Donegal Ladies bow out of championship after defeat in Tipperary

Donegal’s interest in the All-Ireland Ladies Championship ended in Bansha with Tipperary prevailing by two points.

Donegal will rue a poor opening half where they found it difficult to get into the game, kicking just one point from play with Tipperary leading by five at the break.

To be fair to the Donegal Ladies, they did improve greatly in the second half with Jodie McFadden leading the charge. A goal from the Termon player had them back within a point with 14 minutes left but they were unable to continue the improvement in the final quarter.

On a sweltering hot day, Donegal were slow out of the blocks with Tipperary hitting the first four points in 13 minutes. Kirsty Crotty Ryan opened the scoring and centre-forward Anna Rose Kennedy hit the next three for the Premier Ladies.

Donegal eventually got on the board on 18 minutes when Katie Dowds won a free for Susanne White to point.

Donegal ‘keeper did well to tip over from Kennedy on 24 minutes as Tipperary threatened the Donegal goal.

Susanne White added another point from a free but Kirsty Crotty Ryan replied from long range. Tipperary were again denied a goal minutes by some good Donegal defending but Emma Morrissey was on hand to fire over the rebound for a 0-7 to 0-2 lead.

Blathnaid McLaughlin cut through to hit Donegal’s only point from play in the opening half. Tipperary wound down the clock by holding possession at the end of the half and then won a free at the death for Aishling Moloney to point.

Half-time: Tipperary 0-8, Donegal 0-3.

Aishling Moloney opened Tipperary’s second half account with a free on 33 minutes. This young Donegal team had plenty of possession but lacked a cutting edge up front.

Tipperary extended the lead on 40 minutes with Moloney adding another free.

Katie Dowds replied with a very good point from play for Donegal.Jodie McFadden added another from a free and it was the first time that Donegal put two scores together. It got better seconds later as they won the kick-out. Susanne White hit a post and it fell for Jodie McFadden to poke home to cut the lead to 0-10 to 1-5.

Jodie McFadden added another free to leave just the minimum between them with 13 minutes left.

Tipperary were lucky to keep 15 on the field with nine minutes left as Angela McGuigan pulled Ava Walsh to the ground and then tried to stop a quick free. McGuigan was quickly substituted by Tipperary while Donegal lost Blathnaid McLaughlin to a very soft yellow card.

Aishling Moloney pushed Tipperary two clear from a free with six minutes left.

Tipperary held the ball for long periods in the final minutes with Donegal unable to get the possession to create a winning goal.

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Tipperary scorers: Anna Rose Kennedy 0-4; Kirsty Crotty Ryan 0-2; Aishling Moloney 0-4,4f; Emma Morrissey 0-1.

Donegal scorers: Jodie McFadden 1-2,2f; Susanne White 0-2,2f; Blathnaid McLaughlin, Katie Dowds 0-1 each

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Nora Martin, Lucy Spillane, Emma Cronin; Sarah English, Maria Curley, Carla English; Laura Morrissey, Emma Morrissey; Neassa Towey, Anna Rose Kennedy, Nicole Shelly; Angela McGuigan, Aishling Moloney, Kirsty Crotty Ryan..

Subs: Aibhle O’Shea for Skelly (20); Ava Fennessy for Ryan (44); Issa Carr for Towey (45); Ava Ryan for McGuigan (53)

Donegal: Clare Friel; Shauna McFadden, Abigail Temple Asokuh, Sophie McFeeley; Blaithnaid McLaughlin, Evelyn McGinley, Cait Gillespie; Róisín Rodgers (C), Rhiana McColgan; Susanne White, Katie Dowds, Feena McManamon; Eva Gallagher, Jodie McFadden, Niamh Boyle.

Subs: Aoife McDermott for McManamon (45); Ava Walsh for C Gillespie (47); Mia Bennett for Gallagher (54); Abbie McGranaghan and Niamh Harkin for White and Rogers (both 58)