Tyrone too strong for Waterford Lady Footballers

Waterford’s Lady Footballers completed their LIDL Division 2 league campaign in disappointing fashion when they were beaten by eight points by Tyrone in WIT Carriganore on Sunday last. Both teams lined out short of some regulars, but it was the Northern girls who were first out of the blocks with a well taken point by Áine Canavan in the first minute. Things were to get worse for the Déise two minutes later when Chloe McCaffrey scored the opening goal of the match having been put through by full forward Gemma Begley. Maria Delahunty opened the scoring for Waterford in the 6^th minute with a good point but it was to be all of 22 more minutes before they would register their second score. In the meantime with the aid of a strong breeze Tyrone picked off their scores with points from Maria Canavan, Gemma Begley (two) Emma Jane Gervin and two from Niamh O Neill to leave Tyrone in the driving seat seven points clear 1-7 to Waterford’s solitary point after 22 minutes. Maria Delahunty added a point for Waterford before O Neill and Begley answered with points for Tyrone and the last score of the half was a Róisín Tobin point for Waterford to leave the half time score Tyrone 1-7 Waterford 0-3.

Like the first half it was Áine Canavan who opened the scoring for Tyrone in the 3^rd minute. Róisín Tobin replied with one for Waterford but Tyrone extended their lead with points from three points from Maria Canavan.  Eimear Fennell added a point for Waterford but this was cancelled out by a point from Niamh O Neill in the 16^th minute. Róisin Tobin scored her third point of the game for Waterford in the 19^th minute to leave the score Tyrone 1-11 Waterford 0-6.Michelle Ryan got in on the scoring act for Waterford with two good points to cut the deficit and was unlucky with two goal efforts, one coming back off the post at speed with the Tyrone goalkeeper completely beaten. Tyrone closed out the match with five unanswered points two from Niamh O Neill and one each from Chloe McCaffrey, Caolean Coway and Áine Canavan to leave Tyrone eleven points to the good going into injury time. As the clock ticked down Chloe Fennell was fouled in the square and Maria Delahunty despatched the penalty to the back of the net to put a more favourable gloss on the score line which read Tyrone 1-16 Waterford 1-8.

Neither Waterford nor Tyrone qualified for the semi-finals of the league in what was an ultra-competitive division. Waterford will look back at the draw away to Clare and narrow one point away defeats to Cavan and Sligo as the chances missed for qualification for the semi-finals. The team now turn their attention to the Munster senior championship which takes place in May.

Waterford lined out as follows Waterford ---- Katie Hannon, Mairéad Wall, Michelle McGrath, Kate McGrath, Megan Dunford, Dearbhaile Ní Aodha, Rebecca Casey, Karen McGrath, Emma Murray, Katie Murray, Róisín Tobin(0-3),Maria Delahunty(1-2),Eimear Fennell(0-1),Aileen Wall and Michelle Ryan(0-2) Subs introduced--- Jessica Fitzgerald, Lauren Guiry, Lauren McGregor, Caragh McCarthy, Emer Scanlan, Chloe Fennell and Hannah Power.