TYRONE LADIES RETURN TO LEAGUE ACTION

Tyrones Senior Ladies got their championship campaign off to a good start with a 2-10 to 0-12 win over Down at Edendork last Sunday.

An opportunistic goal in each half from Carrickmore’s Gemma Begley was the foundation of the Red Hands victory as despite incessant Down pressure in the closing stages the Mourne girls just could not find the scores necessary to stage what would have been a dramatic comeback.

Down raced into a three point lead as Karen Keone, Kyla Trainor and Denise Maguire all found the target as Tyrone were forced onto the back foot. It was Tyrone captain Eilish Gormley, who turned in a sparkling display throughout, that pulled her side back into the reckoning as Tyrone went on to score 1-5 without reply to take control of the tie.

Three points from Gormley and another from midfielder Maeve Mc Gurk put the Red Hands firmly in the driving seat. Begley then pounced after Caroline Kelly’s initial effort had been palmed out by the Down keeper to put the ball to the back of the net to open up a 1-5 to 0-4 lead with five first-half minutes remaining.

As the game continued to swing from one end to the other, Down again got on top in the possession stakes as two points from Keone cut the deficit. Eilish Gormley added a further two points for Tyrone, but they could have been further in front at the break had they not dropped four efforts short into the goalkeepers hands.

An inspired burst upfield by Down fullback was one of the highlights of the first half, and her run set up Kyla Trainer to point and leave four between the sides at the break, 1-7 to 0-6.

Down needed to hit back early in the second period if they were to stage a comeback, but their hopes were crushed after just three minutes as Begley once again was on hand to capitalise on a mistake in the Down rearguard to fire the ball to the back of the net.

Michaela Downey had been impressive throughout at midfield for the Mourne girls, but in the second half she became increasingly involved in their forward moves as Tyrone struggled to contain her powerful runs. Her first point of the day came at the end of a great run upfield.

Cathy Donnelly responded for Tyrone in the twelfth minute, but it was to be their last impression on the scoreboard for all of thirteen minutes as the pendulum again swung in Downs favour with further points from Keone and Downey, both from frees.

Begley pointed again in the 25th minute of the half, before the same player was unlucky to see her rasping effort on goal rebound back off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

Down once again turned up the pressure in injury time with points from Trainor (2) and Downey bringing their side back to within just three points of their hosts, as Tyrones slender lead now looked vulnerable.

However the last word went to Aodh Ruadh’s Caroline Kelly who capped a fine display with a late, late point to open up the crucial four point cushion to ease her side to victory.

Teams & Scorers
Tyrone: Elaine Mallaghan, Sinead Mc Laughlin, Eimear Teague, Seana Keenan, Connie Fox, Arlene Mc Closkey, Martina Doyle, Maeve Mc Gurk (0-2), Maura Kelly, Orla O’Neill, Cathy Donnelly (0-1), Ann Dooher, Gemma Begley (2-1), Eilish Gormley (0-5), Caroline Kelly (0-1)
Subs Used: Katrina Daly for Ann Dooher, Claire Mc Alliskey for Orla O’Neill
Down: Elaine Mc Court, Sinead Murphy, Eliza Downey, Aveen Mc Avoy, Eilis Mc Conville, Bronagh Mc Curry, Patricia Mc Kibben, Michaela Downey (0-3), Aine Keary, Aoibheann Downey, Denise Maguire (0-1), Michelle Fearon, Kelly O’Higgins, Kyla Trainor (0-4), Karen Keone (0-4)
Subs Used: Lynsey Cunningham for Denise Maguire, Deidre Quinn for Michelle Fearon, Emma Madine for Kelly O’Higgins

Monaghan provide next challenge
This Sunday Tyrone come up against reigning champions Monaghan in the second “round robin” game. Tyrone will be hoping to secure another victory which would guarantee them an Ulster Final slot, but Monaghan will be going out with all guns blazing against their old rivals.

The Farney girls lost their opening fixture last week to Donegal, so now a victory on Sunday is crucial if they are to keep on track to retain their Ulster crown. They will still be smarting from last weeks loss, and are Tyrone will have to raise their game again in order to match the favourites.

Tyrone boss John Mc Aleer will have had plenty to work on in training this week, as a number of areas of Tyrones display last week required attention. On the other hand, the Red Hand girls did play some great football at times, and their victory will have given them confidence for the remainder of the tie.

When these two traditional “big guns” of Ulster Ladies football lock horns a close encounter is always guaranteed, and this weeks game will be no different as there is so much at stake for both sides.