LADIES FOOTBALL

ALL IRELAND MINOR SEMI-FINAL

Finding themselves shell shocked in a smash and grab opening thirteen minutes Tyrone’s minor footballers were always on the back foot in Sundays all Ireland semi- final tussle with Dublin.

In that opening spell of the half Tyrone were hit for 2-6 and by the 25^th minute that tally was 3-7 to no score, all the Ulster champions managing was one real attack that saw Sarah Connolly hit a twenty metre free wide.

Tyrone failed to handle the power and the pace of wing half forwards Murphy (0-1)and Healy (1-1) and were punished -, Gerrity (0-1) and the experienced full forward Lyndsey Davey (1-2) piled on the agony as the Tyrone defence were stretched, only Sinead Cullen from the forward six, missing out on the scoring party.

So with five minutes left on the first half clock at Mullaghoran in Cavan, Tyrone trailed by sixteen points, they struggled to come to terms with the pace and power of the Leinster champions and the introduction of Laura McCreesh, her first appearance after long term injury failed to answer the problems.

Neamh Woods and Christiane Hunter battled hard to ease the pressure and for long periods in the last quarter the duo were successful however up front the Tyrone forwards were under the cosh with Shona Barrett, Sinead Goldrick  and Alish McKenna impressive at closing Sarah Connolly and Clodagh Poyntz out of the game.

All Tyrone could muster in that half was two points McCreesh and Connolly finally breaking the shackles of the Dubs defence to get the scores with Time up.

Tyrone stormed into the second half and rattled the Dublin side early on with a Connolly point and a goal chance pushed away by goalkeeper Tyrell. Within five minutes though normal service was resumed at the other end by the quality Dublin outfit as first Amy Connolly and then Gerritty again found points easy to come by as Tyrone pressed forward desperate to cut the deficit.

A stroke of luck produced their fourth goal on four minutes, Davey broke clear but her goalbound effort came of the crossbar to Cullen who had the simplest of tasks. Healys third point of the day made it unbearable reading for the Tyrone support, 4-10 to 0-3.

The battling qualities though of this young Tyrone side who had stormed through Ulster came back to the fore and by the midway point they had found the net through Clodagh Poyntz but could so easily have had further goals.

Connolly saw her two efforts smothered and cleared and a clear cut drive through the centre by McCreesh produced a full length diving save by Hannah Tyrell. Poyntz also went close as Tyrone rallied, Sadly for them it wasn’t to be and Dublin stepped it up again Gerrity scoring another goal from distance and points from Healy and the impressive Gerrity again who gave Britta Quinn a torrid time.

Shannon Quinn and midfield partner Emma Conlon tried to take control at midfield at for several spells they had the upper hand, however Mc Evoy was certainly impressive for the victors in this sector.

Disappointment then for Tyrone who had certainly been well and truly turned over.

Some good passages of play by Tyrone though but an overall bad day at the office for too many players, their inability at times to keep the Dublin forwards at bay and take what ever  scores did come there way proved decisive .The ability of Dublins forwards to keep Connolly, Poyntz and the Tyrone forwards quiet was certainly Tyrones downfall.

For many of this squad this was the end of the road but they can certainly be proud of their Ulster campaign, unstoppable by anyone they claimed the Ulster crown and many will be back on the all Ireland stage again with Tyrone seniors in the not to distant future.

TYRONE Sinead McVeigh, Britta Quinn, Laura Mc Gillion, Christiane Hunter, Rachel Molly, Neamh Woods, Roisin Rafferty, Emma Conlon, Shannon Quinn, Rebecca McCrory, Ashling O’Kane (0-1), Kerrie Grimes, Clodagh Poyntz (1-1)

Sarah Connolly (0-2), Sarah Louise McLaughlin.

Subs used Laura McCreesh (0-1) FOR McLaughlin.. Claire Scullion (0-1) FOR Grimes..Lycrecia Quinn (0-1) FOR McCrory. Aideen Devine FOR Scullion

DUBLIN  Tyrell, Goldrick, Barrett, McKenna, McGlinn, Hyland, Hudson, McEvoy, Flood, Murphy 1-1, Connolly 0-2, Healy 1-4, Cullen 1-0, Davey 1-3, Gerrity 1-5.

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