Moloney inspires Tipp to Intermediate glory

LADIES FOOTBALL: TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Football Final

 

 

Tipperary     2-16

Meath             1-14

 

Report: Cóilín Duffy at Croke Park
 

A strong second half display was key as Tipperary Ladies Footballers delivered their second All-Ireland Intermediate Championship title in three years, and with it promotion to the Senior grade for 2020.

 

Shane Ronayne's charges hit 1-2 in a two and a half minute spell mid-way through the second half, including an Aishling McCarthy goal, which provided the platform for this win.
 

Tipperary delivered a strong display, and some impressive scores with 2-15 of their 2-16 tally from open play – the only converted free coming from Aishling Moloney, which was Tipperary's final score.

 

Aoibhín Cleary and Orla O'Dwyer traded points in the opening stages before Tipperary pushed 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after six minutes, with Moloney, Caoimhe Condon and McCarthy on target.

 

Vikki Wall delivered a much required score for Meath, with their first score in six minutes, before Moloney restored Tipperary's three point-lead.

 

Meath were hungry and with efforts from Emma Duggan, and Fiona O'Neill they cut the gap to a point with 14 minutes left to go in the half, 0-6 to 0-5.

 

Caitlín Kennedy delivered an excellent point, after a well-worked move by the Tipperary attack, before Duggan responded with her third point – a second from a placed ball. Both sides had some missed opportunities over the following two minutes, with a Caoimhe Condon effort short into Meath keeper Monica McGuirk; before Vikki Wall registered Meath's fifth wide.

 

In contrast, Tipperary were clinical, with just one wide inside the opening 20 minutes. Tipperary began to dominate attacking chances, but fired two quick wides, before making amends with a Moloney point.

 

Meath hit a purple-patch, with Bridgetta Lynch chipping the ball into Fiona O'Neill who finished with a goal, to put the Royals 1-7 to 0-9 ahead.

 

Kelsey Nesbitt extended the gap to two points, before Angela McGuigan registered Tipperary's first goal, after Ava Fennessy provided the pass, and their side regained the lead.

 

Another Duggan pointed free levelled matters, but Tipperary finished the half strongly with a McCarthy point to ensure a 1-10 to 1-9 interval lead.

 

Tipperary dominated possession in the opening ten minutes of the second half, but failed to convert this to scores, registering four wides during this spell.

 

Meath equalised through Lynch with the first score of the half, almost nine minutes after the restart, but Tipperary once again came good. Moloney broke the scoring dead-lock, before McCarthy cut in for Tipperary's second goal, after good work by Orla O'Dwyer.

 

O'Dwyer was on the end of a move after McGuigan provided the pass soon-after, and while a goal may have been an option, she opted to take a point, as Tipperary led 2-12 to 1-10.

 

Tipperary continued to cause the Meath defence problems, with O'Dwyer working hard, but Meath also showed well defensively with the likes of Shauna Ennis and Orlaith Duff putting in good blocks in the second half.

 

Vikki Wall and Duggan kept the score-board ticking over, but the Royals couldn't find the second goal they needed, and Tipperary held out for a deserved victory, and All-Ireland silverware.

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Aishling Moloney (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Aishling Moloney 0-8 (1 free); Aisling McCarthy 1-2; Angela McGuigan 1-1; Orla O’Dwyer 0-2; Caoimhe Condon, Caitlín Kennedy, Ava Fennessey 0-1 each.

Meath: Emma Duggan 0-5 (3 frees); Vicky Wall 0-4; Fiona O’Neill 1-1; Aoibhín Cleary, Kelsey Nesbitt, Bridgetta Lynch, Stacey Grimes (1f) 0-1 each.

 

TEAMS - Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry); Lucy Spillane (Fethard), Maria Curley (Templemore), Emma Cronin (Moyle Rovers); Samantha Lambert (Ardfinnan, Capt), Bríd Condon (Aherlow), Caitlín Kennedy (Aherlow); Aisling McCarthy (Cahir), Anna Rose Kennedy (Aherlow); Orla O’Dwyer (Boherlahan), Aishling Moloney (Cahir), Niamh Lonergan (Moyle Rovers); Ava Fennessy (Clonmel Commercials), Angela McGuigan (Sliabh na mBan), Caoimhe Condon (Brian Borus).

Subs: Laura Dillon (Ardfinnan) for Cronin (HT); Róisín Daly (Moyne-Templetuohy) for Condon (43); Orla Winston (Clonmel Commercials) for McGuigan (50).

Meath: Monica McGuirk; Katie Newe, Orlaith Duff, Sarah Powderly; Orla Byrne, Sarah Wall, Shauna Ennis; Máire O’Shaughnessy, Aoibhín Cleary; Vikki Wall, Megan Thynne, Emma Duggan; Fiona O’Neill, Bridgetta Lynch, Kelsey Nesbitt.

Subs: Orlagh Lally for Powderly (46); Stacey Grimes for Duggan (47); Megan O’Brien for Byrne (47); Niamh Gallogly for Ennis (56); Emma White for S Wall (58).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)