Waterford ladies intermediate football team,
travel to Birr on Saturday next (15th) to take on Sligo in the
quarter final of the TG4 All Ireland championship. This pairing is a repeat of
the Division 3 League final in which Sligo came out on top. In the National
League final Waterford started brightly and raced into an eight points lead
courtesy of two goals by Sinead Ryan but Sligo came back into it and with two
goals from full forward Katie Walsh came out as victors on a 2-12 to 2-8 score line.
This quarter final will be the third meeting of the teams this year as in
February Waterford were convincing winners in Fraher Field by 5-13 to 0-5.
This game will be a quite different affair
with both camps knowing that whoever loses on Saturday will be out of the
championship for another season. In last year’s championship both of these
teams exited the fray at this stage Waterford being beaten by Fermanagh while
Sligo went down to the All Ireland champions Down. Waterford by virtue of
winning the Munster championship for the 7th year in a row
progressed directly to the Quarter final stage while Sligo who were beaten by
Leitrim in the Connacht final had a narrow win over Roscommon by two points,
two weeks ago to set up this encounter.
Waterford go into this game with the
confidence that they are Munster champions but Sligo will be confident also, having
got one over on the Deise in the league final. Sligo possess many fine
footballers, Emma Hansberry is one of their star players and they have forwards
of the calibre of Katie Walsh, Stephanie O Reilly, Jacqui Mulligan and Karen
Moloney who will need close watching. Waterford looked impressive in the
Munster Final in a game played in difficult conditions and have many good
players themselves. Katie Hannon is a very sound goalkeeper and Elaine Power,
Karen and Michelle McGrath and others provide a strong back line. Up front
Sinead Ryan, Aileen Wall and Hannah Landers are capable of turning the chances
created into scores. It should be a good game of football with both teams
capable and confident of winning. If Waterford perform to their potential captain
Linda Wall will be leading her team into an All Ireland semi final tilt with
either Leitrim or Clare.
Throw-in, in Birr on Saturday 15th
August is at 2:00 with Niall Mc Cormack from Laois in charge of proceedings.
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