Disappointment for Tyrone as Woods Set to Miss Out

Tyrone’s influential captain Neamh Woods looks set to miss Sundays Ulster intermediate ladies final against Down, it appears that the Drumragh club player has not recovered from a serious shoulder injury that has kept her out of action for well over a month now. Despite the best efforts of medics Woods just has not revovered and sadly is not the O’Neill countys only possible absentee with Cara McCrossan unlikley to feature after also picking up a knee injury in the semi-final win over Fermangh.

Manager Gerry Moane has been left counting the cost of that win over his native county and a series of club championship and league games in the month since, several other players suffered bumps and knocks too. Down are expected to welcome back Aileen Pyers who missed out on a comfortable semi-final win also over Fermanagh as they tried to seal a final spot at the second attempt.

 

It’s been a difficult season so far for the two teams who will line out in the Final at St Tiernach’s Park, Both suffered poor league campaigns and have a glut of new faces. The final will though afford both teams a chance to put that behind them, get their hands on some silverware and most importantly build again. Tyrone and Down have come down from senior to intermediate level , that decision not entered into lightly for either of the county boards or their squads, but one deemed necessary for the betterment of the game and its players in their counties.

“ It was the right call, Tyrone have not been a force now for several years, a look at the results would show you that, winning the odd game a season was not for Tyrone football or the development of the senior team, there has been no platform for the younger players coming through, this is a new team, it’s about development and the team becoming winners again” enthused Tyrone manager Gerry Moane, back in the hotseat and enjoying this second term in charge assisted now by Strabane’s Brendan McLaughlin.

 

In the semi final Downs Lauren Cunningham had the run of Galbally racking up 2-9 of her sides tally, Tyrone will be well aware of the threat of the diminutive forward that has hogged the headlines since. Moane and his backroom team watched that game and know they have the options at the back. Tori McLaughlin, Christiane Hunter and Joanne Barrett are full of running as well as being wonderful one on one markers. It remains to be seen if the manager will deploy the one on one approach or just  focus on Tyrone’s own game plan which should allow them the freedom to roam. It will be the managers call. Up front Tyrone have finally found  the scoring touch too, but the potential loss of McCrossan and the inevitable absence of Woods is a massive set back.

Moane continued “We must be disciplined around the scoring zone, Down are a good side they still have experienced players around the squad, they won that all Ireland in 2014 of course and like ourselves suffered a tough time last year and through the league, we have to be at our best on Sunday, we can have no excuses”

 

Sundays game at Clones is part of a triple header that will feature the Ulster senior ladies final and the Tyrone Cavan mens Ulster semi-final replay

Throw in Time for the intermediate final is 12 noon.