TYRONE 2-12 LAOIS 1-11

There was changes to the home side from the team that beat Mayo but the return was as good as they beat the Leinster visitors 2-12 to 1-11.

To be fair to Laois they started in whirlwind fashion, Martina Dune opening the scoring and Tracey Lawlor running the show, the centre half forward indeed had a bright start but it was Tyrone who bounced straight back and led 1-3 to two points after ten minutes.

Gemma Begley on target with the goal and points from the Donnelly’s, Cathy and Joline and Niamh McKiernan driving Tyrone on. Lawlor remained the key threat for the visitors and she certainly left Tyrone struggling at times and by half time there was just a point between the sides after some good passages of play.

Ashling Quigley netted for Laios while Dungannons McKiernan stole in past Fallon for Tyrone’s second three pointer.

A mobile full forward line led by Mary Kirwan was a constant threat to Tyrone and that continued into the second half, however the Woods- Donnelly combination at midfield started to take a grip. Lawlor became less effective with Tyrone slowly getting a vice like grip on the tie.

Chances came and went for both teams though and Tyrone squandered a host of score able chances prompting changes to the attack.

Laura McGreesh and Sonya Maguire introduced although a Sarah Donnelly brace steadied the ship and further scores from Cathy Donnelly, Joline Donnelly, Ashling O Kane and the always dangerous Gemma Begley closed out the game with Laois only managing to raise the white flag on a further three occasions.

A good win, an overall good performance but despite the points in the bag there are areas that could be strengthened. No doubting though that it’s a learning curve for everyone involved and thankfully it appears there’s plenty being learnt.

Impressive for Laois were Kirwan, Fogarty, Dunne and of course Lawlor while Maura Kelly settled in well to her task, the midfield were impressive while once again Cathy Donnelly, McKiernan and Begley worked hard against a tricky defence.

MATCH STATS

TYRONE; Sinead McVeigh, Marie Gallagher, Maura Kelly, Sinead McLaughlin, Laura McGillion, Lynda Donnelly, Maria Donnelly, Neamh Woods, Sarah Donnelly 0-2, Cathy Donnelly 0-3, Gemma Begley 1-1, Ashling O’Kane 0-1, Neamh McKiernan 1-2, Dervla McCallan, Joline Donnelly 0-3

SUBS USED

Eimear Teague FOR Gallagher , Sonya Maguire FOR O’Kane, Seana Keenan FOR M Donnelly, Nina Murphy FOR Mc Callan, Catriona McGahan FOR J Donnelly, Carol Dooher FOR C Donnelly

LADIES SEEK KINGDOM REVENGE

Next up for Tyrone is the trip to Milltown this Sunday for what will be a tricky enough outing against Kerry. A chance perhaps for a quick revenge mission after the counties men met last week. A weakened kingdom though were hammered by Mayo on Sunday last.

The Tyrone management are expected to ring the changes again as they attempt to cast an eye over the balance of their squad. Several players with county experience have yet to taste the action in this years national league campaign and both Messer’s Donnelly and Colton have indicated that everyone will get a run out as the date with Armagh in the Ulster championship beckons.

The league campaign though has certainly been better than many expected, the genuine hunger for success and the real battle for places in a side that is keen to take a major step forward are all positives that has already driven Tyrone to within a whisker now of the knock out stages.

A win away this weekend would really set things up nicely for clashes with Armagh and Donegal in the final rounds of the league.

On current form an away win is not beyond this Tyrone side.

There’s several injury worries finally and with the Dowd cup final next Thursday 26th the Tyrone management team will be keeping fingers crossed that there will be no major casualties.

New Referees
Anyone interested in a course for referees should forward names to Ashling Doyle by this Friday 20th February.

It may be worth mentioning again that if clubs do not have an active referee, then they will lose home advantage in their underage championship matches.

Existing Referees
A referees refresher seminar was held on Monday in Cappagh and approximately 20 referees from last year were in attendance. The next and last refresher seminar is to be held next Wednesday 25th February in Killeshill @ 7pm. He County Fixtures board urge all clubs to remind their nominated referees to attend this seminar if they were not at Mondays. If your referee does not attend a refresher seminar, then they will not be eligible to referee Championship Football in Tyrone this year.