Room for improvement but Tipperary ladies delighted with opening day win

Wexford 2-9 Tipperary 2-12

David Power’s tenure as the new Tipperary ladies football manager began with an away win over Wexford, a vital result in what promises to be a highly competitive division, but the performance wasn’t all he had hoped for.

Tipperary came away from Samaritans St Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy on Sunday with full points that sets them up nicely when they welcome another newly promoted side, Cavan, to Clonmel on Sunday.

Tipperary were the better team against Wexford, leading by six points in the first half, and by the same margin as the game entered injury time.

But they were rocked by a Wexford goal in the 62nd minute and were hanging on for victory in the remaining minutes as the home side pushed for an unlikely equaliser.

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Power says they should never have been in that position.
“We made hard work of it at times, and after twice building up leads we let Wexford back into it. Unforced turnovers were an issue and we should never have conceded the two goals that we did, they came from us turning over the ball cheaply.
“We have a lot to learn, and there are lot of young girls out there and this is the only way they will learn. The way we want to play is a lot different to what they are used to,” he said.

Yet he was happy with the full points from what was a tricky first away fixture in the new campaign.

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“It was always going to be tough so it was important to get the result. We are trying to do different things at training and it’s going to take a number of games to get what we want. But they are trying, and the level of commitment over the past few months is amazing. It’s baby steps and building blocks and getting ready for our next game against Cavan”.

Aherlow’s Emma Morrissey had an immense game, with her 2-4 including a superb goal from play, a second from a penalty, two points from play and two from frees.

Another significant addition to the Tipp attack was Lauren Cunningham, an All-Ireland intermediate winner with her native Down who, after moving south, is now playing with Holycross/Ballycahill. Her first appearance in the Blue and Gold proved a memorable one, fisting over the side’s first point in the first minute, providing the assist for Morrissey’s opening goal and then fouled in the square for the penalty. She was not only a livewire presence in attack but dropping deep to defend when the need arose.

Another debutant, Tara Hoare at corner back, also impressed in her first outing, alongside her Templemore club colleague Maria Curley, who was switched to full back where she was an imposing presence.

Ardfinnan’s Sarah English was outstanding at wing back, linking defence and attack, with team captain Anna-Rose Kennedy dominant at midfield. Clara English and Kirsty Crotty Ryan both impressed in attack.

Tipp couldn’t have asked for a better start, and were 1-4 to 0-1 up in ten minutes with the points from Cunningham, Crotty Ryan and two from Emma Morrissey, one a free and the other from a lovely move involving Maria Curley, Heather Spillane and Anna Carey in the build-up.

The goal came from another flowing team move, started by Carey, with Cunningham providing the assist for Emma Morrissey to the shoot to the net.

However, Wexford capitalised on some sloppy Tipp defending, turning over possession, and a point from Ciara Banville and a goal from Ciara Roban got them right back into the game. The goal followed a tap and go Wexford free under the new rules that Tipp defended poorly.

By half-time Tipp led 1-7 to 1-4 with further points from Laura Morrissey, Sarah English and Kirsty Crotty Ryan, to Wexford replies from Ciara Roban and Ciara Banville. Wexford could have been closer but Aoife Cullen shot low from a close-in free that Tipp goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick did well to block and clear the danger.

Another significant impact of the new rules came two minutes into the second half when Cullen hit a superb two-pointer to reduce the Tipp lead to a single point.

However, Tipp responded well and hit 1-2 without reply, with points from Emma Morrissey and Clara English, and the goal from the penalty spot from Morrissey again following a foul on Cunningham, for a 2-9 to 1-6 lead.

The margin fluctuated between four and six points for the remainder of the half, with Tipp points from a Morrissey free, Sarah English and substitute Aoibhe O’Shea, with Grace O’Donovan pointing two for Wexford, and Cullen from a free after Tipp were penalised after not keeping three players in the opposition half.

That should have been the end of the drama, but the late Wexford goal from Grace Donovan saw Tipp just hanging on to their lead and the final whistle was met with more relief than elation.

“We had game management issues and we shouldn’t have conceded that late goal and put ourselves under pressure. Cavan drew with Mayo in their first game and they will provide a tough challenge, but I have no doubt but that we can improve,” said manager Power.

Wexford: Siobhan Clarke, Kate English, Aoife Tormey, Kellyanne Dempsey, Julia Dempsey, Aisling Halligan, Niamh Cullen, Bebhinn McDonald, Orlagh Kehoe, Ciara Banville 0-2; Ciara Roban 1-1; Aoife Cullen 0-4, 1x2pt, 2 frees; Roisin Hughes, Ailis Neville, Grace Donovan 1-2.
Subs: Orlaith Byrne for Neville (34), Aoife Fortune for A Cullen (46), Emma Tomkins for Roban (50), Ciara Bridges for Donovan (61).

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry), Tara Hoare (Templemore), Maria Curley (Templemore), Nora Martin (Sliabh na mBan), Nichole Shelly (Mullinahone), Laura Morrissey (Brian Borus) 0-1; Sarah English (Ardfinnan) 0-2; Niamh Martin (Sliabh na mBan), Anna-Rose Kennedy (Aherlow), Clara English (Ardfinnan) 0-1; Emma Morrissey (Aherlow) 2-4, 1-0 penalty, 2 frees; Heather Spillane (Fethard), Lauren Cunningham (Holycross/Ballycahill) 0-1; Anna Carey (Clonmel Commercials), Kirsty Crotty Ryan (Moyle Rovers) 0-2.
Subs: Angela McGuigan (St Sylvesters) for Spillane (44), Katelyn Downey (Boherlahan/Dualla) for Shelly (44), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers) for Hoare (48), Ava Ryan (Moyne/Templetuohy) for C English (53), Aoibhe O’Shea (Mullinahone) 0-1 for Crotty Ryan (53), Shona Lang (Brian Borus) for S English (58).

Referee: Conor McCarthy (Cork).