Famous victory for Moyle Rovers in ladies football championship in Tipperary

Moyle Rovers 0-12 Fethard 1-7

On Sunday last in a packed Bansha, both teams served up a thriller from start to finish in the County Ladies Senior Football final, with Moyle Rovers pulling away in the final quarter, holding Fethard scoreless in that period to lift their first county senior title, while dethroning the holders who were going for three in a row.

Rovers had standout performances from Sarah Lutrell, Ellie Franklin, Hazel Brennan Kirsty-Crotty Ryan, who were ably assisted by Michelle and Emma Cronin, Mia Cahalane and Roisin McGrath.

At the throw-in Lucy Spillane caught the ball and raced the whole way uncontested to the Moyle Rovers goal, blasting the ball past Rebecca Acheson-Dennehy for a goal scored after just eight seconds, giving the county champions an excellent start.

Within the next 30 seconds Niamh Hayes scored a point from play and on the kickout Ellie Franklin set up Moyle Rovers’ first attack, with Kirsty Crotty-Ryan kicking a fine point, all in the space of 2 minutes.

For the next 5 minutes the game settled down. Moyle Rovers’ Emma Cronin scored a point from play in the 8th minute and by the 10th minute the margin was down to one when Kirsty Crotty-Ryan scored a point from play.

Fethard were then dealt a blow when Lucy Spillane received a yellow card, which meant 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Fethard worked the ball up to Muireann O’Connell who kicked a point. Fethard were awarded a free and Aine Prendergast kicked the ball over the bar and when Muireann O'Connell in the 19th minute skimmed the crossbar with a shot Fethard were four points ahead.

However, that was as good as it got for the champions, with Moyle Rovers taking over for the rest of the first half, opening up the Fethard back line with ease on counter attack after counter attack and scoring four points without reply from Hazel Brennan, Kate Moore, Laura Grace (with the pick of those scores) and a free from Kirsty Crotty-Ryan.

The teams were level at the short whistle, Fethard 1-4 Moyle Rovers 0-7.

Meah Cuddihy proved an impact sub for Fethard, with two points shortly after the resumption.

Moyle Rovers reshuffled their pack and closed down the channels for Fethard, who from then to the end were running down cul de sacs while Moyle Rovers were very efficient on counter attacks, adding a point from a free in the 35th minute scored by Kirsty Crotty-Ryan.

Moyle Rovers dominated the last quarter. In the 47th minute Kirsty Crotty-Ryan added a point from a free before they then struck a purple patch with 3 points all from play from Roisin McGrath, Kirsty Crotty-Ryan and Ellie Franklin, all within 4 minutes, leaving the score Moyle Rovers 0-12 Fethard 1-7, and in the final minutes they held on for a famous victory.

For a gallant Fethard, those that caught the eye were Carrie Davey, Meah Emaleigh Cuddihy, Nell and Lucy Spillane and Niamh Hayes.

Michael Towey presented the county cup to Moyle Rovers joint captains Kirsty Crotty-Ryan and Orla Burke to tremendous applause from the large contingent of Moyle Rovers supporters.

MOYLE ROVERS: Rebecca Acheson–Dennehy, Niamh Lonergan, Deirbhile Fitzgerald, Michelle Cronin, Mia Cahalane, Sarah Luttrell, Ava Collins, Ellie Franklin 0-1, Emma Cronin 0-1, Hazel Brennan 0-1, Laura Grace 0-1, Roisin McGrath 0-1, Kate Moor e0-1, Eabha Dolan, Kirsty Crotty Ryan 0-6(2F).

Subs used: Evan Duffy 30m, Ava Wall 36m, Orla Burke 56m.

FETHARD: Sarah Smith, Sinead Delahunty, Carrie Davey, Aine Connolly, Emaleigh Cuddihy, Nell Spillane, Katie Burke, Lucy Spillane 1-0, Heather Spillane, Niamh Hayes 0-1, Emily Spillane, Megan Coen, Muireann O’Connell 0-2, Leah Coen , Anna Prendergast 0-1 (F).

Subs used: Meah Cuddihy 0-3 (1F) 30m, Alison Connolly 38m, Nicole Delaney 45m.

Referee: Michael Duffy.

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