Tinahely in control
Wicklow champions negotiate first Leinster hurdle
TINAHELY MOATE 5-10 1-10
TINAHELY advanced to the quarter-final of the Leinster championship and a match with Wexford champions Kilmore after a well deserved victory over Moate of Westmeath.
Loretta Gilbert’s two first half goals were crucial in laying the groundwork for the home sides victory after Moate has started strongly.
Tinahely GAA Club looked splendid for the clash with a decent crowd in to see if their local heroes could get up and running on the Leinster stage.
However, it was Moate who started strongly with the first three points on the board inside of five minutes from Sarah McCormack, Maria O’Donaghue and Tara Hughes.
Tinahely looked nervous in the opening spell. That was soon to change, however. A long ball into the danger zone by Ciara Byrne saw Gilbert overpower her marker to flick the ball to the net.
Laura Hogan added two rapid points and the game was turned around.
Claire Killian added a tremendous free for Moate but you could see the confidence in the Tinahely team rising.
With their defence getting on top they went about stretching their lead, points from Hogan (3) and Rachel Byrne had it out to five.
Killian had another free for Moate then came a classic Tina- hely team goal.
Sarah Hogan led the charge out of defence she found Aine Gorman in the middle of the park rapid intricate passing with Ciara Byrne putting Sarah Byrne in on goal and the diminutive centre for- ward showing experience beyond her years passing across goal to Gilbert to palm home; an excellent team goal.
Ciara Byrne added a point soon after and when great Tinahely tackling led by full-forward Gilbert won a penalty, Jackie Kinch drilled home the game was over as a contest by half time.
Tinahely were not as clinical in the second half with Moate battling bravely and making it tougher for the Wicklow girls. Laura Hogan pointed after Ciara Stokes had off loaded to her.
A feature of the game was the willingness and fitness of the Tinahely defence to break up field. With Stokes, Emily Mulhall and Aimee Maher all been in attack at various times.
From one such wave of Tinahely pressure Maher struck a beautiful point on the run under severe pressure.
Tinahely’s fourth goal arrived on 45 minutes with Aine Byrne setting Ciara Byrne in on goal and she showed tremendous composure to side foot beyond the onrushing keeper.
Mulhall and Gilbert combined shortly after to provide Laura Hogan with a chance for goal and the ace markswoman made no mistake as she drove the ball under the helpless Moate keeper.
Moate battled to the end and points from McCormack (2) and Killian did put a better look on the scoreboard before centre back Corinna Farrell got a consolation goal.
A dominant Tinahely spell after a slow start. They have stars all over the pitch with Gilbert, Laura Hogan, Ciara Byrne and Maher all having superb games. Emily Mulhall was my player of the match.
She seems to have a talent of attracting the ball to her and snuffing out attacks. She was often in the right place at the right time and also provided an overlap in attack on numerous occasions.
Tinahely go again in two weeks against the Wexford champions at home. These ladies deserve a big crowd to cheer them on to glory.
Scorers – Tinahely: Laura Hogan 1-6, Loretta Gilbert 2-0, Ciara Byrne 1-1, Jackie Kinch 1-0, Aimee Maher 0-1, Aoife Gorman 0-1, Rachel Byrne 0-1
Moate: Maria O’Donaghue 0-3, Claire Killian 0-3, Sarah McCormack 0-3, Corinna Farrell 1-0, Tara Hughes 0-1
Shauna Bermingham; Ciara Stokes, Sarah Hogan, Emily Hadden; Emily Mulhall, Jessica Nolan Byrne, Aimee Maher; Aoife Gorman, Jackie Kinch; Aine Byrne, Sarah Byrne, Ciara Byrne; Rachel Byrne, Loretta Gilbert, Laura Hogan. Subs: Sinead Byrne, Shannagh Goetelen, Aisling Winterbotham, Eimear O’Brien, Deirdre Lancaster
Emer Redmond; Niamh Geoghegan, Aisling Warburton, Catriona Kelly; Louise Ryan, Corinna Farrell, Emma Kelly; Isobel O’Neill, Stacey Holloway; Maria O’Donaghue, Therese Geoghegan, Tara Hughes; Claire Killian, Sarah McCormack, Chloe Butler. Subs: Mairead Fox, Kelly-Lei Lowry, Michelle King
Jason Corcoran (Kildare)