Waterford Ladies easily overcome Tipperary in Munster championship

Waterford’s Intermediate ladies team justified favouritism in Fraher Field on Saturday last when they easily disposed of the Tipperary challenge in a very clinical manner. Tipperary playing into a strong breeze in the first half opened the scoring when Gillian O Brien opened their account with a well taken point in the first minute but this was to be the only time the Deise girls were behind in the game. Taking a good pass from Emma Murray, full forward Sinead Ryan got the equalise in the 4^th minute. Maria Delahunty was on hand one minute later to slot over another point and from the 8^th to the 16^th minute Sinead Ryan was pivotal in every Waterford attack scoring three unanswered points to leave the Deise girls four points in front. Aisling McCarthy kicked a point from a free to narrow the gap but this was quickly cancelled out by Emma Murray who came up field and finished off a flowing movement with a brilliant point. Gillian O Brien kicked her second point but the response from Waterford was prompt with a point from Maria Delahunty.

A defence splitting move with great inter-play from Delahunty and Aileen Wall set Sinead Ryan up for a well taken goal on 20 minutes and when Maria Delahunty kicked a free from the ground out on the sideline two minutes later to give Waterford an eight points lead it looked like an impossible task for the Tipp girls to salvage anything out of the game. Indeed the game was over as a contest in the next three minutes Maria Delahunty was at the end of a passing movement which started in the full back line with Karen McGrath and duly planted the ball to the back of the Tipp net. The Abbeyside girl added a point a minute later before Sinead Ryan took over again with a goal in the 28^th minute, followed by another one a minute later and a point for good measure in the 30^th minute, along with a point from Aileen Wall to leave Waterford out of sight. Tipp got a consolation point on the stroke of half time when Lorraine O’Shea scored but the gap was a massive 19 points when Maurice Mulcahy blew the half time whistle. Half Time score Waterford 4-11 Tipperary 0-4.

Waterford opened the second half in determined mood, not prepared to let the concentration levels drop and were rewarded with five points without reply; Aileen Wall opened the scoring followed by a free from Maria Delahunty. Aileen Wall was back on the score sheet a minute later with a well taken point before hard working Mary Foley got reward for her efforts with two well taken points. Tipperary availed of a rare mix-up in the Waterford defence in the 47^th minute when Gillian O Brien got inside the full back line and the Moyle Rovers player gave Katie Hannon no chance with a well taken goal. This stung the Waterford ladies back into action Sinead Ryan got a point on 51 minute and substitute Hannah Landers struck for two well taken goals and a point for good measure to complete the scoring with Waterford very comprehensive winners on the final score line Waterford 6-18 Tipperary 1-4.

This was a very impressive win for the Deise girls who have now qualified for the Munster final. All over the field they went their personal battles with the Tipperary girls. Based on this weekend’s results Waterford will now face Clare in the Munster final but these two teams will have to face each other in the final round robin series of games. This game is scheduled to take place next Sunday in Fraher Field at 2:00.

Waterford lined out as follows Katie Hannon, Megan Dunford, Karen McGrath, Linda Wall (Capt.),Emma Murray(0-1, Elaine Power, Michelle McGrath, Louise Ryan, Mairead Wall, Grainne Kenneally, Maria Delahunty(1-5), Aileen Wall(0-3), Mary Kate Morrissey, Sinead Ryan(3-6), and Mary Foley(0-2).

Subs used: Hannah Landers (2-1), Nora Dunphy, Michelle Ryan, Nicola Fennell, Kate McGrath.