Disappointed Creedon feels Tipp are making improvements

By Michael Dundon

Tipperary manager Peter Creedon was disappointed to lose by nine points to Galway in round two of the All-Ireland Ladies Football championship on Sunday but has little time to brood over the result as a trip to Cork is next on the agenda with a win imperative if his charges are to stay in contention.

Two teams go forward to the quarter-finals from the three team group, and it is a tall order for the Premier girls to topple a Cork side who have a proven track record at this level and who will be warm favourites, but Peter Creedon feels his team is improving all the time.

“I am disappointed to lose to Galway,” Creedon began.

“But look, Galway are ahead of us, and they were something like twelve to one favourites to win today. We are improving all the time. Our girls battled bravely out there. You cannot ask for more from them.”

The manager wants to see Tipp in the top six in the championship, adding: “We are stuck in that eighth to twelfth zone and I would love if we could get into the top six.

“We are always aiming for the next score, to win the next ball, and I feel we are getting better as we go along, but we are still a bit behind the top sides.”

With injuries to key players such as Marie Creedon and Anna Rose Kennedy, the manager’s hand is greatly weakened, and neither are expected to be fit to face Cork next Saturday.

Looking ahead to that game, the Thurles Sarsfields clubman said: “Even if we had won today, we would still have had to get a result in Cork to qualify so in that sense today’s defeat is of no consequence.

“We will have a look at the video of this game to see how we can improve. It is all or nothing in Cork and we will give it our best shot.”

Tipp have been making great strides in ladies’ football under Peter Creedon and while the odds are stacked against them it would be an enormous boost for the game in the county if they could lower the colours of the Lee-siders.

Tipp have some of the best players in the game but not enough of them. However, the leadership of such as Aisling Moloney, Emma Morrissey, captain Maria Curley and Neassa Towey could provide the inspiration for a big win in Cork.

CORK v TIPPERARY

Clonakilty

Saturday 1st July

Throw-in @ 2.00pm

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)