Déise Ladies sixty minutes from possible All-Ireland Glory

Waterford Ladies Intermediate Football team have qualified for this years all Ireland final at a date to be confirmed against Armagh, after they overcame the challenge of Fermanagh at Saint Brendan’s Park in Birr.

Michelle Ryan proved to be one of Waterford’s biggest heroines on the day hitting 1-6 of her sides total and in the process winning for herself the player of the match accolade.

Waterford made a flying visit in this game with Michelle Ryan hitting two points inside the opening two minutes of the game.

Fermanagh hit back and hit three points in a row. The Déise team would have known that Fermanagh’s full forward line was a dangerous line and with just eleven minutes of the game played they found out how dangerous they could be as all three had their name on the score sheet.

Sharon Little was first to find the range on three minutes. Seven minutes later the sides were all square when Caroline Little hit a free and within seconds of this they took the lead when Lynne McFrederick kicked a point to give the Erne County girls an 0-3 to 0-2 lead.

From the restart Waterford attacked the Fermanagh goal. Linda and Aileen Wall combined well to set up Shona Curran and from close range the Cappagh girl made absolute no mistake in blasting to the net.

It was now Fermanagh’s turn to attack the Waterford goal and points from Caroline Little and Noelle Connolly soon followed to leave the sides all square after quarter of an hour.

Waterford went back in front on sixteen minutes. Aileen Wall was pulled down for a penalty and after a slight delay, Michelle Ryan held her nerve hitting low and hard past the diving Roisin Gleeson who guessed right going to her left.

Caroline Little hit two points for Fermanagh to leave one between the sides with seven minutes of the opening half to play and six minutes later the sides were all square once more after Marcella Connolly raised an eight white flag in this game.

The Erne County at this stage were playing with numerical disadvantage after centre back Tara Little was sin binned inside the last three minutes of the halves conclusion.

Waterford with their player advantage made it count and before the half time whistle was blown they had taken a two point lead after Michelle McGrath and then Michelle Ryan hit points which helped Waterford to a 2-4 to 0-8 lead.

Waterford began the second half as they had finished the first and within seconds of the games restart, they had extended their lead. Hannah Landers hit an early point for the Déise girls and with in seconds Michelle Ryan extended Waterford’s lead to four.

With a player advantage Waterford were making all the moves and were unlucky not to have extended the lead even further. Linda Wall saw her effort hit the crossbar and seconds later Michelle Ryan saw her effort fumbled by Roisin Gleeson in the Fermanagh goal but Denise Chapman was on hand to Aleve any danger.

Aisling Moane and Noelle Connolly pulled points back for Fermanagh with ten minutes of the second half played, but Linda Wall and Aileen Wall hit points for Waterford and Michelle Ryan then added one which extended Waterford’s lead to five at the end of the third quarter.

Caroline Little converted a free but Waterford through Michelle Ryan soon but five back between the sides.

It was the Ulster side however that finished the game the stronger of the two sides. Roisin O’Reilly pointed with eight minutes to play and when Caroline Little and then Sharon Little followed up there was just two between the sides with three minutes to play.

Waterford however were able to hold out in the time that remained, and now play what is a fancied Armagh side in the final, in a game that was to have been played on September 30, but will now have to be moved as a result of the All-Ireland hurling final’s at Minor and Senior ending in a draw.

WATERFORD: Aimee Jordan; Aoife Landers, Grainne Enright, Nora Dunphy; Roisin Tobin, Grainne Kenneally, Karen McGrath; Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power; Hannah Landers, Michelle Ryan, Linda Wall; Aileen Wall, Shona Curran, Mairead Wall. Subs: Patricia Fitzgerald for Mairead Wall.
Scorers: Michelle Ryan 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), Shona Curran 1-0, Michelle McGrath, Linda Wall, Aileen Wall and Hannah Landers 0-1 each.

  
FERMANAGH: Roisin Gleeson; Roisin O’Reilly, Orla Reihill, Claire Woods; Marcela Connolly, Tara Little, Shauna Hamilton; Aisling Moane, Denise Chapman; Nuala McManus, Noelle Connolly, Aine McBrien; Sharon Little, Lynne McFrederick, Caroline Little. Subs: Donica Beattie for Nuala McManus, Brenda Brogan for Shauna Hamilton, Shauna Woods for Lynne McFrederick.

Scorers: C Little 0-6 (5f), S Little & N Connolly 0-2 each, R O’Reilly, M Connolly, A Moane and L McFrederick 0-1 each.


Referee: J Flood (Wexford).