Tipp ladies plunder a final berth
SHANE RONAYNE’S Tipperary survived a huge scare before sealing a spot in the TG4 All-ireland ladies intermediate football final on September 24.
The Premier County led by 13 points midway through the second half of Saturday’s semi-final against Meath at Semple Stadium - but were left clinging on for a threepoint win.
Ronayne had his bench emptied with nine minutes left but Tipp were still well in control and leading by ten points down the home straight.
While big holes appeared in the Tipp defence late on, they were brilliant in attack for spells of a high-scoring encounter.
Gillian O’brien shot the lights out with a haul of 1-7 from play – including 1-5 in the first half – while Moloney sparkled and Orla O’dwyer contributed 1-3.
Tipp landed 3-17 of their big winning tally from play but Meath, who had a huge display from Aoibhin Cleary, kept going right to the end even when faced with a huge deficit.
Tipp led by 2-11 to 1-7 at half-time and were full value for that seven-point interval lead.
The sides were level three times within the opening six minutes but a run of 2-2 without reply gave Tipp the upper hand.
The goals were cracking efforts from Tipp, O’dwyer managing to get a leftfooted effort away under severe pressure for the first, before Moloney, Róisín Howard and Mairead Morrissey created the opening for O’brien’s effort.
And this game looked done and dusted when Moloney crashed home a brilliant 35th-minute goal at the Killinan End.
Tipp kicked on to twice lead by 13 points twice but Meath weren’t finished and the Royals had the nerves of home fans jangling before referee Garryowen Mcmahon’s final whistle.