Waterford come up short against Westmeath

Waterford Ladies Football team made the trek to Mullingar to face the home team Westmeath and like last week’s trip to Cavan they came up narrowly short with a five point defeat. In a game played in glorious sunshine in St Loman’s GAA, Waterford started off brightly with a point from Maria Delahunty. This was quickly cancelled out by a Leona Archibald point and in the 4^th minute Lucy Mc Carton put the home team ahead with a point. Róisín Tobin put the Déise back in front with a well taken goal in the 7^th minute but this merely spurred the midlanders into action with three points in quick succession, two from frees for Leona Archibald and one from centre back Fiona Claffey to put Westmeath back in front on 14 minutes. Ciara Blundell goaled for Westmeath, following a great passing movement to put 4 points between the sides with 18 minutes gone. Maria Delahunty narrowed the gap to three points with a point after 23 minutes but Leona Archibald replied in kind with a point for Westmeath in the 25^th minute. Róisín Tobin pointed for Waterford in the 27^th minute and Maria Delahunty got her third point just on the stroke of half time to leave two points between the teams at the break Westmeath 1-6 Waterford 1-4.

Like the first half Waterford opened brightly with a point from Michelle Ryan but Westmeath quickly took control with four unanswered points two from Leona Archibald and one each from Ciara Blundell and Laura Lee Walsh to leave them five points to the good entering the final quarter. Waterford refused to give up however and three good points, two from Maria Delahunty and one from Katie Murray left two points between the sides with ten minutes to go. Waterford were putting incessant pressure on the Westmeath defence and the Westmeath goal led a charmed life with at least two good goal chances for Waterford going a begging. Laura Lee Walsh steadied Westmeath nerves with a point and midfielder Karen Mc Dermott put a little more light between the teams with another Westmeath point. Maria Delahunty give Waterford some hope with a pointed 45 metre free and added another point to leave two between the teams with time running out. Waterford pressed forward in the dying moments searching for the goal that would give them three valuable league points but in true break away fashion Westmeath broke down the pitch and Tracy Dillon put the ball into the Waterford net to ensure that Westmeath would take a giant step towards semi-final qualification with a hard earned victory on the final score Westmeath 2-12  Waterford 1-10.Waterford’s final league game will be a home tie with Tyrone on Sunday next, venue and time to be confirmed.

Waterford lined out as follows---- Katie Hannon, Mairéad Wall, Michelle McGrath, Kate McGrath, Dearbhaile Ní Aodha, Caoimhe McGrath, Megan Dunford, Katie Murray(0-1) , Róisín Tobin(1-1), Emma Murray,  Nicola Fennell, Maria Delahunty(0-7,3f,1, 45),Michelle Ryan(0-1) Aileen Wall, Lauren Mc Gregor.

Subs used—Aoife Murray for Lauren Mc Gregor, Karen McGrath for Nicola Fennell and Eimear Fennell for Róisín Tobin.