Following on from their exploits when they
managed a hard-earned draw away to Clare, Waterford maintained their unbeaten
start to the LIDL National Football League Division 2 campaign with a deserved
but very hard earned win over Laois. Played on an excellent surface in WIT
Arena, Laois were first out of the blocks with an early point in 30 seconds
from corner forward Caoimhe Simms who hit a pile driver which barely grazed the
top of the crossbar to give the O Moore county an early lead. Waterford quickly
got into their rhythm with a pointed free from Lauren McGregor in the 3rd
minute, followed by a well-taken goal from full forward Aileen Wall a minute
late. These two forwards got in on the scoring act in the 11th and
12th minutes with a point from Aileen Wall followed by a goal from
Lauren McGregor to leave Waterford comfortably in front by seven points 2-2 to
0-1. Aileen Wall then got her third score of the game, a point, to extend
Waterford’s lead to eight at the end of the first quarter.
Laois were shocked by this whirl-wind Déise
start and made some changes to their defence, bringing on Laura Nerney for
Maggie Murphy and this proved to be an instant success with two points in the
16th and 17th minutes courtesy of Clare Conlon and
Meaghan Dunne. Lauren McGregor added to the Waterford tally in the 18th
minute with a well-taken point but Laois who were improving steadily as the
game went on replied with a point of their own from accurate free-taker Clare
Conlon before substitute Laura Nerney showed her worth with a great goal.
Lauren McGregor steadied Waterford nerves with a pointed free in the 25th
minute but Megan Dunne quickly replied for Laois with two points in the 26th
and 27th minutes to narrow the gap to two points. The gap was cut to
the bare minimum with another Dunne free before two good points from play by
Lauren McGregor and Nicola Fennell left the Déise girls three points to the
good playing with the advantage of a strong wind in the first half on the
score-line Waterford 2-7 Laois 1-7.
Waterford started the second half against the
wind which had freshened during the break and down a player due to a
sin-binning and it was Laois who made the most of this with two points from
Noirín Kirwan and Caoimhe Simms in the 10th minute to bring it back
to a one point game. It looked like Waterford were in major trouble but with a
number of astute substitutions Katie Murray, Chloe Fennell and Hannah Landers
were all introduced to telling effect and this gave the Waterford ladies the
impetus to drive on and were rewarded with two great pointed frees from Lauren
McGregor in the 24th and 25th minutes to put three
between the teams. Mo Nerney got a point from a free for Laois in additional
time but the Waterford defence stood resolute and ensured that the team hung on
for a well-earned win on the final score Waterford 2-9 Laois 1-10.
This was a good result for the team in a very
tight division. The first half of the game was excellent end to end stuff but
the standard in the second half from both teams dipped considerably. In the
second half both defences were on top and chances were at a premium. The second
half was very stop-start and both teams found it hard to establish a rhythm.
Waterford by virtue of this win are now in second place behind Tyrone the only
team with a 100% record and this win sets them up nicely for an away tie
against Sligo in two weeks time.
Waterford lined out as follows Katie Hannon,
Mairéad Wall, Michelle Mc Grath, Kate McGrath, Megan Dunford, Caoimhe McGrath,
Deirbhile Nic Aodha, Karen McGrath(C), Hannah Power, Emma Murray, Nicola
Fennell (0-1), Geraldine Power, Lauren Guiry, Aileen Wall (1-2) Lauren McGregor
(1-6,0-4 frees). Subs used—Katie Murray for Lauren Guiry, Chloe Fennell for
Geraldine Power and Hannah Landers for Hannah Power.
Results from Division 2 fixtures:
Cavan 1-10 Clare 1-8
Kildare 2-12 Tyrone 4-8
Sligo 3-6 Westmeath 1-8
