Tyrone are through to the all Ireland Intermediate final following a deserved eight point win over Sligo on Saturday afternoon. A large and supportive crowd saw the Red Hand girls produce a cohesive and effective display on their way to a 1-16 to 0-11 win.
Gerry Moane’s side played against the breeze in the opening half but created at least four clear chances of goals on their way to a 1-7 to 0-7 half time lead. A brilliant solo run by Niamh Hughes helped set up Niamh O’Neill for a palmed goal right on the stroke of half time and sent the Tyrone girls in at the break in a strong position after points from Gemma Begley, O’Neill and Niamh Hughes.
Sligo dominated the opening ten minutes of the second half but superb defensive work by Neamh Woods, Caoileann Conway, Joanne Barrett and Emma Brennan ensured the Yeats County were restricted to long range efforts at goal. On the very few occasions that they managed to breach the defence Sligo found goal keeper Shannon Lynch in outstanding form and the Connacht girls just could not find the goal they needed.
As Sligo pushed forward in the second half Tyrone managed to exploit the spaces left behind. Grainne Rafferty and Niamh O’Neill landed some fine points including one free from the Sperrin Og forward that was more than forty five metres from goal.
To their credit Sligo continued to compete but a missed penalty midway through the half just about summed up their second half efforts. Shannon Lynch in the Tyrone goal dived low to her right to deny Aine Gormley from eleven metres. As the half wore on Tyrone found the wide open spaces of Kingspan Breffni more to their liking and they pulled away to a comfortable victory. They can now look forward to an all Ireland final clash with Tipperary. The final is scheduled for September 24th at Croke Park.
Tyrone scorers: Niamh O’Neill 1-4, Grainne Rafferty 0-3, Gemma Begley 0-3, Niamh Hughes 0-1, Neamh Woods 0-1, Maria Canavan 0-1, Maebh Mallon 0-1, Emma Hegarty 0-1, Lycrecia Quinn 0-1.
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