TG4 LGFA All Ireland Ladies Intermediate Football Quarter Final

Tipperary 5:13 - Wicklow 0:03

Tipperary Ladies Football have earned their place in this year’s All Ireland intermediate semi final following an emphatic win over a disappointing Wicklow side, 5:13 to :03 on Saturday 20^th Aug. This game was something of a damp squib as the expected challenge from a Wicklow team never materialised. The only challenge was provided by the monsoon like weather conditions which deteriorated immediately the game commenced. The St. Lomans Mullingar pitch quickly turned into a swimming pool as the first half progressed. At one stage during the first half the referee was seen to consult with the fourth official and the game looked in doubt.

From the throw in Tipp midfielder Lorraine O’Shea won possession and travelled through the middle for Tipp’s opening score and this was to be as good as it got for the Wicklow side. Despite having some good possession in the following minutes Wicklow failed to make use of it being guilty of some wides from play and placed balls. As the heavens opened Tipp seemed to handle the conditions better and made less handling mistakes. In the seventh minute some nice defending saw the ball quickly worked up field with Mairead Morrissey and Edith Carroll eventually finding Tipp full forward Aisling McCarthy who made no mistake for Tipp’s first goal. Tipp too had their wides with corner forward Orla O’Dwyer hitting two and one from an Eimear Myles effort in the first quarter. The next five minutes were scoreless due mainly to the horrific conditions which made visibility and ball handling a lottery for all players. On fourteen minutes a shot from Tipp’s Morrissey which appeared to be going over for a point dipped and ended up in the Wicklow net for Tipp’s second goal. Tipp finished the half having added a further four points, McCarthy (3, 2frees) and O’Shea (1) with a solitary one point return from Wicklow, a free by centre forward Laura Hogan in the nineteenth minute.

When referee Jonathan Murphy blew for half - time the officials were seen walking the field and the game continuing looked to be in some doubt.

Half- time score Tipperary 2:05 Wicklow 0: 01

The half time break dragged on without any word as to whether this game would continue or not. Both teams remained in their dressing rooms for an hour before a further pitch inspection was seen to be conducted by the officials. Eventually both sides re- emerged and began a lengthy warm up process enforced by the long hold up.

Wicklow opened the scoring in the second half with their second pointed free but this was cancelled out immediately with Tipp’s O’Shea providing the final pass to Eimear Myles who opened her account. Tipperary were again dominant all over the field with Grant and the two O’Dwyer’s in defence superb and raiding forward when in possession. A fine point by Tipp’s Catriona Walsh followed when the corner forward struck from distance. Less than a minute later Tipp’s number 7 Jen Grant having followed through on a Tipp attack finished to the Wicklow net after Orla O’Dwyer picked her out nicely amid the rain and Wicklow defenders. Tipperary added the next four points with O’Dwyer, McCarthy, Morrissey and Myles all finding the range in difficult conditions. Midway through the second half an Edith Carroll shot from distance once more deceived the Wicklow keeper and dropped into the net for another Tipp goal and the game was effectively over as a contest. Tipperary introduced Emma Buckley for Jennifer Grant who had once more given a fine performance for the premier ladies. In the eighteenth minute Wicklow had their first score from play with a point from Captain Laura Hogan. A Tipp double substitution saw Kate Davey and Sinead Delahunty introduced for Walsh and Laura Morrissey. Tipp keeper Patricia Hickey who had little to do all day made a fine save in the twenty first minute when saving point blank from Wicklow’s full forward Helena Dowling. Samantha Lambert then made a fine block as Wicklow continued to look for a consolation goal at the expense of a forty five. As the game fizzled out the rain continued to fall but it was the premier ladies who finished strongly with another two points from Aisling McCarthy and Tipp’s fifth goal from Orla O’Dwyer on the stroke of full time.

Final Score Tipperary 5:13 Wicklow : 03

Wicklow will be hugely disappointed by this performance and Tipperary will surely face much more difficult opposition in the semi final. Tipperary did what they had to do to ensure they reached the semi finals of this year’s TG4 All Ireland Intermediate series. Tipp’s opposition on the 3^rd September will once more be Clare ladies who defeated Tyrone in the second quarter final. This semi final will be a repeat of the Munster final between these two sides which Tipperary just shaded on the day following a late surge. Clare will no doubt keen to avenge their Munster final defeat and this game has all the makings of another classic between these two Munster sides. Tipperary will be happy to progress and considering they were without the services of two first team forwards on the day will be pleased overall.

Tipperary : Patricia Hickey, Laura Morrissey, Samantha Lambert (Capt), Brid Condon, Anne ODwyer, Cliona ODwyer, Jennifer Grant (1:0), Lorraine O Shea (:02), Sheelagh Carew, Edith Carroll (1:0), Mairead Morrissey (1:01), Eimear Myles (:02), Orla O Dwyer (1:01), Aisling McCarthy (1:06, 3f), Catriona Walsh (:01)

Subs Used : E Buckley for J Grant, K Davey for A McCarthy, S Delahunty for L Morrissey, Barbara Ryan for E Myles & Bernie Ryan for L O Shea.

Panel : L Fitzpatrick, L Caddell, G O Brien, C Mullins, R McGrath, S Condon, M Curley, G Condon, A O Shea, E Fitzpatrick.

Management : Gerry McGill, Peter O Leary, Una O Brien, Jim Kilty, Michael Nash, Richard O Brien. Physio: Marie Aherne.