A very strong, fit and talented Tipperary powered past home side Roscommon in the splendidly prepared surrounds of Clann na nGael’s Johnstown this afternoon (Sunday).
By Ollie Colgan
While Roscommon were very wasteful in front of goal by times, particularly in the opening half, that was not the reason they lost this game. Tipperary was dominant throughout and were on top in almost all departments, displaying some terrific point taking from a very clinical forward division.
Roscommon started the better but a succession of wide’s over the first seven minutes were to prove costly as Tipp gradually eased their way into the game. With just ten minutes on the clock Tipp lead by a mere 2 points to 1 with Roscommon’s point coming from a Natalie McHugh free. Suddenly Tipperary went on a terrific scoring spree which the home side had no answer too. Points from Shauna Quirke (3), Gillan O’Brien (3), Aisling McCarty (2) and Sarah Everard (1) saw them by lead by 0-10 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. Roscommon were rattled but to their credit they kept plugging away and two more points from McHugh reduced the deficit to seven. For the remaining six minutes of the half both sides traded two points each, Roscommon’s coming again from the boot of the impressive McHugh, Tipp’s coming from McCarty again and Edith Carroll to leave the visitors in a commanding half time lead of 0-12 to 0-5.
The second half was a tighter affair with Roscommon giving as good as they got.
Unfortunately Tipp were just able to keep the home side at a safe enough distance by ticking over the points. In fact Roscommon never got any nearer than six points of the premier girls lead. Nonetheless you would have to admire their guts and never say die attitude. The home side made a number of changes in the second half which did help; most notably the introduction of Rachael Fitzmaurice and Sinead Farrell injected some much needed pace into the forward line. Again Roscommon were wasteful in front of goal but did at least begin to tick over a few points from McHugh (2) and Fitzmaurice (1) in reply to Tipp’s five from Mairead Morrissey (3) and McCarty (2).
Then midway through the half Roscommon got some reward for their endeavour when McHugh goaled from the penalty spot after sub Shelia Brady was fouled to leave six between the sides. However Roscommon were unable to capitalize on this momentum as Tipp continued to get the points and both teams traded point for point until the end of the game with Roscommon’s last two points coming from Aoife Beads and Laura Fleming. Final score: Roscommon 1-10 Tipperary 0-21.
Roscommon Team:
1. Karin Roddy (Western Gaels),
2. Caroline Gunning (Oran),
3. Bronagh McHugh (Strokestown),
4. Honor Ennis (St Ciarans)
5. Aisling MacAuliffe (Strokestown),
6. Amanda McLoone (St Faithleachs),
7. Sinéad Kenny (St Croans),
8. Joanne Cregg, (Michael Glaveys),
9. Laura Fleming (0-1) (St Ciarans),
10. Rachel Brady (Tulsk),
11. Gillian Dufficy, (Tulsk),
12. Jenny Higgins (Western Gaels),
13. Rebecca Finan (Éire Óg),
14. Natalie McHugh (1-7) (Kilglass Gaels),
15. Caoilionn Beirne (Tulsk).
Subs used: Tara Taylor Kilbride, for Bronagh McHugh (25mins) Rachael Fitzmaurice (0-1) St Ciarans for Dufficy (39mins), Sheila Brady Michael Glavey’s for Finan, (40mins). Sinead Farrell Clann nA nGael for Brady (45mins), Aoife Beads St Ciarans (0-1) for Higgans (58mins), Rachael Corcacan St Dominics for Gunning (58mins).
Key Moment:
while there was no individual key moment probably the most critical passage of play was Tipp’s six unanswered points from the fifth to the twentieth minute.
Player of the match:
Natalie McHugh was a constant thorn in Tipperary’s side and her personal tally of 1-7 kept her side in the game. Also for Roscommon keeper Roddy had a fine game with impacts from Fitzmaurice and Farrell were crucial. On the Tipp side outstanding performances were had by McCarty, Morrissey and O Brien.
Next up for the Roscommon girls is a very crucial away fixture against Meath in two weeks’ time. Then it’s home to Down on the 25th February before two away fixtures; to Leitrim on the 18th March and Limerick on the 26th March.Finally they’ll wrap up the group by facing Wexford at home on April 2nd.