Report: Tyrone storm to third successive TG4 Ulster intermediate title win

TG4 Ulster Ladies Intermediate Football Final

Tyrone 6-22

Down 1-7

Tyrone collected their three in a row of Ulster intermediate titles more at a canter than a gallop at Brewster Park on Sunday, Thirty points between the teams at the end of another one sided encounter against Down.

If Tyrone’s attack were clinical, their defence were equally impressive over the hour as Down struggled to get any sort of grip on the game. They carved out several openings in the second half, the veteran Kyla Trainor doing her best to drag her side back from the brink but this tie was decided long before half time or the introduction of Trainor.

Emma Brennan turned in a player of the match display at the back, there were numerous other contenders for that honour, Niamh Mc Girr, midfielders Neamh Woods and Emma Jane Gervin and top scorer Maria Canavan with 1.8. in the end it was the Trillick player, who also tagged on 1.1 was purring throughout.

For Tyrone it’s another step on the road back to Croke Park after the heartbreak of losing that all Ireland final, they have made no secret that a return to that final is the focus but Sunday was only about the win over Down, there was never any doubt about the outcome.

Tyrone had set out their stall early on, they dominated the opening exchanges, in a carbon copy of their start against Down in the semi final they almost goaled with the first attack. Neamh Woods sent Aine Canavan through on goal, she slipped a pass to Gemma Begley but her effort skimmed inches wide, Canavan shipped a knock that was to see her game last just ten minutes.

Quick fire points from Maria Canavan and Chloe Mc Caffrey got Tyrone rolling and by the end of the first quarter they were 2. 4 to 0.1 ahead, Down rarely troubling a water tight defence.

Emma Jane Gervin got Tyrone’s first goal,  Canavan’s quick thinking sending the midfielder through and she rolled the ball past Aishling Burns. Canavan was withdrawn shortly after that score, replaced by Emma Hegarty. Tyrone kept the momentum going and added a further 1.2 in a blistering three minute spell.

Begley and the returning Grainne Rafferty tagged on points with the second goal of the contest coming from Mc Caffrey, again Woods the provider. The Captains quick free sent Rafferty through and her perfect pass produced the opening for the St Macartan’s forward.

Downs sorties up the park were few and far between , when they did manage to shake the shackles of the defence Laura Kane was on hand to tackle anything that came her way, their best effort coming in 17 minutes when Meghan Doherty’s effort dropped short with their only point in twenty minutes coming from Jess Foy.

Canavan’s brace and a well taken Rafferty point were followed by a cracking Mc Caffrey goal. Her speculative shot from distance dropping over the head of Burns. By the break Tyrone had added another goal, veteran Gemma Begley collecting a poor kick out and running through unchallenged, picking her spot past Burns.

Further points from Niamh Hughes, Slaine Mc Carroll, Canavan and Mc Caffrey eased Tyrone well clear, Trainor, fresh off the bench and Foy points in the closing stages of the half leaving twenty points between the sides at the break.

Down came out of the blocks quickly after the restart but despite enjoying a period of possession they could not get the scoreboard moving with Tyrone’s response points from Mc Caffrey and Canavan. Down managed to find the net, a very tidy finish too, Natasha Ferris and Kate Mc Kay combined with Ferris with almost her first touch of the game after coming into the fray turned the ball past Kane.

This was perhaps Downs best spell, Trainor dropped an effort short as Canavan and Begley squandered goal chances at the other end. Tyrone rocking ? well that was hardly the case but to their credit Down battled better and stalled the Red Hand juggernaut albeit briefly.

Tyrone rung the changes, Niamh O’Neill, Aishling O’Kane, Christiane Hunter and Aiobheann Mc Hugh were all introduced and it seemed to kick start them again heading into the final quarter.

Emma Hegarty closed in on goal settling for a fisted point, Canavan converted a free before Emma Brennan’s long range effort caught the Down keeper napping , the ball slipping under her to the net. Down were pulled all over the park as Tyrone turned up the heat, seven points without reply after Foy hit a free for the Mourne side.

Aishling O’Kane and Canavan added a brace apiece, Niamh O’Neill , Gervin and Brennan completing  a points tally of 22 with the icing on the cake coming from Errigal ace Canavan. Woods striding through the middle teeing up Canavan for the easiest of flicks to the net.

Ferris and Foy added consolation points for Down but they will take nothing from this outing as Tyrone breezed over the line with thirty points to spare, their reward the three in a row of Ulster titles that has eluded the menfolk of the county…..but there’s bigger fish to fry for this Tyrone side.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Tyrone scorers: Maria Canavan 1.8, Chloe Mc Caffrey 2.3, Emma Jane Gervin, Gemma Begley, Emma Brennan 1.1 each, Grainne Rafferty and Aishling O’Kane 0. 2 each, Niamh Hughes, Niamh O’Neill, Emma Hegarty, Slainne Mc Carroll  0.1 each

Down scorers: Natasha Ferris 1.1, Jess Foy 0.4, Kyla Trainor 0.2

 

TEAMS:

Tyrone: Laura Kane, Niamh Mc Girr, Aimee Daly, Joanne Barrett, Slaine Mc Carroll, Emma Mulgrew, Emma Brennan, Neamh Woods, Emma Jane Gervin, Niamh Hughes, Maria Canavan, Aine Canavan, Gemma Begley, Grainne Rafferty, Chloe Mc Caffrey  Subs: Emma Hegarty for A Canavan, Niamh O’Neill for Rafferty, Aishling O’Kane for Hughes, Christiane Hunter for Mc Carroll Aoibheann Mc Hugh for Gervin

Down: Aishling Burns, Laura Morgan, Orla Boyle, Niamh Price, Adair Trainor, Roisin Torney, Chara Laverty, Aoife Keown, Leah Milligan, Grainne Mc Clean, Jess Foy, Clara Mulvenna, Laoise Duffy, Meghan Doherty, Kate Mc Kay. Subs Aimee Greene for Morgan, Natasha Ferris for Mc Clean, Kyla Trainor for Trainor, Sorcha Mc Cartan for Duffy, Cassie Mohan for Price

Referee: Yvonne Duffy Cavan