Waterford Seniors narrowly defeated by Cavan

Waterford Lady footballers made the long trek to Breffni Park to play the home team in an important Division 2 LIDL National League football round 5 match on Sunday last and returned home empty-handed in the most agonising way possible. Forced to make a number of changes from the team line-out, Waterford set about their task in a positive manner, with three points coming courtesy of Maria Delahunty, Katie Murray and Róisín Tobin in the first ten minutes with Cavan’s only reply being a point from Aisling Sheridan. Michelle Ryan added a Waterford point in the 15^th minute and Waterford had a numerical advantage at this stage with Claragh O Reilly being sin-binned. However the Déise girls were unable to take advantage of this and indeed went 15 minutes without a score.

The game turned on its head in a four minute period of the first half. In the 19^th minute Aisling Doonan pointed a free and one minute later Donna English added another point to the Cavan total. In the 21^st minute Aisling Sheridan got her sides opening goal and straight from the kick-out she repeated the dose to leave Cavan in front and in control on a score-line of Cavan 2-3 Waterford 0-4.Cavan turning a three point deficit into a five point lead in the space of four minutes. On the stroke of half time Maria Delahunty steadied the Waterford ship with a pointed free.

Waterford opened the second half brightly with a pointed free from Maria Delahunty, followed by a point from Aileen Wall to narrow the gap to two points. It was almost ten minutes before the next score of the game would come with both defence’s on top and the forwards on both teams guilty of missing some scoring chances. Maria Delahunty pointed a free and added one from play to level matters with 15 minutes remaining.  Maria Delahunty put Waterford back in front with a point from play in the 18^th minute. Waterford were dealt a major blow a minute later when Róisín Tobin was sin-binned. Michelle Ryan extended Waterford’s lead in the 24^th minute with a good point, but Cavan’s numerical advantage paid off in the 25^th minute with a point from Aisling Sheridan followed by a point from Aisling Doonan to level matters with four minutes to go. Michelle Ryan put the Déise back in front and it looked to be the Déise’s day. It was not to be however Aisling Doonan levelled matters in time added on and to further add salt to the wounds added a pointed free to give Cavan victory and the three league points by the slimmest of margins on a final score Cavan 2-7 Waterford 0-12.This defeat leaves Waterford outside the semi-final places in what is proving to be an ultra-competitive division. Any four of seven teams can still make the semi-finals as there are five teams on nine points each and the next two Clare and Waterford have seven each so it is all to play for in the final two rounds when Waterford travel to Westmeath next Sunday and conclude their fixtures with a home match against Tyrone on Sunday 2^nd April.

Waterford lined out as follows: Katie Hannon, Mairéad Wall, Rebecca Casey, Katie Murray (0-1), Deirbhile Nic Aodha, Caoimhe McGrath, Megan Dunford, Róisín Tobin (0-1), Hannah Power, Emma Murray, Nicola Fennell, Geraldine Power, Maria Delahunty (0-6) Michelle Ryan (0-3) and Lauren McGregor    Sub:  Aileen Wall (0-1)

Waterford Under 14  team qualifies for Munster final

Waterford under 14 team duly qualified for the Munster under14 Ladies final with a hard fought and well earned win over a dogged Clare side. In a game which ebbed and flowed Waterford found it hard to adjust to the all-weather pitch in University of Limerick and trailed Clare at half time on the score-line of Clare 3-1 Waterford 2-3.In the second half Waterford got on top early to go four points up entering the last quarter but Clare were very determined and not prepared to give up and reduced the deficit to a solitary goal with five minutes left on the clock. Waterford’s defence held firm and a good save by the Waterford keeper made sure that Waterford ran out winners on a two point margin. Final Score: Waterford 5-6 Clare 5-4.

Next up for the girls is a Munster final in May against the winners of the Clare/Limerick play off which takes place next week.