LIDL NFL DIVISION ONE MATCH REPORTS 2019

LIDL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE MATCH REPORTS

ROUND 1 v MAYO

Mayo 2-11 Tipp 0-12

Mayo had to withstand a strong second-half comeback from Tipperary to get their league campaign off to a winning start against the Premier County in Swinford. 

This was certainly a match which fitted all the criteria of the old adage – ‘A game of two halves.’

In the opening half, Tipperary were given a tough baptism in the top tier when a rampant Mayo side cut them apart and led 2-9 to 0-4 at the interval, but the Premier women were almost totally dominant after the restart and were somewhat unlucky not to be even closer at the final whistle.

The home side began like a run-away train and blasted home two goals in the opening six minutes courtesy of Grace Kelly and impressive full-forward Rachel Kearns.

Tipperary tried to stem the tide with Aishling Moloney trying hard at centre-half-forward but Mayo were playing with great vim and vigour all over the pitch and kicked scores for fun.

Kearns began impressively on the edge of the square for Mayo while Kathryn Sullivan impressed at wing-back. Sinead Cafferky, Emma Needham, Nicola O’Malley, Fiona Doherty and Roisin Flynn were also prominent for the home side who were cruising at the break.

However, the second half was a completely different matter. Mayo centre-half-back Ciara McManamon sustained a facial injury early in the new half and that seemed to derail the home side somewhat.

Tipp seized the initiative and led by Moloney, Elaine Fitzpatrick and Caitlin Kennedy, they poured forward.

Moloney was their main scoring threat but Niamh Lonergan, Roisin Howard, Angela McGuigan, Ava Fennessy and Kennedy all chipped in and they might have had goals too but for the acrobatics of Mayo stopper Laura Brennan.

The home side were pinned back for long periods but broke out to land points from Kearns and Roisin Durkin before the end to seal the deal and get them off the mark despite enduring a bit of a fright.

Mayo: L Brennan; N O’Malley, R Flynn, D Caldwell; K Sullivan, Ciara McManamon, N Moran; Clodagh McManamon, D Finn; S Cafferky (0-02), E Needham (0-01), N Kelly; F Doherty, R Kearns (1-06, 5f), G Kelly (1-01)

Subs: E Brennan for Ciara McManamon (33), T O’Connor for N Kelly (46), F McManamon for Moran (48), R Durkin (0-01) for Needham (50), N Gaughan for G Kelly (55), A Roddy for Doherty (59).

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; L Spillane, M Curley, E Cronin; A R Kennedy, S Lambert, C Maher; R Daly, E Fitzpatrick; R McGrath, A Moloney (0-06, 4f), L Dillon; A McGuigan (0-01), C Condon, A Fennessy (0-01)

Subs: B Condon for Maher (h-t), R Howard (0-01) for McGrath (h-t), C Kennedy (0-02) for Daly (h-t), N Lonergan (0-01) for Dillon (38).

Referee: Gus Champman (Sligo)

ROUND 2 v DUBLIN

Tipperary 2-8       Dublin 6-9       

Mick Bohan’s Dublin got the defence of their Lidl National Football League Division 1 title back on track this afternoon with a comprehensive win over Tipperary in Ardfinnan.

Goals were the order of the day for the Sky Blues as they raised six green flags – three in each half – with two each for Siobhan Killeen and Lyndsey Davey in an emphatic Dublin performance.

Tipperary played their part in an entertaining game but Dublin’s superior movement and firepower were the telling factors by the full-time whistle.

A quick-fire start by the Dubs saw them race into a 2-1 to 0-0 lead inside the opening four minutes. Killeen found the bottom corner in the opening minute, before Davey scored their second three minutes later.

In the sixth minute Tipperary landed their opening score – a point from Caoimhe Condon – but Dublin stretched their lead out to nine points when Nicole Owens found the net shortly after.

Points from Owens, Carla Rowe and Killeen, were responded to by Aishling Moloney for Tipp, and six minutes from the break Roisin Daly intercepted a Dublin kick-out and goaled with a cool finish to cut Dublin’s half-time lead to 3-4 to 1-3.

The TG4 All-Ireland champions started the second half as they had the first with a palmed goal from Davey after a good run and pass down the right from second-half substitute Kate Sullivan.

Points from Elaine Fitzpatrick and Moloney reduced the deficit, but a goal from Killeen put 12 points between the sides as Dublin continued to hold the upper hand.

