Aisling makes Tipp’s dream come through
AISLING McCARTHY scored 1-4 and landed the player-of-the-match award as Tipperary were crowned TG4 All- Ireland ladies intermediate football champions at Croke Park. Victory capped a glorious season for the Premier County, who also won the Lidl Division 3 and Munster titles. Gillian O’Brien chipped in with four points while Róisín Howard and Mairead Morrissey landed two points each. Tipp survived some nervy moments but it was a vital run of 1-3 without reply in the first half that proved crucial. Tipp had settled the better and were 0-3 to 0-1 clear before Gráinne Rafferty hit a classy 16th minute goal for Tyrone. Tipp’s response was excellent as Howard and McCarthy (free) landed points before McCarthy netted in the 18th minute, lobbing keeper Shannon Lynch. A point from O’Brien completed Tipp’s purple patch and saw them four points up at the break. The lead was out to five early in the second half but Chloe McCaffrey’s magnificent point in the 47th minute brought Tyrone back to within three. However a brace of McCarthy frees pushed the gap out to five again. Tyrone landed two late points — but Tipp held out. TIPPERARY: L Fitzpatrick; S Condon, M Curley, E Buckley; B Condon, S Lambert, L Dillon; A McCarthy, J Grant; N Lonergan (C Condon 47), M Morrissey, A Moloney; R Howard (C Walsh 56), G O’Brien, O O’Dwyer. Scorers – A McCarthy 1-4 (4f), G O’Brien 0-4, M Morrissey, R Howard 0-2, A Moloney 0-1. TYRONE: S Lynch; E Brennan, E Mulgrew, C Conway (N McGirr 20); N Woods, S Cunningham, C Hunter; M Mallon, EJ Gervin; N Hughes, L Quinn (C McCaffrey 50), Á Canavan (E Hegarty 37); N O’Neill, G Begley, G Rafferty (M Canavan 37). Scorers — G Begley 0-4 (3f), G Rafferty 1-0, EJ Gervin, M Canavan (2f) 0-2, N O’Neill, C McCaffrey 0-1. Referee: G McMahon (Dublin).