However, the Red Hands struggled in the first quarter to really make their mark as the visitors soon established their authority.

Strong play around midfield combined with slick attacking provided them with the edge. The scores were soon coming also as the Munster side seemed capable of really establishing a good lead.

Angela McGuigan opened the scoring for them in the first minute, before Ashling Moloney raced through to add a well taken point. That left them 0-2 to 0-0 ahead, as Laura Morrissey, Emer McCarthy and Anna Rose-Kennedy also impressed.

But Tyrone gradually found their form as well. The workrate of Aidbhinn McHugh, Aoife Horisk and Maria Canavan gained them a foothold. Chloe McCaffrey raced through to score their first point just before the end of that first quarter.

Tipp, though, still led. Scores courtesy of Emer McCarthy, Emma Morrissey and Ashling Moloney saw them open up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead, with Chloe McCaffrey increasing the Tyrone tally.

Nevertheless, the Red Hands needed more and they were soon finding inroads into that Tipperary defence. A point from Emma Jane Gervin left just two between them, as Emma Mulgrew, Meabh Corrigan and Joanne Barrett worked hard to stem the Tipperary forward play.

Tyrone’s Emma Conroy raced through after a great move and unleashed a brilliant shot which just blazed wide. Moments later, though, they were back on level terms when a long speculative ball from Maria Canavan deceived the goalkeeper and went all the way to the net.

That left them 1-3 to 0-6 and that’s how things stayed for the remainder of the half as both teams failed to convert a number of chances. Nevertheless, the demands on both to make their mark on the resumption were clear.

It looked set for a story of Tipp dominance in that second half as they began to take control with the aid o the wind. A point from Emma Morrissey put them ahead again, and they raced through on goal almost at will for a spell in the early moments of that half. However, the efforts of Caitlinn Donnelly denied Maria Curley an almost certain goal.

Neasse Downey put them 0-8 to 1-3 ahead and the signs were looking bad for the home team. Once again, though, Caitlinn Donnelly came to the rescue when she saved from Angela McGuigan.

It was 14 minutes into the half before Tyrone finally got off the mark. Maria Canavan raced through to reduce the deficit to two points again and keep them just about in touch.

Neasse Towey restored the Munster team’s advantage. Amazingly, though, that was to be their final score of the match as both teams struggled to find their range an scores were few and far between as a result.

Tyrone began to attack more regularly and came close to grabbing a goal of their own. Emma Conroy raced through and shot on goal, only to see the effort go just wide. She made amends moments later when taking a pass from Chloe McCaffrey to score.

Suddenly, with time fast running out, there was only a point between the teams and just about enough time for the Red Hands to get the equaliser. Chloe McCaffrey duly delivered to leave them level at 0-9 to 1-6 right at the end of normal time.

The resulting kick-out was caught by Meabh Mallon and the Red Hands went in search of a winner which had seemed highly unlikely. Emma Conroy raced through before being fouled on the edge of the square. Up stepped Chloe McCaffrey to coolly slot over the free kick to seal a second consecutive victory for Tyrone.

The Scorers
Tyrone
Maria Canavan 1-1, Chloe McCaffrey 0-4 (2f), Emma Jane Gervin 0-1, Emma Conroy 0-1.
Tipperary
Emma Morrissey 0-3 (2f), Aishling Moloney 0-2 (1f), Messa Towey 0-2 (1f), Angela McGuigan 0-1, Emer McCarthy 0-1.

The Teams
Tyrone
Caitlin Donnelly, Jayne Lyons, Joanne Barrett, Ciara Daly, Caitlinn Campbell, Emma Mulgrew, Meabh Corrigan, Meabh Mallon, Aoibhinn McHugh, Emma Jane Gervin, Aoife Horisk, Aine Strain, Chloe McCaffrey, Maria Canavan, Emma Conroy.
Subs: Sasha Byrne for Canavan (50), Ciara Colton for C Daly (52), Orla Mulgrew for E Mulgrew (55).
Tipperary
Ciara Dwan, Katelyn Downey, Lucy Spillane, Emma Cronin, Nora Martin, Maria Curley, Neassa Towey, Laura Morrissey, Emer McCarthy, Marie Creedon, Angela McGuigan, Niamh Martin, Anna Rose Kennedy, Emma Morrissey, Aishling Moloney.
Subs:Cliona O’Dwyer for Kennedy (40), Clara English for Creedon (45), Sarah English for Downey (50).
Referee: Declan Carolan, Down.