Midway through the second-half a speculative long pass from Rowe bounced over the head of the onrushing Tipp goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick and ended up in the empty net, although Tipp got back into the game and a goal from Aishling Moloney from a free with 11 minutes to go lifted the home side.

But a couple of missed shots at goal halted their momentum and two points from the impressive Davey and one from Oonagh Whyte sealed a comprehensive win for Bohan’s charges.

Scorers – Dublin: L Davey 2-3, S Killeen 2-1, C Rowe 1-2, N Owens 1-1, O Whyte 0-2.

Tipperary: A Moloney 1-5 (1-1f), R Daly 1-1, C Condon, 0-1, E Fitzpatrick 0-1.

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; E Buckley, M Curley, E Cronin; B Condon, S Lambert, C Maher; A Kennedy, E Fitzpatrick; N Lonergan, A Moloney, R Daly; L Dillon, C Condon, S Everard.

Subs: R McGrath for Dillon (38), O Watson for Lonergan (38), R O’Donnell for Cronin (38), A Carey for Everard (38), C Lonergan for Maher (46).

Dublin: R Fleming; M Byrne, R Ruddy, I Fitzgibbon; S Fagan, O Carey, L Magee; S McGrath, J Dunne; A Kane, S Woods, C Rowe; N Owens, L Davey, S Killeen.

Subs: C Ruddy for R Ruddy (h-t), K Sullivan for Byrne (h-t), N Hetherton for Woods (38), O Whyte for Killeen (41), L Collins for Dunne (44), E Rutledge for Rowe (52), H Leahy for Kane (52), C McGuigan for Owens (55), E Keogh for McGrath (58).

Referee: G McMahon (Mayo)

ROUND 3 v Cork

Cork 1-18         Tipperary 3-13  

A magical 2-9 haul from Aishling Moloney saw Tipperary claim a surprise victory over Cork in their Lidl National Football League Division One encounter at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday. On an historic day, which saw the Cork ladies play their first double-header with the Cork men's football side, the Rebels were favourites to win, but Tipperary staged a superb second-half comeback to claim the three points.

Moloney's two goals set Tipperary up for the victory, but the vital score came from 16-year-old debutant Caitlin Kennedy, who crowned her first game with the winning goal in the 59th minute. It had all started so positively for Cork, who took the lead in the second minute when Orla Finn pointed from a free, although Moloney replied from the restart.Less than three minutes had elapsed when Cork fired the first goal of the game. Sadhbh O'Leary was the creator and she played in Niamh Cotter, whose low shot found the net for the home side.A Finn free added to Cork's lead, although Anna Rose Kennedy responded with Tipp's second point. Áine Terry O'Sullivan and Moloney exchanged points before Cork started to dominate. In the space of four minutes they scored four points, three frees from Finn, along with one from Laura O'Mahony, making it 1-7 to 0-3 in Cork's favour. 

Moloney pointed from a free, while Finn and O'Sullivan kept the scoreboard ticking over for Cork, who were good value for a 1-11 to 0-8 half-time lead.But from their Tipperary took charge. Finn opened the scoring in the second-half, but Moloney and Kennedy pointed, before Moloney struck their first goal after 38 minutes to lift Tipp's hopes.With Finn and O'Sullivan on song Cork pushed their way into a five-point lead, but with ten minutes to go Moloney struck Tipp's second goal to trim the lead to two.Farmer and Moloney exchanged scores, but the game turned in the last minute. Crucially, a long delivery from Moloney was caught by Caitlin Kennedy, and she found the back of the net to secure Tipp's first win of the season.

Scorers - Tipperary: A Moloney 2-9 (8f), C Kennedy 1-1, R Howard 0-2, A R Kennedy 0-1.Cork: O Finn 0-9 (6f), N Cotter 1-1, A T O'Sullivan 0-3, S O'Leary 0-2, O Farmer 0-2, L O'Mahony, 0-1.TIPPERARY: L Fitzpatrick; L Spillane, M Curley, L Dillon; B Condon, S Lambert, C Kennedy; A.R. Kennedy, E Fitzpatrick; N Lonergan, A Moloney, C Condon; A Fennessy, R Howard, A McGuigan.Subs: E Cronin for Dillon (35), R Daly for McGuigan (45), O Winston for Lonergan (45), C Maher for E Fitzpatrick (49).CORK: M O'Brien; M Ambrose, H Looney, A Kelleher; D Kiely, M Duggan, E Kiely; A Hutchings, L O'Mahony; A O'Sullivan, N Cotter, O Farmer; L Coppinger, S O'Leary, O Finn.Subs: S Kelly for Ambrose (38), S Leahy for Cotter (45).Ref: Eamonn Moran, Kerry.

