By Una O’Brien, St. Patrick’s

Tipperary Ladies Under 14 team travelled to Glanworth, Co. Cork to play Cork in round one of the Munster Ladies Gaelic Football Under 14A Championship, having recently been regraded to take part in the A competition this year. The weather was inclement throughout the game and the underfoot conditions were poor throughout the field but both teams served up some good football throughout. 

Tipperary were first on the scoreboard with a free from Sara Finnane after one minute who followed up a few minutes later with a goal, after she broke clear to receive a ball from Niamh Hayes who had made a strong run from midfield.  These were to be the only scores for Tipperary in the first half, with Cork’s Clara Walsh scoring a point from play and one from a free. Throughout the first half both teams had their chances to put further scores on the scoreboard but scores were hard to come by, as both teams had set up defensively and getting in on target was cut out by the backs on both sides. Throughout the first half, Alanna English who was employed to play deep worked trojanly and cut out many of the Cork attacks.  Alanna worked well with corner back Sarah English, Veerle Van Der Waal and Cathy Hogan to cut out the attacking play of the Cork forwards and midfielders. Half time Score: Tipperary 1-1 Cork 0-2.

The rain eased off slightly as both teams took to the field for the second half.  Cork were first on the attack and as they bore down on goal, a timely Alanna English inception prevented an almost certain Cork goal after the restart.  Tipperary had a lot of possession in the early part of the second half and got back on the scoreboard with a further point from Sara Finnane on 41 minutes.  Two minutes later some good combination play involving Cathy Hogan and Niamh Hayes ended up with Ellie Peters hitting an excellent point, to leave Tipperary up by 5 points 1-3 to Cork’s 0-2. Cork began to apply pressure and were unlucky not to convert a free on 47 minutes which instead was managed well by Tipperary’s Megan Heffernan who was solid throughout. Cork’s first score of the second half didn’t come to the 49^th minute, with their midfielder Laoise Collins scoring a point, this was followed up by a good Cork goal opportunity, which was well handed by the Tipperary goalkeeper Megan Tynan. As the game entered into the final ten minutes, Tipperary’s Roisin Bambrick stroke the Cork net on the 52^nd minute, to leave Tipperary ahead by two goals. However, Cork weren’t ready to give up and scored two further points in quick succession but it was the Tipperary girls who finished the stronger with Niamh Hayes getting the final score of the match, with a well taken point at the 58 minute mark.

Final Score: Tipperary 2-4 Cork 0-5

Tipperary Scorers: Sara Finnane (1-2), Roisin Bambrick (1-0), Ellie Peters (0-1), Niamh Hayes (0-1)

Tipperary Team: Megan Tynan (Galtee Rovers); Sarah English (Ardfinnan), Ellen Gantley (Cappawhite), Aoife Shelly (Moyne Templetuohy); Veerle Van Der Waal (Clonmel Commercials), Megan Heffernan (Galtee Rovers), Cathy Hogan (Moyne Templetuohy); Queva O’Meara (Captain) (Moycarkey Borris), Niamh Hayes (Fethard); Kate Flannery (Galtee Rovers), Rachel Moore (Moyne Templetuohy), Eabha Hogan (St. Patrick’s); Sara Finnane (Galtee Rovers), Alannah English (Brian Borus) and Niamh Cuneen (Silvermines).

Subs: Roisin Bambrick (Thurles Sarsfields) for Niamh Cuneen (24 mins), Eva O’Dwyer (Cappawhite) for Rachel Moore (37 mins), Ellie Peters (Galtee Rovers) for Kate Flannery (39 mins), Rebecca Burke (Brian Borus) for Veerle Van Der Waal (46 mins), Erín O’Brien (St. Patrick's) for Cathy Hogan (52mins), Maeve McGuigan (Sliabhnamban) for Roisin Bambrick (56 mins), Jessica Strappe (St. Patrick's) for Sara Finnane (61 mins), Dearbhla Morrissey (St. Patrick's), Ellen Cuneen (Silvermines), Niamh Roche (Galtee Rovers), Meabh Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Kelly Ryan (Fethard), Neassa Towey (Templemore), Nia Donovan (Arravale Rovers) and Saoirse Keating (Clonmel Commercials).

Management Team: Ed Burke (Manager - Moyle Rovers), Helen Kennedy (Cappawhite), Michael Towey (Templemore), Pat Morrissey (Holycross Ballycahill), Paul Stapleton (Thurles Sarsfields)