Tyrone 1-14 Kery 3-9

SUZUKI NATIONAL FOOTBAL LEAGUE

TYRONE 1-14
KERRY 3-9

Two late points from all star forward Gearldine O Shea and a last gasp score from Patrice Denaghy salvaged an unlikely victory for Kerry at Eskra on Sunday in a thrilling Suzuki national league tie against a very improved Tyrone.

In the end of a good all round performance Tyrone’s management and players will be disappointed at the final outcome of this clash, but to be fair there was nothing between the sides throughout and it took a good match winner from Denaghy who scored 1-2 to secure the win.

The game was always on a knife edge, it was certainly end to end stuff and both teams came back, led and trailed, it was that sort of fixture but Tyrone will take plenty of positives from the tie. Kerry had thumped Mayo the previous week but they were lucky, admitted their management team, to get out of Tyrone with the full points, a real smash and grab for the visitors.

Within the opening 15 minutes Tyrone had led, fell behind before pulling level again. Points from Anne Dooher and two from Gemma Begley gave Tyrone the lead, Houlian and Denaghy replied before referee Eugene O’Hare gave Kerry a lifeline with a soft enough penalty.

O Shea went to the edge of the square, seemed to over carry but the match official signalled the spot kick which was duly dispatched past McVeigh by Denaghy.

It was good to see Tyrone reply within minutes though, Sarah Donnelly took a Jolene Donnelly pass to score a point while Jolene herself added the equaliser, both coming in the space of two minutes.

Tyrone though saw efforts drop short on at least three occasions and that’s one aspect of their game that let them down in this encounter while some poor marking set up a second Kingdom goal on 18 minutes, centre half back Caroline Kelly took the ball over the halfway line and the defence opened up for her, her run was good she layed off to Houlian who found full forward Murphy free and she let fly.

 

Again though Tyrone steadied and this time took control in the last ten minutes, Begley saw her goal bound effort skim over the bar and Dooher pointed again.

A further 0-2 from Begley and minors from McLaughlin and Donnelly put Tyrone into a good lead 0-11 to2-2, Joanna Brosnan though did cut the deficit to two points by half time.

The sides were level after nine second half minutes though with two O’Shea points,

The corner forward too had a stinging shot well saved by Tyrone’s new goalkeeper Sinead McVeigh but it was Kerry who went ahead again after Brosnan found the range from distance.

Sinead McLaughlin and Clodagh Poyntz were introduced by now and the Tyrone side began to settle again with Woods and McGlinchey worthy of mention in the defence.

Neamh Woods indeed scored the equaliser from long range, but their joy was short lived as substitute Lynchs shot hit the post and with Murphy reacting quickest it was back to a three point game as the full forward drilled home her second and Kerry’s third goal.

So back to the drawing board, Shannon Quinn came in for McCloskey, Mc Alisky replaced McKiernan and Tyrone battled away for every ball, that determination produced Tyrone’s goal on twenty minutes.

Gemma Begleys 45 hit the crossbar and fell to midfielder Sarah Donnelly, she was fouled and the resultant penalty scored by Begley left it level again.

A frantic twelve minutes followed, Woods and Begley points gave Tyrone the edge going into the closing stages and they created other chances too, however inexperience came into play and it was O’Shea who scored twice to level things before deep in injury time Denaghy scored the winner.

Tyrone perhaps failed to close things and slow things down in the closing minutes but overall it was a good performance by Tyrone, joint manager Michaela O’Neill disappointed but happy at the workrate,

“ Yes it was a game we should have something out of, we had the chances but in the end we have to take so much out of the display, we showed great battling qualities and it all bodes well for us,”

Once again though several players were outstanding, Woods in defence, Begley who finished with 1-6 and Jolene Donnelly up front, but there still plenty of work to be done.

 

MATCH STATS

TYRONE

Sinead McVeigh, SeannaKeenan, Carol McGlinchey, Maura Kelly Ashling Hagan, Lynda Donnelly, Neamh Woods 0-2, Arlene McCloskey, Srah Donnelly 0-1, Anne Dooher 0-2, Niamh McKiernan, Cathy Donnelly, Sarah Louise McLaughlin 0-1, Gemma Begley 1-6, Joline Donnelly 0-2

Subs

Sinead McLaughlin FOR Kenan, Clodagh Poyntz FOR McLaughlin, Shannon Quinn FOR McCloskey, Claire McAliskey FOR McKiernan, Orla O’Neill FOR Dooher

 

KERRY SCORERS Deborah Murphy 2-0, Patrice Denaghy 1-2, Gearldine O’Shea 0-4, JoannaBrosnan 0-2, Sarah Houlian 0-1

 

This Sunday Tyrone will entertain Wexford at Healy Park Omagh and after two good performances but with only one victory points are vital with Armagh and Mayo still to come.

There is an injury worry over Maura Kelly for this clash, she picked up a shoulder and ankle injury on Sunday while Seanna Keenan was also struggling at the weekend. Sinead McLaughlin is back from flu and could come back into the starting 15 while up front Ailish Gormley.is unavailable for selection.

 

Wexford lost at the weekend to Mayo, only by three points though and they will certainly be up for the trip to the home of Tyrone football, Tyrone though are looking forward to the tie,

“ Its another home game for us and we are looking forward to it, we are improving all the time and we are well focused now on league points, I know we certainly need them but we are confident that we can secure another win setting us up for the game away to Armagh and away to Mayo.” Said joint manager O’Neill.

 

LEAGUE SEASON OPENS The new domestic season opens in Tyrone this weekend with the counties Teamtalk minor league the feature. All games throw in at 5pm and clubs are reminded they must let county secretary Maggie Skelton and fixtures know the home venues for this season. Ahead of this weekend.

It is the home club and referees responsibility to phone in results to the relevant fixtures officer, Senior/Minor Brenda Mellon and Under 16/ Under 14 to Aisling Doyle as soon as the game is finished.

 

This season All referee reports must be sent to Patsy Mc Crory (Vice Chairman)
Reports for all under 12 and under 10’s matches must also be sent to Patsy Mc \
Crory.
Meanwhile the date that has been set aside for the FEILE is 25th March (easter \
Tues ).

The County Fixtures committee require any team that is entering the Feile to confirm their entry by Wednesday March 5th, any club entering after that date will not be included in the draw

 

The Next County board meeting is Wednesday 5th at Cappagh/ Killyclogher

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