Tyrone v Roscommon match report

Tyrone Senior Ladies Suzuki National League
Tyrone Senior Ladies’ Suzuki
National League campaign began with a losing start last
Sunday with a 1-14 to 4-07 defeat at the hands of Roscommon
at Augher, writes Ciaran Woods. Despite the disappointment
of defeat, Tyrone will draw comfort from the quality of
some of their play, and even more so from the return to
the side of a number of key players. The Tyrone team was
much changed from that which suffered defeat to Galway in
last seasons Championship, with the return of former Allstar
Eilish Gormley at full-forward, as well as Dungannon Aodh
Ruadh duo Caroline Kelly and Katrina Murphy, both of whom
had spent last season abroad.

It was also a monumental day for the St Macartans club,
with Maura Kelly captaining the side on her home ground,
and both her sisters Grainne and Elaine joining her in the
starting line-up. Tyrone got off to the worst possible start,
conceding a goal inside two minutes after some ring-rusty
defending. Both sides then exchanged a series of points,
Carrickmore pair Eilish Gormley and Lynnette Hughes registering
scores for the Red Hands. Further points from corner-forward
Caroline Kelly, midfielder Murphy, then two more scores
stretched Tyrone’s lead to three points, before Roscommon
struck for goal again, a speculative effort from the full-forward
looping over the head of Tyrone ‘keeper Martina Glackin
and into the net.

A further Roscommon point from the restart made the score
0-7 to 2-3, before a controversial refereeing decision dealt
a further blow to Tyrone’s hopes. With Tyrone expecting
to regain possession after a stop in play after a clash
of players, the referee allowed Roscommon to take a quick
free-kick while Tyrone were still reorganising and regrouping.
The ball was kicked effortlessly into an empty Tyrone net,
and despite protests from Tyrone players and officials,
the goal was allowed to stand. Tyrone attacked with gusto,
and their efforts were rewarded when the ball broke kindly
in front of the Roscommon goal for Elaine Kelly to poke
home from close range. Roscommon added one further point
before the half-time whistle, to extend their lead to 1-7
to 3-4 at the interval.

The second half was dominated by missed opportunities and
misplaced passes, as a lack of training and tiredness began
to tell on both sides. Tyrone got off to a great start,
levelling the game within four minutes through scores from
Michaela Doherty, Lynnette Hughes and midfielder Nuala Mc
Garvey. A further pointed free by Hughes then put Tyrone
into a one-point lead. Roscommon rallied and kicked two
points to restore their lead, but they struggled to convert
their dominance and possession into scores.

The game swung from one end to the other, but Tyrone were
finding it difficult to find the cutting edge, notching
up a further three wides before Michaela Doherty levelled
the game with a free with ten minutes to play. Doherty pointed
again soon after to open up a one-point lead to the home
side. Tyrone then received a great opportunity to take a
stranglehold on the game when the referee awarded a penalty
for a foul on Caroline Kelly inside the area. Allstar nominee
Hughes stepped up to take the resultant kick, but her effort
lacked direction and was easily stopped by the ‘keeper.
Hughes went some way to redeem herself moments later when
she finished off a great move involving Kelly and Gormley
as she slotted over the bar to open up a two-point lead.
With the game in injury time it seemed Tyrone were destined
to gain two valuable National League points, but a break
away move by Roscommon wasn’t dealt with by the Tyrone rearguard,
and the Western side broke to score their fourth goal of
the game, catapulting them into a two-point lead, which
Tyrone didn’t have time or opportunity to pull back, and
Roscommon emerged victorious on a 1-14 to 4-7 scoreline.

Tyrone Line-out: Martina Glackin, Seana Keenan, Maura
Kelly, Grainne Kelly, Claire Mc Garvey, Connie Fox, Selena
Oguz, Katrina Murphy, Nuala Mc Garvey, Etoinne O’Kane, Lynnette
Hughes, Elaine Kelly, Caroline Kelly, Eilish Gormley, Michaela
Doherty Subs Used: Briege Daly for Elaine Kelly Cathy Donnelly
for Etoinne O’Kane Aisling Hagan for Seana Keenan Tyrone
Scorers: Lynnette Hughes 0-4 (2 frees) Caroline Kelly 0-3
Michaela Doherty 0-3 (1 free) Elaine Kelly 1-0 Eilish Gormley
0-1 Etoinne O’Kane 0-1 Nuala Mc Garvey 0-1 Katrina Murphy
0-1