Performance no consolation for Burke and Tipp

Tipperary manager Ed Burke against Cork during the Lild Ladies NFL division 2 game at Fethard . Picture: Eddie O'Hare

A third consecutive Lidl LGFA National League Division 2 defeat was hard to take for Ed Burke and the Tipperary senior footballers last Sunday.

For the third Division 2 fixture running, the Premier County gave a fine account of themselves but lacked the finishing ability to break an unwanted run of three consecutive National League losses.

First Galway, then Monaghan and now Cork have overcome an injury-hit Tipperary senior panel. The Rebels emerged 3-12 to 0-9 winners despite Tipp matching their opponents for three-quarters of an entertaining game in Fethard.

That fact was of little solace to Tipperary manager Ed Burke.

“The first half today, I thought we were excellent,” Burke commented.

“We were very unlucky to go in behind at half time. I suppose, in the second half, Cork looked to push on and played really well.

“From our point of view, we have a lot of new players. There are eight or nine girls out injured and we are trying to get them back in. The girls we have are pushing on and doing their best but when you are up against an experienced team like Cork, it tells at the end of 60 minutes.

“You can catch them (Cork) out for 30 minutes but not for 60.” 

Tipperary have four games left to try and maintain their Division 2 status. Despite Sunday’s loss to Cork, once the Premier have their full complement available, they will be a tough proposition for any of their remaining opponents.

“We are confident in what we can do but, obviously, the league is probably out of our reach now,” Burke added.

“We want to stay in the division and then push on for the Munster Championship.

“From today, we are happy with our first half performance but disappointed with the result. We showed in the first half, when we are at it, that we can play football. We just need to be at it for longer in our games.

“The key word is momentum. You have to try and turn the tide and get the momentum in your favour. Hopefully, in the last four National League games, we can get that. We want to push on and be ready for Munster.

“Some of our injured players are very close to coming back. It is just the accumulation of them. For now, we just have to keep going.”