Waterford book Munster Final spot with Limerick

Waterford clinch final place with emphatic win over Tipperary

The Waterford ladies Intermediate football team clinched a place in the Munster final with an emphatic 4-23 to 1-8 win over Tipperary in Carrick Davin’s GAA grounds on Wednesday night last to set up another encounter with Limerick in the final. Waterford came into this as favourites to win but the management team were all out to ensure that complacency would not set in. Gillian O Brien opened the scoring with a pointed free in the first minute of the game which was quickly cancelled out by Aileen Wall in the 4^th minute having run on to a long ball from Shona Curran before slotting it over the bar. Both players were again in action with Shona Curran winning the resulting kick out and Aileen Wall taking the pass and slotting it coolly over the bar. The other Wall sisters Mairead and Linda chipped in with points in the 6^th and 7^th minutes respectively before teenage star Aisling Mc Carthy pulled one back for Tipperary in the 9^th minute.

Waterford hit a purple patch in the next ten minutes or so Ballyduff Upper player Hannah Landers scored three wonderful points and Michelle Ryan pointed a free from a very awkward angle to leave Waterford comfortably in front by five points. Gillian O Brien cut the deficit as she popped over a point for Tipperary in the 17^th minute before her midfield partner rocked Waterford with a wonderful goal to leave the minimum between the teams after 20 minutes. Waterford quickly responded to this setback and a barrage of points from Hannah Landers, Elaine Power, Michelle Ryan and Linda Wall had stretched Waterford’s lead back out to five by the 24^th minute.

The game was virtually over as a contest one minute later when a through ball from Linda Wall found her sister Aileen unmarked in front of goal and she duly despatched it to the net to leave Waterford ahead by eight points. Gillian O Brien got her third point for Tipperary in the 26^th minute but the Waterford machine went into over drive from there to the half time whistle with points from Michelle Ryan (two), Hannah Landers, and Linda Wall (two) before Caoimhe Boles pulled one back on the stroke of half time to leave the score Waterford 1-16 Tipperary 1-5 at half time.

Tipperary needed to get off to a flyer in the second half but it was the Deise girls who were quickest out of the blocks with a goal from Aileen Wall followed by a wonderful point from half back Louise Ryan following a wonderful passing movement involving Shona Curran and Linda Wall. Liz Devine was rewarded for her hard working when she scored a fine individual point on 9 minutes. Tipperary got a consolation point in the 11^th minute when Bernie Ryan scored a wonderful effort from way out the field and this was added to by Gillian O Brien who kicked her fourth point in the 16^th minute. Great team work by Waterford lead to three points from Linda wall, Michelle Ryan and Elaine Power respectively to leave Waterford well in front 2-21 to 1-7.In the 19^th minute Aileen Wall added to her tally on the night with a well taken point.

 

Waterford manager then rung the changes and introduced a number of substitutes: Shauna Dunphy replaced Liz Devine, Caoimhe Mc Grath made her Intermediate county debut replacing Shona Curran and Margaret Revins , Amy Whelan and Megan O Connor also all getting game time. In the 26^th minute Waterford were awarded a penalty and Aimee Jordan made the long trek up and put the ball beyond the Tipperary goalkeeper for Waterford’s third goal. In the 28^th minute sub Shauna Dunphy kicked a good point and in the last minute of the match Waterford were awarded a second penalty and again Aimee Jordan scored her second goal and Waterford’s fourth to close out an emphatic victory on the score line Waterford 4-23 Tipperary 1-8.

Waterford lined out as follows: Aimee Jordan(2-0), Nora Dunphy, Gráinne Enright, Mary Foley, Louise Ryan(0-1), Karen Mc Grath, Róisín Tobin, Shona Curran, Elaine Power(0-2), Linda Wall (0-4), Michelle Ryan (0-5), Mairead Wall(0-1) ,Aileen Wall(2-3), Hannah Landers (0-5) and Liz Devine(0-1).

Subs Used: Shauna Dunphy (0-1) for Liz Devine, Caoimhe Mc Grath for Shona Curran, Margaret Revins for Aileen Wall, Amy Whelan for Michelle Ryan and Megan O Connor for Róisín Tobin

Waterford now move forward to a Munster final date on Saturday next July 12^th meeting Limerick in the provincial decider in Rathmore Co Kerry with a 1: 30 throw in. Speaking after the match manager Pat O Brien was well pleased with the team performance and especially the spread of scorers but is under no illusion of the task that faces his charges in the final. Limerick are a very determined team who have wonderful performers and like Waterford had a big win over Tipperary which will no doubt boost their confidence. In the previous round robin match played between the teams it was nip and tuck all the way and it took a last minute goal from Linda Wall to put the game beyond Limerick after a titanic struggle.