Waterford top Ladies National Football League.

Waterford retained their unbeaten start to this year’s Ladies Football National 3 Campaign after they easily beat Wexford at Grantstown on Sunday.

The defeat was the home sides second in this year’s league, but if there is any consolation for them it has to be that they have now played two of the three perceived strongest teams in this group, Tipperary and Waterford and this weekend the third of the stronger team in the group – Armagh.

For Waterford, the win was very pleasing. The six forwards that started the game for Waterford all finished the game with their names on the score sheet which is always something pleasing to see.

The win also sets Pat O’Brien’s charges nicely for tough encounters with Tipperary and Armagh coming up in the coming weeks.  

Waterford from the off were always looked like they were going to win this game as the Wall sisters Linda and Mairead kicked early points.

Fiona Bennett who made an impressive debut a week earlier against Tipperary again impressed here and she kicked her side’s first score to leave one between the sides.

Linda Wall extended Waterford’s lead with another point which was followed by a goal from Ballyduff’s Hannah Landers.

Wexford responded almost straight away with a goal from the impressive Fiona Bennett but Waterford in the following minutes hit a golden patch.

Margaret Revins who has really impressed for Waterford in recent games hit a point before the same player rattled the home sides net twice in a two minute spell just short of the half way point in the first half.

Michelle Ryan further extended Waterford’s lead with a point, but it was cancelled out with an effort from Julie Coakley.

Further points from Fiona Rochford, Fiona Bennett and Fiona Bennett helped settle Wexford somewhat, but Waterford were also in impress in the closing minutes of the first half as Margaret Revins, Michelle Ryan and Linda Wall kicked points for Waterford to give them a 3-8 to 1-5 lead at the interval.

Waterford began the second half in dramatic fashion as Michelle Ryan and Linda Wall both raised green flags which ended the game as a contest.

Aileen Wall and Fiona Rochford traded scores before Michelle Ryan and Mairead Wall shared three points between them.

Siobhan Cloake and Niamh Butler pulled two points back for the home side, but these sides were cancelled out before the end when Aileen Wall and Lauren McGregor kicked points for Waterford to help them to what was in the end a very comfortable win.

Next up for Waterford is a home game against Tipperary on Sunday afternoon. The game has a 2pm throw in but no venue is named for the game at the time of penning this piece.

Last weekend, Tipperary who are managed by former inter county hurler John Leahy lost out to Armagh by two points in Grangemockler.

In other games this weekend, Wexford again have home advantage this weekend for a game against Armagh, while Leitrim whose game against Offaly last weekend in Tullamore was called off because of the weather play Longford in Ballinamore. Last weekend Longford recorded a 6-6 to 1-11 win over Sligo.

Sligo this weekend has home advantage against Offaly, a game that both sides will be looking for their first win in this year’s campaign.

Waterford: Aimee Jordan; Nora Dunphy , Ciara Dunphy, Mary Foley; Louise Ryan, Karen McGrath, Liz Devine; Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power; Linda Wall, Michelle Ryan, Mairead Wall; Aileen Wall, Margaret Revins, Hannah Landers. Subs: Megan O Connor for Ciara Dunphy, Shauna Dunphy for Michelle McGrath, Aisling Hahessey for Louise Ryan, Lauren McGregor for Hannah Landers, Gráinne Costello for Aimee Jordan

Scorers: Michelle Ryan 1-5, Margaret Revins 2-2, Linda Wall 1-3, Hannah Landers 1-0,  Aileen Wall 0-3, Lauren McGregor and Mairead Wall 0-1 each.   

Wexford Aoife McCaulife; Ciara Neville, Marica Cullen, Aoife Waters: Roisin Murphy, Catriona McCabe, Marguerite Doyle; Clara Donnelly, Fiona Rochford;  Julie Coakley, Maria Byrne, Niamh Moore; Katie Redmond, Fiona Bennett, Mary Hempenstall. Subs: Kellie Kearny for Julie Coakley, Rosie Lawlor for Mary Hempenstall, Siobhan Cloake for Maria Byrne, Ciara Corrigan for Aoife Waters, Niamh Butler for Fiona Bennett, Marcella Cullen for Niamh Moore, Niamh Cloake Rochford for Fiona Rochford, Eimear O’Brien for Roisin Murphy.

Scorers: Fiona Bennett 1-3, Fiona Rochford 0-2, Julie Coakley, Katie Redmond, Siobhán Cloake, Niamh Butler 0-1 each.

Referee: Kevin Phelan.

 

Tesco Homegrown NFL Div 3 Division 3

	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
Waterford	2	2	0	0	53	20	33	6
Leitrim	1	1	0	0	36	24	12	3
Longford	1	1	0	0	21	14	7	3
Tipperary	2	1	1	0	31	27	4	3
Armagh	1	1	0	0	15	13	2	3
Offaly	1	0	1	0	8	23	-15	0
Sligo	2	0	2	0	38	57	-19	0
Wexford	2	0	2	0	24	48	-24	0