Aisling Moloney goal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueuOpCpCggc

See 16-year-old debut girl Caitlin Kennedy smash the ball to the Cork net in the 59th minute to give Tipperary Ladies Football a famous victory in the Lidl NFL. https://www.facebook.com/LadiesGaelicFootball/videos/979077345814493/

ROUND 4 v DONEGAL

Donegal 3-11     Tipperary 3-09

Donegal are on the verge of a spot in the Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 semi-finals as their perfect start to 2019 continued.

Karen Guthrie, Róisín Friel and Geraldine McLaughlin netted the goals as Maxi Curran’s team eked out a two-point win over a gallant Tipperary, who fought to the finish and made the home side earn their corn.

Donegal led by two at the break and, within seven minutes of the re-start the Tir Chonaill side took a giant leap towards the win.

Tipp were stunned as Donegal added two quickfire goals. Guthrie – who scored Donegal’s first half goal – and McLaughlin combined to work the chance for Friel, who coolly side-stepped to find the net.

McLaughlin tucked home Donegal’s third goal after a neat give-and-go with Friel to put the deficit out to ten points.

Tipp weren’t going down without a fight and Anna Rose Kennedy found the net to set Donegal nerves jangling. When Roisin Howard bagged her second, and Tipperary’s third goal, Donegal were looking rocky, but it was too late for the visitors to upset their hosts.

Donegal – fresh from wins over Dublin, Mayo and Monaghan – got off to the perfect start as captain Gurthrie latched onto McLaughlin’s pass on the ground to steer in her third goal of the year.

Tipp, buoyed by a first win of the term last weekend in Cork, hit 1-3 to take a momentary hold of the game.

Howard’s shot dropped over the head of Donegal ‘keeper Aisling Nee to level things up before Niamh Lonergan, Roisin Daly and Aishling Moloney – who hit 2-9 in the win over Cork – tipped the scales.

By the time Moloney was sin-binned for a 27th minute foul on Katy Herron – who suffered a similar infraction herself earlier in the half – Donegal had regained the advantage.

Niamh Hegarty fired off a post, but with Guthrie, McLaughlin and Megan Ryan on the mark, Donegal had pulled clear again.

Donegal reeled off three-in-a-row, with McLaughlin (2) and Hegarty edging the hosts back in front.

Lonergan brought Tipp back to within a point, but Guthrie’s free had Donegal 1-7 to 1-5 ahead at the short whistle.

Soon, Donegal were toasting two goals and they were needed as Tipp hit back with a strong rally late in the game, but the home side held solid to claim the points.

Scorers - Donegal: G McLaughlin 1-5 (2f), K Guthrie 1-4 (3f), R Friel 1-0, M Ryan, N Hegarty 0-1 each

Tipperary: R Howard 2-1, A Moloney 0-4 (3f), A.R Kennedy 1-0, N Lonergan 0-2, R Daly, A Carey 0-1 each

Donegal: A Nee; T Hegarty, E Gallagher, N Carr; T Doherty, N McLaughlin, N Boyle; K Herron, MRyan; R FrielN Hegarty, A Boyle Carr; G McLaughlin, K Guthrie, S McGroddy. 

Subs: C Grant for McGroddy (44), S McLaughlin for T Hegarty (52).

Tipperary:L Fitzpatrick; E Buckley, L Dillon, E Cronin; B Condon, S Lambert, C Maher; A RKennedy, R McGrath; N Lonergan, A Moloney, R Daly; R Howard, C Condon, S Everard.

Subs: R O’Donnell for Dillon (33), A Carey for Condon (39), C Kennedy for Lonergan (43), CLonergan for Everard (43).

Ref - Garryowen McMahon (Mayo).

ROUND 5 v GALWAY

Tipperary’s hopes of upsetting an undefeated Galway side were dented significantly by a freak goal during the opening half of an entertaining Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 clash at Bansha on Saturday evening.

Ultimately Galway proved themselves the more accomplished outfit and were good value for their five-point win, but there is no doubting the fact that a Róisín Leonard strike had a significant impact on this contest.

The Premier County had just out-scored their opponents 1-5 to 0-1, recovered from the concession of an early goal to Leanne Coen and carved out a three-point advantage when a miss-hit Róisín Leonard free snuck in under Lauren Fitzpatrick’s crossbar and tied the game in the 20th minute and helped the visitors into a 2-6 to 1-6 interval lead.

