Tyrone Blitz Donegal

LADIES FOOTBALL

ALL IRELAND LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP

 

TYRONE    3-9

DONEGAL 0-7

An 11-point victory for Tyrone over Ulster rivals Donegal on Saturday at Omagh in their second group three game of the all Ireland championship  has set up a winner take all clash with Sligo on Saturday evening at Cavan. A quarter final spot is up for grabs now after Laois beat Sligo and Tyrone eased themselves home. The Tyrone victory though coming with the loss of Eimear Teague who suffered a serious knee injury in the first half, its unlkiley she will play again this term.

The overall Tyrone  performance despite the win though  was still littered with silly errors and the continued insistance to give the ball away when not under pressure. Points that Jimmy McCloughan will have to solve if Tyrone are to beat the Yeats county in what should be a thriller.

Tyrones second  half performance, much improved on the first, saw McCloughans side outscore their opponents 2-6 to 0-2,  and that was the basis of this victory which saw Tyrone get the better of their rivals for the second time in this year’s championship, the first outing being the preliminary round of the Ulster series. Despite what ended up being a comprehensive winning margin, Tyrone did not have it all their own way with their Ulster opponents on top for long periods of the clash.

Tyrone were well on top in the early stages but failed to make their dominance really show on the scoreboard. St Macartan’s attacker Joline Donnelly was proving to be a handful in the early stages, firing over a pointed free and two from play, as well as forcing the Donegal ‘keeper into a good save as Tyrone went 0-3 to 0-0 in front. Donegal responded with two points of their own, including one from dangerous wing-forward Yvonne McMonagle, before, with 19 minutes on the clock, the veteran  Eilish Gormley’s looping shot sailed over the head of Siobhan Mollahan and into the back of the Donegal net. At that point, it looked like Tyrone were set to rack up a sizeable first-half tally, but it proved to be their last score of the half while Hegarty 0-2 and  Gutherie again pointed for Donegal in an opening period which saw 14 minutes of injury time due to the injury to Tyrone defender Teague. At times, and it may have been because of the hurried and difficult pre match build up or the injury to the defender, Tyrone huffed and puffed, at midfield Donegal forced their hand for extended spells and in defence Tyrone were dispossed easily at times.

Tyrone started the second half as they had done the first with Cathy Donnelly, Gemma Begley and Joline Donnelly all finding the target. Niamh Hegarty responded with a converted free for Donegal, but Tyrone were looking much more dangerous in the second half, and when the ball was sent in over the top of the Donegal rearguard, Carrickmore attacker Begley made no mistake as she finished to the bottom corner to make it 2-6 to 0-6 with 50 minutes on the clock.

McMonagle pointed for Donegal, but Tyrone were starting to play some good controlled football and after a fine point from substitute Orla O’Neill, it was once again Begley who showed her class when after a great run from the left wing she blasted the ball high beyond the Donegal ‘keeper for her second and her side’s third goal of the day with just under an hour played.

Begley added a further pointed free-kick and with Tyrone ringing the changes, substitute Selena Oguz also got in on the scoring act as Tyrone ran out comfortable winners.

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An eleven point victory then for Tyrone with several impressive performers, Cathy and Joline Donnelly sharp up front and Neamh Woods very good in defence.

Not a classic performance though, the disruption of having to change away from Healy Park and warm up at Cappagh certainly didn’t help either side, Donegal worked hard but Tyrone always had the upper hand. Its set to be a tricky outing now though against Sligo.

TYRONE. Elaine Mallaghan, Eimear Teague, Maura Kelly, Marie Gallagher, Siobhan McGarvey, Lynda Donnelly, Neamh Woods, Katrina Murphy, Sarah Donnelly, Ann Dooher, Eilish Gormley 1-0, Claire McAliksey, Joline Donnelly 0-4, Gemma Begley 2-2, Cathy Donnelly 0-1.

Subs Selina Oguz  0-1, Orla O’Neill 0-1