Waterford easilt overcome Sligo in National League Tie

Waterford Intermediate lady footballers recorded their third victory in the Tesco Home-grown Division 3 clash with Sligo on Sunday last in Fraher Field. Played in terrible underfoot conditions, both teams made very tentative starts and it was Waterford who registered the first score of the game in the 4th minute with a well taken point from Michelle Ryan following neat build up play by Linda Wall and Maria Delahunty. Stephanie O Reilly equalised matters in the 7th minute and three minutes later Sinead Ryan opened her account for the Deise girls with a pointed free. The play at this stage swung from end to end and Katie Walsh got Sligo’s second point in the 11th minute to tie the game at 2 points apiece. Great work from Michelle Ryan and Linda Wall set Sinead Ryan up for the first Waterford goal in the 12th minute to give the home side a lead they would not relinquish and indeed they could have gone further ahead had it not been for the brilliance of Sligo’s goalkeeper Noelle Gormley who twice denied Waterford certain goals in the space of two minutes. Maria Delahunty stretched Waterford’s lead with a point in the 14th minute and one minute later Aoife Murray had a great score which started with a Megan Dunford interception near her own goal and ended nine passes later with the Comeragh Rangers girls firing Waterford 5 points ahead 1-4 to Sligo’s 0-2.Stephanie O Relliy added to Sligo’s score in the 16th minute with a point but this was quickly cancelled out with a Maria Delahunty effort. In the 23rd minute Katie Walsh tacked on a point for Sligo which was quickly replied to by a Sinead Ryan free and Grainne Carty and Maria Delahunty exchanged points to leave the half time score Waterford 1-7 Sligo 0-5.

Waterford opened the second half in whirl-wind fashion Aileen Wall scored a point after 31 seconds. Aoife Murray took over the scoring and had the ball in the Sligo net almost directly from the kick out, she then pointed in the 3rd minute and following a great movement was on hand to put the game out of Sligo’s reach in the 7th minute with another goal. One minute later Sinead Ryan was on hand to score her second goal of the game to extend the lead to 16 points; 4-9 to 0-5. Maria Delahunty kept the score ticking over with a point in the 9th minute and Sinead Ryan brought her personal tally to 2-2 with another point in the 11th minute. Pat Sullivan made a number of changes at this stage but it did not affect the intensity of the Waterford play Eimear Fennell kicked a great score and Sinead Ryan kicked yet another point in reply to Sligo’s point from midfielder Bernice Byrne and the icing was on the cake when a brilliant move led to Lauren Mc Gregor rounding the keeper to score Waterford’s fifth goal. Sligo to their credit did not give up and Stephanie O Reilly forced a great save from Waterford goalie Clodagh Walsh and also hit the woodwork twice in the closing moments. Jonathon Murphy brought matters to an end to leave the final score Waterford 5-13 Sligo 0-5.

Manager Pat Sullivan was very pleased with the overall performance of the team and the excellent inter play between backs and forwards. Next up for the Deise girls is an away tie against Tipperary next weekend.

Waterford lined out as follows: Katie Hannon, Megan Dunford, Karen Mc Grath, Emma Murray, Michelle Mc Grath, Elaine Power, Caoimhe Mc Grath, Mary Kate Morrissey, Mairead Wall, Linda Wall (capt), Maria Delahunty (0-4,) Aileen Wall(0-1), Michelle Ryan (0-1) Sinéad Ryan(2-4) and Aoife Murray(2-2)

Subs used; Nicola Fennell, Mary Foley, Eimear Fennell(0-1),Clodagh Walsh, Kate Mc Grath, Ciara Hurley, Shauna Dunphy, Nora Dunphy, Emer Scanlan, Margaret Revins, Lauren Mc Gregor (1-0), and Aoife Dunne.

 

Waterford Under 14 start their Munster campaign

Our under 14 girls team start their Munster campaign with a tough away encounter on Saturday next against Tipperary. This team is preparing well under the management of Ciara Dunphy and have some very good footballers on board. The county is at present Munster under 14 B champions having won the title for the past three years and are determined to take the crown for another year. The game is provisionally fixed for Bansha but this may change, any changes will be posted on the Waterford Ladies Twitter account and will also be broadcast on the sports news on WLRFM.

 

Deise Day

Don’t forget Deise Day will take place in Punchestown Racecourse on Saturday May 2nd and promises to be a great day. Tickets are selling fast but a limited number are still available from the committee members. Closing date for purchase is Friday 27th February.