Playing with the elements Galway proved the much craftier side after the break and led by nine points, 2-14 to 1-8, before Tipperary rallied late in the game.

Galway led 1-2 to 0-1 early on thanks in no small part to Lucy Hannon who set Coen up for a composed finish in the fourth minute.

Points from Anna Rose Kennedy and Caitlin Kennedy preceded a terrific Aishling Moloney goal and Tipperary led 1-3 to 1-2 with nine minutes on the clock. Three more Moloney points put Tipp three clear by the 18th minute.

Róisín Leonard’s free in the 20th minute tied the game and Galway added three points before the break to take control.

Tipp managed to add two points to their tally during the third quarter, but Galway fired over five of their own during this period with Tracey Leonard responsible for three.

Not to be out-done Róisín Leonard fired over two more glorious Galway points and when Tracey Leonard added a free in the 54th minute the visitors were nine clear.

An Aishling Moloney free brought 19 scoreless minutes to a conclusion for Tipp before an alert Moloney lobbed a 65th minute free into the Galway net to give the home support something to cheer in awful conditions.

Scorers – Galway: T Leonard 0-8 (6f), R Leonard 1-4 (1-0f), L Coen 1-0, B Hannon 0-1, L Hannon 0-1

Tipperary: A Moloney 2-5 (1-4f), R Howard 0-2, A-R Kennedy 0-1, C Kennedy 0-1

Galway: D Gower; M Coyne, S Lynch, S Molloy; F Cooney, B Hannon, C Cooney; L Coen, L Ward; M Seoighe, T Leonard, O Divilly; L Hannon, R Leonard, S Conneally.

Subs: M Glynn for Conneally (25), R Ní Flatharta for Seoighe (29-HT), L Gannon for Coyne (48), R Ní Flatharta for Hannon (50), O Murphy for Molloy (58), L Noone for Seoighe (58), A Coen for L Coen (61), N Daly for C Cooney (63), L Booth for F Cooney (64),B Murphy for Lynch (64).

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; L Spillane, M Curley, E Cronin; B Condon, S Lambert, C Kennedy; A-R Kennedy, C Maher; A Moloney, N Lonergan, C Condon; A McGuigan, R Howard, A Hennessy.

Subs: E Fitzpatrick for Maher (22), O O’Dwyer for McGuigan (37), R Daly for Lonergan (37), S Everard for Spillane (52), E Buckley for Fennessy (52), L Dillon for Condon (56).

Referee: E Moran (Kerry).

ROUND 6 V MONAGHAN

Tipperary 1-15     Monaghan 2-11

Monaghan suffered relegation from Division 1 of the LIDL Ladies NFL when they slipped to a one-point defeat after a good contest at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

Monaghan fought back bravely but came up short in the end as Tipperary held on for a priceless victory.

The accuracy of free-taker Aishling Moloney was key to Tipperary’s challenge against the breeze but Monaghan had cause to regret several missed goal chances, not least two penalties within a minute of each other.

The first effort from Leanne Maguire after seven minutes was superbly saved by Lauren Fitzpatrick and then shortly afterwards following a foot block, Muireann Atkinson saw her shot crash off the right post before being cleared.

Monaghan did find the net after nine minutes when Cora Courtney slotted into the roof of the net but less than a minute later Maguire saw another goal effort flash the wrong side of the right post.

It meant that Monaghan went in at the break leading by just 1-6 to 0-8 having played with the breeze, with Maguire, Rosemary Courtney, Ciara McAnespie and Cora Courney also finding the range for the Ulster side.

Orla O’Dwyer got Tipperary off the mark after just 19 seconds but it was left to Moloney to supply all of their other opening half scores, with the Cahir player kicking seven frees from a variety of angle after an opening half where they were level three times.

The sides were level twice in the opening ten minutes of the second-half before Maguire edged Monaghan back in front with her fifth point of the game after 41 minutes.

The second half began with a cracker of a score from Aisling Moloney - https://twitter.com/i/status/1110269958045552641

But then Tipperary struck for a goal when Caitlin Kennedy finished a high delivery from Ava Fennessy to the net after 43 minutes and Roisin Howard added a point to lead by 1-11 to 1-8.

Maguire pulled back a couple of pointed frees for Monaghan to leave the minimum between the sides going into the final ten minutes of the contest.

Sarah Everard doubled Tipperary’s lead with a good point from the left and a pointed free from Moloney made it 1-13 to 1-10.

