McCarthy on song as table-topping Tipperary make it 4/4 in Division 2

Lidl National Football League Div. 2

Cavan 3-4
Tipperary 1-13 

Top of the table clash saw Tipp make the long journey north for the third time in this campaign and returned home with their fourth victory on the trot, beating Cavan by three points.

Hard working mid fielder Orla O’Dwyer opened the scoring for Tipp with a fine point which was quickly followed by a second from the boot of Aishling Moloney. 

On the eighth minute of the first half Cavan were awarded a penalty which centre forward Aisling Doonan found the top corner of the net from. 

The resultant kick out saw Cavan pick up the ball on the twenty metre line and Aishling Sheridan gave Lauren Fitzpatrick in the Tipp goals no chance. 

So with nine minutes gone the home side were ahead 2-0 to 0-2. 

Tipp responded with a flurry of points but Doonan hit back with two for Cavan. 

Aisling McCarthy reduced the deficit to two with a point from a very difficult angle with eighteen minutes gone in the first half. 

Both defences were on top for the next five minutes when a quick ball worked out of the Tipp defence by Jennifer Grant to Brid Condon who ran at the Cavan defence, sprayed the ball wide to the wing to Aisling McCarthy, who rounded her three markers and dropped a high ball in over Holly Lynch in the Cavan gaol leaving the half time score Tipp 1-6 Cavan 2-2. 

Tipperary dominated the second half and kept Cavan scoreless until the 24^th minute when a lapse in concentration allowed Ciara Finnegan in for Cavan’s third goal and make it a three point game. 

Amy Rooney and Catriona Smith each pointed before Gillian O Brien popped one over to put two between the teams. 

After some great work by Sarah Everard and some great interplay, Aisling McCarthy got her hands on the ball and put it high over the bar to put three between the sides and ensure the two points for the Premier girls and four wins out of four in Division 2. 

While the scores came from the boot of McCarthy, this was an all-round team performance with the defence solid at the back and not giving away scoreable frees and then the forwards up front taking the opportunities afforded them.

The link-up play and the workrate of the Condon sisters Brid and Siobhan, with the experience of Jennifer Grant and Samantha Lambert at the back, was the platform for this win. 

The engine in the middle of the field that is Orla O Dwyer and her ability to deftly dispossess her opponent is an invaluable skill and the potency of the attack bodes well for future games.

Next up for Tipp is Waterford next weekend, with the Déise now second in the table, three points behind the Premier County. 

Tipp Team:  Lauren Fitzpatrick Ballymacarbry, Siobhan Condon Aherlow, Maria Curly Templemore, Emma Buckley Cahir,  Brid Condon Aherlow, Samantha Lambert (C) Ardfinnan, Laura Dillion Ardfinnan, Lorraine O Shea Mullinahone, Orla O Dwyer (0-1) Boherlanhan, Gillian O Brien (0-1) Moyle Rovers, Jennifer Grant Brian Borus, Niamh Lonergan Moyle Rovers, Roisin Howard (0-2) Cahir, Aisling Moloney (0-4)  Aishling McCarthy (1-5 1F) Cahir, Subs  Shauna Quirke Cappawhite for Niamh Lonergan, Sarah Everard Moyle Rovers for Orla O Dywer  Aoibhe O Shea Mullinahone for Laura Dillion