Tyrone comeback not enough to down the Dubs

Lidl NFL Division 1

Dublin 1-11 Tyrone 3-04

By Deniese O’Flaherty
DUBLIN had to withstand a late Tyrone comeback to hold on for a narrow Lidl NFL Division 1 victory at O’Neill Park in Dungannon.

Although the Red Hands were defeated their fate in Division 1 is still in their own destiny as they travel to Kildare next weekend. A win for Tyrone would see them retain their Division 1 status.

Tyrone played against a strong wind in the opening half. They had early chances to get scores but twice kicked the ball short into the hands of Dublin goalkeeper Abby Shiels.

In the fifth minute Dublin went on the attack and Hannah Tyrrell found the net, finishing from close range.

Tyrone got their first score in the eighth minute when Niamh O’Neill kicked over a free. At the other end Caoimhe O’Connor restored her side’s three point advantage.

The home side levelled matters in the 10th minute when Aoife Horisk raised the green flag with an excellent shot. Two minutes later Tyrone netminder Amelia Coyle saved from Sophie McIntyre.

Tyrone took the lead in the 13th minute when O’Neill pointed. Dublin though were level minutes later. Paul Casey’s side were dangerous in attack. Eilish O’Dowd was unlucky to see her shot come off the upright in the 20th minute. The Dubs were back ahead by three in the 25th minute with points from Chloe Darby, Kate Sullivan (free) and Niamh Hetherton.

Both sides tried to create further scores before half-time but defences were on top as Dublin went in ahead at the break – 1-5 to 1-2.

Dublin were five ahead in the 36th minute. O’Neill kicked over another free for Tyrone in the 39th minute but Dublin replied with points from Hetherton and Sullivan (free) to extend their lead to six points after 41 minutes.

The Dubs were reduced to 14 in the 42nd minute when Tyrrell was sin-binned. With numerical advantage Tyrone grabbed a second goal when substitute Chloe McCaffrey’s high and hopeful ball ended up in the back of the net.

When Tyrrell returned she pointed for Dublin the 57th minute but that was their final score of the game as Tyrone staged a comeback.

Sorcha Gormley kicked over a point and in stoppage time McCaffrey did well to win possession before firing to the net. The deficit was just one but time was running out and they couldn’t get the equaliser. Right at the end McCaffrey was sin-binned as her side just came up short.

Scorers – Dublin: H Tyrrell 1-2, K Sullivan 0-5 (3fs), N Hetherton 0-2, C Darby, C O’Connor 0-1 each.

Tyrone: C McCaffrey 2-0, A Horisk 1-0, N O’Neill 0-3 (2fs), S Gormley 0-1.

DUBLIN: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, A Kane; A Curran, M Byrne, G Kós; É O’Dowd, H McGinnis; C O’Connor, C Darby, K Sullivan; H Tyrrell, N Hetherton, S McIntyre. Subs: H Leahy for Curran (34), A Timothy for McIntryre (40), J Egan for Darby (55), C Fox for O’Connor (60+1).

TYRONE: A Coyle; J Lyons, C Campbell, E Quinn; T McElroy, M Corrigan, S McCarroll; M Mallon, A McHugh; E McNamee, E McCanny, A Quinn; N O’Neill, A McGahan, A Horisk. Subs: S Gormley for E McNamee, C McCaffrey for A Quinn, A Strain for McElroy (all half-time), M Canavan for McCanny (49), G McKenna for Lyons (53), A Daly for McCarroll (60), M Moore for Quinn (60+2)

Referee: Brendan Rice (Down).