Farney denied by late Tipp equaliser in rollercoaster Clonmel clash

Ladies NFL Division 2

Tipperary 1-12

Monaghan 1-12

Tom Clancy in Clonmel

There was late drama as a 69th minute free from Emma Morrisey denied a most unlikely comeback by Monaghan, who had to settle for a point in their LIDL Ladies NFL Division Two clash with Tipperary.

Trailing by 13 points at half-time, Enda Flanagan’s ladies rattled off 1-11 without reply, before a routine free from Morrissey denied the visitors all three points.

Played at a windy but dry Clonmel Sportsfield, both these sides had picked up just one victory to date and had suffered a brace of defeats. Scoring difference sees Tipperary stay above the Ulster ladies in the second-tier table. A share of the spoils hurts both sides aspirations of a top two spot, as the enter the final three rounds of action in the league.

The comeback looked complete when captain Rosemary Courtney sent a speculative effort towards an empty goal in the seventh minute of time added on. Her effort bounced over via the crossbar for a single point.

On review, the video will show that the Donoaghmoyne star could reasonably argue that it was worthy of two points while also unfortunate that the ball didn’t go under the crossbar for a goal. However, a surge forward ensured a tap over free for Tipperary, which Morrissey made no mistake.

Such was the comeback, it is vital to say that a strong breeze blew directly down the pitch in Clonmel as both sides really pilled the pressure on when aided with the elements.

The home side had bright sparks in the form of Morrissey and Lauren Cunningham, their goalscorer, but David Power’s charges looked to retain possession for long spells – something which allowed the visitors hunt the game changing scores.

The would race 1-11 to 0-1 ahead by the change of ends, with a brace of frees from Morrissey getting the scoreboard moving. It was 1-4 to no score by the end of the opening quarter as Lauren Cunningham buried the opening goal with her right foot.

By the time Chloe McBride curled over a first for Monaghan, they trailed 1-8 to 0-1, after kicking a brace of wides on their limited foray’s forwards. Points from Heather Spillane, Niamh Martin and Sarah English ensured a healthy and potential game winning double digit half-time lead.

However, a roll of the dice, which saw Caoimhe Ward and Cora Courtney, both of whom would play major roles in the second half fightback.

A two-point free from the both of Eire Óg’s McBride was just the tonic after the half-time discussion. They added a point from Cora Courtney in the next play and things really started to roll when Casey Treanor and Leanne Maguire added points.

However, it was still double scores, 1-11 to 0-7 by the three-quarter mark as the Premier County stifled the momentum with expert work from their keeper Lauren Fitzpatrick.

Another from Courtney helped ignite the challenge but there was a dozen disjoined minutes as Monaghan failed to get closer. A two-point free from the left flank, from the boot of Leanne Maguire gave really belief to the Ulster team, and the goal, as the clock ticked into the red.

Treanor intercepted a kickout, cut in from a tight angle and hand-passed to the onrushing Ward who palmed to the net, carefully avoiding a square-ball whilst sprinting towards goal.

A free won close to goal on the next foray forward saw Maguire curl over to level the contest for the first time.

Tipperary failed and struggled to emerge from their own half and when keeper Fitzpatrick worked a free short, Courtney pounced. Her right-footed effort sailed over the keeper but the bounce, on the astro-turfed goalmouth, saw the ball carry over via the crossbar.

It looked like being the winner only for the powerful running from Morrissey to yield another close range free. The Aherlow sharpshooter drilled over to ensure parity after a true game of two halves.

Monaghan make the shorter trip to Cavan next weekend, with their neighbours joint-top of this condensed Division Two table.

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick, Tara Hoare, Marie Curley, Emma Cronin, Niamh Martin (0-1), Nora Martin, Sarah English (0-1), Laura Morrissey, Áine O’Dwyer, Angela McGuigan (0-1), Anna-Rose Kennedy (C), Heather Spillane (0-1), Lauren Cunningham (1-2), Lily Maher, Emma Morrissey (0-6, 5f).

Subs: Nicole Shelly for N Martin (36); Clara English for O’Dwyer (53), Ava Ryan for Maher, Anna Carey for Cunningham (both 59).

Monaghan: Orna Kelly, Kerry Nolan, Aine McQuaid, Meave Monaghan, Eimear Traynor, Amy Garland, Jennifer Duffy, Alison Gilliland, , Niamh Flanagan, Aoibhin McCormack, Rosemary Courtney (C) (0-1), Casey Treanor (0-1), Chloe McBride (0-3, 2pf), Sarah Tierney, Leanne Maguire (0-5, 2pf, 2f).

Subs: Aine Loughman for E Traynor (23); Caoimhe Ward (1-0) for Gilliland, Cora Courtney (0-2) for Flanagan (both half-time), Amy Jo Kierans for Monaghan (45); Dervla Cawley, Flangan for Garland (55), Tierney for McBride (60), McBride for Maguire (60), Maguire for McBride (60).

Ref: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon)