Dillon’s haul and Jones goal can’t prevent defeat in Tipp

Tipperary 1-13 Westmeath 1-11

By Shane Brophy

Westmeath ladies lost their opening round game in the Lidl National Football League as injury time points from Cliona O’Dwyer and the returning Aisling Moloney secured victory for Tipperary at Fethard on Sunday.

It was a victory Tipperary just about deserved as they created the most chances but their wastefulness, particularly in the first half, kept Westmeath in contention. The home side also conceded a very soft goal which gave the Midlanders a two-point half-time lead.

With the elements behind them, it took Tipp until the 48th minute to hit the front through a superb Anna Rose Kennedy goal. However, Westmeath dug in with Sarah Dillon outstanding at corner forward, scoring five of her eight points from play. But a late missed free would prove costly as Tipp claimed a hard earned win in what is a very open division.

Considering the difficult weather conditions recently, Tipperary were fortunate to call on the impressive new facilities at Fethard Town Park to host the game and unlike many other games played in heavy conditions last weekend, both Tipp and Westmeath would have welcomed playing on a pristine all-weather surface. This led to a pretty fast paced game with both sides comfortable on the ball, with the visitors particularly effective on the counter attack.

Sarah Dillon opened the scoring in the fifth minute and after debutante Neassa Towey got Tipp off the mark, Dillon was on the mark again with a free. The home side were putting the Westmeath kickout under pressure and one intervention almost led to a goal with Niamh Martin inches wide.

Westmeath’s well structured attack was working well with half forward Rachel Dillon nudging them back in front before Towey landed her second long range point.

The Lakesiders' efficiency was their calling card in the opening half as Sarah Dillon pointed once more from play, withAva Fennessy responding for Tipp, before one of the biggest cheers of the day came when Aisling Moloney slotted over her first point, a 23rd-minute free, in her first game back after over 18 months out through injury.

Sarah Dillon brought Westmeath level before they punished sloppy Tipp play in the 27th minute when an intended pass from goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick to Moloney in her own defence was intercepted by Anna Jones, who fired to the net.

Tipp’s response was impressive with Anna Rose Kennedy and Clara English pointing from play but Lucy McCartan had the final say in the half with a well worked score to give Westmeath a 1-6 to 0-7 half-time lead.

Sarah Dillon stretched the lead with a free at the start of the second half but with Anna Rose Kennedy to the fore in midfield, Tipp began to pin Westmeath back. They forced the concession of frees with Moloney converting both before she landed a monster point from play to bring the sides level on 39 minutes.

However, Westmeath responded each time to Tipp’s attacks with Sarah Dillon’s ability to drift off the shoulder to run onto a pass resulting in her latest score to nudge her side back in front.

Tipp were beginning to become a little frustrated as, despite plenty of the ball, they were struggling to turn them possession into shots on goal.

They needed some inspiration and they got it from midfielder Anna Rose Kennedy who won possession 65 yards out and put the head down and ran hard at the Westmeath defence and ended up through on goal with her shot too hot for keeper Aoife O’Donnell to handle.

Tipp were two points to the good but instead of pushing on, the home side sat back and Westmeath took full advantage with two points from Sarah Dillon bringing the sides level. She also cancelled out a Moloney free and going into injury time, a draw looked the most likely outcome.

But Tipp wing back Cliona O’Dwyer burst forward and pointed from an acute angle before Moloney sealed the win with her seventh point with the final kick of the match, meaning Westmeath left Fethard with nothing to show despite playing good football overall.

Player of the match: Sarah Dillon (Westmeath).

Scorers – Tipperary: A Moloney 0-7 (6f); A R Kennedy 1-1; N Towey 0-2; A Fennessy, C English, C O’Dwyer 0-1 each. Westmeath: S Dillon 0-8 (3f); A Jones 1-0; R Dillon 0-2; L McCartan 0-1.

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Maria Curley, Laura Morrissey, Emma Cronin; Nora Martin, Lucy Spillane, Cliona O’Dwyer; Anna Rose Kennedy, Niamh Martin; Neassa Towey, Marie Creedon, Sarah Ryan; Ava Fennessy, Aisling Moloney, Clara English. Subs: Emma Morrissey for Ryan (40); Angela McGuigan for Fennessy (60+4).

Westmeath: Aoife O’Donnell; Muireann Scally, Lucy Power, Ayesha Roche; Kelly Boyce Jordan, Tracey Dillon, Chloe Kelly; Vicky Carr, Anna Jones; Ashley Ruane, Lucy McCartan, Rachel Dillon; Ciara Blundell, Karen Hegarty, Sarah Dillon. Subs: Clara Thornton for T Dillon (37, inj.); Megan Dowdall for Blundell (43); Aoife O’Malley for Hegarty (46); Kiara Giles for Blundell (60+4).

Ref: Gus Chapman (Sligo).