Kildare 1-13
Tipperary 0-9

by Michael Heverin

Kildare proved much too strong for Tipperary in the TG4 All-Ireland SFC Group 2 Round 3 clash at Clonmel Sportsfield, with all but one point of their 1-13 total coming from play.

The win puts Kildare through to the All-Ireland quarter-finals with Tipperary having to face a relegation play-off to preserve their senior status.

A first half goal from full forward Mayah Doyle proved crucial as it gave the Leinster side the lead for the first time and they never trailed after that, going in at half time four ahead at 1-5 to 0-4.

The Kildare attack proved too hot to handle for Tipperary, with turnovers proving costly for the home side. Ruth Sergent, Lara Curran and Aoife Rattigan all scored 0-3 from play, with team captain Laoise Lenehan involved in many of their best plays.

Tipp had opened the scoring from a Kirsty Crotty Ryan free in the third minute, with Kildare equalising through the outstanding Rattigan. Lauren Cunningham restored the Tipp advantage midway through the half but 1-3 from Kildare without reply put the Lilywhites in control.

A Nanci Murphy point was followed by Doyle’s goal, who reacted quickest after a Lenehan shot came back off the crossbar. Points from a Rattigan free and Jessica Harney pushed the lead out to 1-4 to 0-2. Heather Spillane had Tipp’s first point in ten minutes, with Rattigan and Tipp wingback Kate Cashman exchanging points before the half time break.

The second half followed a similar pattern once Rattigan and Harney had extended the lead to six points within the first five minutes of the second half. But even as the game started to slip from them, the home never gave up the fight with Maria Curley and Sarah English strong in defence, team captain Anna-Rose Kennedy outstanding at midfield on her return to the team, and Lauren Cunningham and Emma Morrissey taking the challenge to Kildare upfront, with Morrissey pointing two late frees.

But Kildare were able to keep them at arm’s length with the lead never dropping below six points. Sargent, Curran and Rattigan kept the scoreboard ticking over in the second half as the visitors never looked like losing their grip on the game.

Both sides had lost heavily to Kerry in the earlier rounds, but it looked as if Kildare had learned more from their defeat, keeping a tight rein on the Tipp attack, and proving more accurate in front of goal than the home side.

Scorers – Kildare: A Rattigan 0-4 (1f), R Sargent, L Curran 0-3 each, Mayah Doyle 1-0, J Harney 0-2, N Murphy 0-1.

Tipperary: E Morrissey 0-3 (2f), S English, K Cashman, L Cunningham, H Spillane, A McGuigan 0-1 each, K Crotty Ryan 0-1f.

KILDARE: C Nallen; L Reilly, E Wheeler, L Shaw; H McLoughlin, R Sargent, L Lenehan; N Murphy, G Wheeler; L Curran, J Harney, M Aspel; A Rattigan, M Doyle, A Prizeman. Subs: M McDonagh for Doyle (40), S Galvin for Harney (42), M Doherty for Murphy (56), C Moran for E Wheeler (56), A Irhue for Prizeman (63).

TIPPERARY: L Fitzpatrick; T Hoare, L Spillane, E Cronin; K Cashman, M Curley, S English; L Morrissey, AR Kennedy; A Ryan, L Cunningham, H Spillane; A Carey, E Morrissey, K Crotty Ryan. Subs: E Moore for Hoare (11), C English for Crotty Ryan (32), A McGuigan for Cashman (38), L Maher for Carey (50).

Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath).

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