Game Tipperary ladies fall short as Donegal finish the stronger in league clash

Lidl Ladies Football National League - Division 2 - Round 5

Tipperary 0-7

Donegal 0-10

Donegal finally put to bed any relegation fears with a hard-fought three-point victory over Tipperary in Lifford on Sunday afternoon. 

The hosts, who only lost one game in their five games up to the weekend’s encounter, still found themselves hovering above the relegation zone on six points. 

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Following three draws, one win and one defeat to date, James Daly’s side knew that a win here would extinguish any lingering drop doubts to bed. 

And with Tipperary in the exact same boat also on a half dozen points, Sunday’s encounter was always going to be a close affair with two teams going all out to retain their league status.

It was all square at 0-4 each at the end of the opening 30 minutes dominated by the defences at either end of the field.

Former All-Star and current Australian Rules player Aisling Moloney kicked three of the Tipperary points - two of them from frees while midfielder Anna Rose Kennedy was the other Tipperary first-half scorer. 

Susanne White raised three of the Donegal half-half white flags with Jodie McFadden kicked the other as Donegal came from 0-3 to 0-1 down, after 20 minutes, to go in level at the changeover. 

And the locals would have been the happier of the teams as they headed for the dressing rooms as they had played against a stiff breeze in the opening period.

Donegal captain Roisin Rodgers was given the task of containing dangerwoman Maloney and she should be happy with her day's work, confining the Tipp ace to just one point from play. 

Donegal hit the front for the first time two minutes into the new half courtesy of a McFadden free after Cait Gillespie was fouled as she bore down on the posts. 

Tipperary then lost Anna Rose Kennedy to the sinbin. The hard-working Mia Bennett made it a two-point game shortly after followed by two quickfire White points that put Donegal four up, 0-8 to 0-4, as the game entered the fourth quarter.

But with their status on the line Tipperary fought back and two more Moloney pointed frees and a super point from Ava Fenessy the game was back in the melting pot with three minutes of normal time remaining. 

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It was back to a one-point game now as Donegal led 0-8 to 0-9. But Donegal, despite losing Rodgers to a late yellow card, finished the game strong with injury-time points from Aisling O’Neill and the superb White, who brought the tally to six points with a late fisted effort. 

Scorers: Tipperary: Aisling Maloney (0-5, 0-4f), Anna Rose Kennedy, Ava Fennessy 0-1 each.

Donegal: Susanne White (0-6, 0-2f); Jody McFadden 0-2f; Mia Bennett, Aisling O’Neill 0-1 each. 

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Michelle Cronin, Lucy Spillane, Emma Cronin; Caitlin Kennedy, Maria Curley, Brid Condon; Annan Rose Kennedy, Angela McGuigan; Heather Spillane, Neassa Towey, Aoibhe O’Shea; Ciara English, Emma Morrissey, Ava Fennessy.

Subs used: Sinead O’Carroll for N Towey (HT); Ava Fennessy for A O’ Shea (52).

Donegal: Clare Friel; Niamh Carr, Cait Gillespie, Sophie McFeeley; Shauna McFadden, Evelyn McGinley, Niamh Boyle; Roisin Rodgers, Rhiana McColgan; Feena McMenamin, Katie Dowds, Mia Bennett; Eva Gallagher, Susanne White, Jodie McFadden.

Subs used: Tara Rose Mahon for E Gallagher (47); Aisling O’Neill for Mia Bennett (52); Ulitah Boyle for R McColgan (52).

Referee: Philip Conway (Armagh)