Waterford Intermediate Ladies clinch final place

Waterford Intermediate Ladies football team duly emulated their camogie counterparts with a comfortable win over Leitrim in the TG4 All Ireland semi final on Saturday last at Páirc na nGael in Limerick. Both teams went into this game with high expectations having impressively won their respective quarter finals. From the start Waterford were the more threatening of the two teams and as early as the second minute were denied a goal  when Leitrim keeper Michelle Guckian made a great save from Sinead Ryan. Waterford could have had another goal immediately from the kickout when a slick passing movement ended up in the hands of Aileen Wall only for the Ballymacarbry starlet blazing wide with the goal at her mercy. Waterford were made pay in the 5^th minute when a turn over by Leitrim led to Aine Tighe rounding Waterford keeper Katie Hannon and registering the first score of the game totally against the run of play a goal to leave the Westerners three points in front. This lead was short lived however when Aileen Wall buried the ball in the Leitrim net to level the scores after six minutes. Aine Tighe put Leitrim back in front with a free in the 8^th minute and Dearbhaile Beirne stretched it to two in the 15^th minute.

The rest of the first half was a scrappy affair, Waterford had lots of possession but the Leitrim defence, playing out in front of the Waterford forwards were first to the ball and snuffed out the scoring chances. In the 17^th minute Waterford pulled back a point when Maria Delahunty expertly kicked a 45 metre free, off the ground, over the bar. Waterford nearly got through for a goal in the 22^nd minute but Grainne Kenneally’s effort was well saved by the Leitrim goalie. A free in the 28^th minute by Sinead Ryan levelled matters and the Ballymac girl closed the scoring with a fine individual point just before half time to give Waterford a slender lead at half time on the score-line Waterford 1-3 Leitrim 1-2.

Waterford opened the second half with intent five unanswered points in the first six minutes left Waterford comfortably in front. Maria Delahunty kicked two frees in the 2^nd and 3^rd minutes. Aileen Wall kicked a point after a great catch in the middle of the field by Emma Murray in the 4^th minute. Sinead Ryan kept the momentum going with appoint a minute later and a brilliant run through the heart of the Leitrim defence by Elaine Power was rewarded with a point. Aine Tighe cut the deficit to four points and indeed it could have been much closer in the 9^th minute when a rasping shot from Carla Le Guen was brilliantly saved by Katie Hannon with Emma Murray relieving the danger by taking the ball off the goal line. In the 10^th minute Aileen Wall pointed after a pass from Maria Delahunty but Aine Tighe quickly cancelled this out with a point from a very acute angle. Katie Hannon was once again call into action but the Ballyduff girl pulled off yet another great save to keep Waterford goal intact. Sinead Ryan collected a pass from Aileen Wall and pointed to put six between the teams. The game was virtually over as a contest when Michelle Ryan who had replaced Hannah Landers took a pass from Aileen Wall and buried the ball and Leitrim’s hopes in the back of the net to leave the Deise nine points clear with 13 minutes gone in the second half.

Three unanswered points; a free from Sinead Ryan, a Grainne Kenneally effort and a Maria Delahunty score left Waterford twelve points in front in total control as the game entered the final quarter. The Waterford defence got a rude reminder in the 18^th minute when Aine Tighe scored a great solo effort goal and Michelle Heslin and Tighe added points to cut the deficit to seven. Waterford hit the post through Caoimhe Mc Grath and Aileen Wall brought her personal tally to 1-2. Aoife Murray drew another brilliant save from the Leitrim goalie before Maria Delahunty with two points and one from Michelle Ryan closed out the scoring to leave Waterford to march on to an All Ireland final on the 27^th September on the final score-line Waterford 2-17 to Leitrim’s 2-6.

Aileen Wall was named player of the match and there were many impressive performances all over the field. Sinead Ryan and Maria Delahunty led the way in the scoring stakes as did substitute Michelle Ryan, but there was great work rate in the back with Elaine Power and Linda Wall driving the team on at every opportunity. Katie Hannon was excellent in goals and the Mc Grath sisters Karen and Michelle along with Megan Dunford and Emma Murray were sound at the back. This was a good team performance, especially in the second half and the girls now look forward to a third All Ireland appearance since 2010 against Kildare or Offaly on September 27^th.

WATERFORD; K Hannon; M Dunford, K McGrath, L Wall; E Murray, E Power, M McGrath; L Ryan, M Wall; H Landers, M Delahunty, A Wall; G Kenneally, S Ryan, M Foley.  Subs: M Ryan for Landers (37), C McGrath for Foley (40), N Fennell for L Ryan (55) A Murray for S Ryan (55), N Dunphy for M Wall (58).

Scorers for Waterford: M Delahunty 0-6 (2f, 1 45), A Wall 1-2, S Ryan 0-5 (2f), M Ryan 1-1, E Power & G Kenneally 0-1 each.

LEITRIM: M Guckian; C Beirne, S Kerrigan, R McHugh; Á Heslin, L Brennan, M Hewitt; S McLoughlin, A Conlon; D Ward, N Tighe, M Stenson; D Beirne, Á Tighe, C LeGuen. Subs: M Heslin for Á Heslin (41), E Guckian for LeGuen (47).

Scorers for Leitrim: Á Tighe 2-4 (0-2f), M Heslin & S Tighe 0-1 each.