Following hot on the heels of their opening day win over Sligo at Omagh on Sunday Tyrone will face managerless Kildare at St Conlieths Park Newbridge. The Lillywhites will be eager to bounce back after their away trip to Laois failed to produce any points. Kildare won the all Ireland Intermediate title last year so this will be a perfect signal to see just where Tyrone are really at.
Tyrone manager Gerry Moane has made no secret of the fact that he wants to see his players challenging for that same title this Summer. Last Sunday the Red Hands made a perfect start to an important year for the ladies. Tyrone bagged both points last Sunday which was the best possible start as Moane suggested.
“To have three points already on the board is perfect for us. We will face some very tough opposition in this second division campaign but I have to say I am happy to have got a good start”.
Moane gave Slaine McCarroll and Emma Brennan their first competitive starts for the senior side as he also welcomed back Carrickmores Gemma Begley. The former captain, out for over a year returned and hit 1-4 against the Yeats county. Begley’s experience is crucial for Tyrone. Her fellow forwards were far from phased either as Niamh O’Neill tagged on a super 0-4 from play.
Emma Smyth, Grainne Rafferty, Meabh Mallon and substitute Niamh Hughes also landed scores while at the back Neamh Woods, Christiane Hunter and Trillick youngster Brennan also impressed. Jo Barrett, Niamh McGirr and Slaine McCarroll were always in control too. Sadly Slaine picked up a nasty knee injury when a Sligo player fell awkwardly on her. The Macartans defender had been playing well until the unfortunate incident. She is expected to be ruled out for several weeks.
Kildare will be very keen to get a win under their belts and will see this Newbridge encounter as the perfect opportunity. Tyrone sealed a senior championship qualifier win a couple of seasons ago against Kildare but both teams have evolved in different ways since then.
Last Sunday Ellen Dowling scored 1-5 from corner forward. She is expected to be alongside Roisin Byrne in the attack again this weekend. Kildare have also drafted in several new faces as they look to secure promotion and mount a challenge in Leinster.
Tyrone are expected to show little change from last weekends win. Meanwhile manager Moane has confirmed Drumraghs Neamh Woods as his captain this year with Omagh’s Christiane Hunter and Donaghmore’s Emma Hegarty as vice captains.