Maguire’s eighth point of the match cut the gap but a free from 55 metres by Moloney left Tipperary leading by a goal with four minutes remaining.

Roisin Daly put four between them but a goal from a penalty by Maguire gave Monaghan hope but Tipperary held on for victory.

Huge thanks to Sports Focus Photography for some excellent photos https://tipperaryladiesfootball.ie/gallery/411763/2019_LNFL_v_Monaghan_Semple_Stadium 

Scorers – Tipperary: A Monloney 0-10 (0-9f), C Kennedy 1-0, O O’Dwyer 0-1, A.R. Kennedy 0-1, R Howard 0-1, S Everard 0-1, R Daly 0-1.

Monaghan: L Maguire 1-8 (1-0 pen, 6f), C Courtney 1-1, R Courtney 0-1, C McAnespie 0-1.

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; L Spillane, S Lambert (capt.), E Cronin; B Condon, A.R. Kennedy, M Curley; C Kennedy, A Moloney; A Fennessy, O O’Dwyer, S Everard; A McGuigan, R Howard, C Condon.

Subs: L Dillon for Spillane (45), R Daly for McGuigan (45), E Fitzpatrick for Fennessy (53).

Monaghan: B Tierney; N Kerr, S Boyd, H McSkane; A McAnespie, R Courtney, A McCarey; S Coyle, E McAnespie; C McBride, L Maguire, E Woods; C Courtney (capt.), M Atkinson, C McAnespie. 

Subs: E Treanor for McBride (40), G McKenna for McCarey (55).

Referee: S Curley (Galway).

ROUND 7 V WESTMEATH

 

Westmeath 5-12

Tipperary 3-8

Leanne Slevin hit the net twice as Westmeath’s ability to score goals at crucial stages proved crucial as they defeated Tipperary by a flattering ten-point margin in this Lidl Division 1 clash at Kinnegad.

The win was Westmeath’s second in the competition and sees them jump ahead of Tipperary into sixth position in the final standings.

Aisling Moloney put wind-assisted Tipperary in front with a point directly from the throw-in and Orla O’Dwyer added another within a minute. However, Westmeath settled and an unanswered 1-2 – the goal from a Slevin penalty in the seventh minute – put them three points to the good.

A great goal by Roisin Howard levelled the scoring at 1-3 apiece in the 12^th minute and there was little to choose between the teams for the remainder of the first-half. An opportunist goal by Kelly Boyce Jordan in added-time helped the home team to a 2-5 to 1-6 lead at the break.

A goal from O’Dwyer within two minutes of the resumption of play edged the visitors in front. Westmeath regained the lead with a point each from Anna Jones and Slevin before O’Dywer pounced again for her side’s third goal. However, a rapid-fire brace of goals from Slevin and Vicky Carr respectively put the Lake County girls firmly in control by the end of the third quarter.

Westmeath lost influential midfielder Jo-Hanna Maher to the sin bin in the 43^rd minute, but their fifth goal – a classy finish from close range by substitute Annie Dolan in the 53^rd minute – removed any lingering doubt about the outcome.

 

Scorers – Westmeath: L Slevin 2-4 (1-0 pen, 3f), A Dolan 1-2, V Carr 1-1, K Boyce Jordan 1-0, S Dolan 0-2 (1f), K Hegarty 0-1, A Jones 0-1, J Maher 0-1.

Tipperary: O O’Dwyer 2-2, R Howard 1-0, A Moloney 0-3 (1f), R Daly 0-2, S Everard 0-1.

Westmeath: L McCormack; R Dillon, J Rogers, F Coyle; L Brennan, F Claffey, K McDermott; A Jones, J Maher; N Feery, L Slevin, K Boyce Jordan; K Hegarty, V Carr, M Brick.

Subs: MA Foley for Hegarty (38), A Dolan for Brick (44), S Dolan for Feery (53), C Kelly for Slevin (56), J Hennessy for Carr (58).

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; R McGrath, M Curley, E Cronin; R Daly, S Lambert, C Maher; O O’Dwyer, E Fitzpatrick; C Lonergan, A Moloney, L Dillon; R Howard, A Carey, S Everard.

Subs:  E Buckley for Lambert (h-t), K Cunningham for Everard (h-t), B Condon for Maher (33), C Condon for Dillon (38), R O’Donnell for Curley (46), G Condon for McGrath (49), J Everard for Lonergan (49), M Lloyd for Fitzpatrick (49).

Referee: Gerry Carmody (Roscommon)