Armagh take league title, but the year could end on a high for a promising Waterford side.

The scoreboard showed that Armagh beat Waterford by nine points in this year’s Tesco Homegrown Division Three National Ladies Football Final at Parnell Park last Saturday afternoon, but it could well be argued that the final score gave a false indication as to the difference between the sides.

Described by some as an ‘ill-tempered game’ presumably going on the fact that both sides were to finish the game with thirteen players, this in fact was not a dirty game.

The cause of three players not finishing the game was down to the fact that players picked up yellow cards inside the last ten minutes of the game for something that would be described in the men’s game as a technical foul. The difference between the two games however when such a foul happens is that in the men’s game you are banished to the stand and can be replaced by a player who is already in the stand, while in the lady’s game a player is sin-binned for ten minutes and cannot be replaced, something I feel that GAA should have looked at instead of introducing black cards for this years league and championship.

While Waterford will be disappointed with the final outcome of the game, they will know that on another day, the outcome could be much different.

Waterford hit a tally of eight wide’s in the first half and in the second half missed a penalty. Throughout the game the ball found a way of not hitting the Armagh net, while Armagh’s goal while well taken, it could be described as somewhat fortunate as it came about as a result of Armagh intercepting the ball while the Waterford backs were attempting to play the ball out of defence.

However, while Waterford will have been disappointed with the final result, the side can take a lot of hope from the game as they head into the championship. Armagh were the best side in the division three league, but Pat O’Brien and his charges will know that they cannot meet in a competitive game for the remainder of the year as the Orchard County side are playing in the senior grade while Waterford are an Intermediate side.

For the league this year Waterford brought some new players into the panel and it is very obvious that they are not out of their debt playing at this level of football. While it is not always right to signal some players out over others, it is very obvious that players like Liz Devine, Megan O’Connor and Shauna Dunphy have made a big impact so far this year and they could make an even bigger impact come championship time.

It was also great to see Grainne Kenneally back in the Waterford colours this year in the latter stages of the league after a year away from the game.

When it comes to Players of the Match awards, how much thought goes into the picking of them is something that is a little puzzling. Sometimes it would appear that it goes on statistics and the player that scores the most for the winning team is often the winner. Sometimes you have to wonder how much work rate goes into the picking of the award, and if it was to be a factor, then in my view the Ballyduff Club player would have won the official player of the game award on Saturday last, something I tweeted with some ten minutes of the game left to play as I was hugely impressed with her work rate.

On Saturday last it was also great to see Grainne Enright back in the full back line for Waterford. Earlier this year the Abbeyside player had announced that she was retiring from the inter county game, but thankfully she has since had a change of heart and her experience could prove hugely important to the younger players coming through within the panel.

Waterford made all the running in the early stages of the game but the ball refused to go between the uprights as much as Waterford tried. It was not till ten minutes into the game that the first score was registered when Michelle Ryan put over a close in free which was won after a Michelle McGrath ’45 dropped short.

After this Armagh enjoyed a period of dominance as Lauren McConville, Mags McAlinden and Finnuala McKenna from a free all raised white flags.

Liz Devine pulled a point back for Waterford on seventeen minutes to leave just one between the sides. Waterford continued to press hard to draw level with Grainne Kenneally and Aileen Wall playing vital roles for the Déise ladies, but the chances that did come Waterford’s way did not result in scores, often down to pressure put on the Waterford forwards when shooting by the Armagh backs.

Armagh however were to finish the half the stronger of the two sides and went to the dressing rooms holding a 1-6 to 0-2 advantage.

Kelly Mallon was found with a short Caroline O’Hanlon ’45 and the Armagh Harps Club player made no mistake, which was followed with a Finnuala McKenna point.

Caoimhe Morgan did brilliant to deny the impressive Hannah Landers a good goal scoring opportunity and from the rebound Shona Curran saw were shot go just wide of Katie Daly’s left hand post.

At the other end of the field with first half time ticking down, Lauren McConville incepted a ball that Waterford were attempting to play out of defence and played a one-two with Mags McAlinden before finishing past Aimee Jordan in the Waterford goal and just as the buzzer was about to sound, Siobhan Mackle who surprisingly did not start the game but who came on in the first half as a sub put over the first of her three points to give her side a seven point advantage at the break soon after coming on.

Armagh at the start of the second half continued where they left off at the end of the first half with Lauren McConville, Finnuala McKenna, Aoife McCoy and McKenna again kicked points with Waterford’s sole reply coming from a Michelle Ryan free.

Shauna Dunphy came on for Waterford on thirty-six minutes replacing Liz Devine and made a huge impact. She was a constant thorn in the side of the Armagh defence and is a player that we could well see a lot more of later this year.

The Comeragh Rangers player was quick to react when Shona Curran’s goal attempt came back off the foot of the posts and the teenager made no mistake when attempting to beat Katie Daly with the second attempt.

Armagh now lead 1-10 to 1-3 but for the next while, Waterford were on top once more. Shona Curran pointed to leave six between the sides and when Waterford won a penalty after Shauna Dunphy was hacked to the ground it looked as though Waterford could well imply misery for the second year in a row on Armagh in the league final, but Michelle Ryan saw her effort shave the outside of Katie Daly’s left hand post.

Hannah Landers did manage to reduce the difference on the scoreboard to five soon afterwards, but this was to prove to be the sides last score of the game.

In the closing minutes Waterford lost Grainne Kenneally and Shona Curran to yellow cards while Armagh’s Sarah Marley was to suffer the same fete while the Orchard County side also had Kelly Mallon ordered off on a straight red card by Wexford referee Mags Doherty.

Armagh finished the game the stronger of the two sides as Kelly Mallon, Finnuala McKenna and a brace from Siobhan Mackle in the closing minutes of the game helped Armagh to a nine point win, but I am convinced on another day and with lady luck which appeared to elude Waterford on Saturday afternoon the result could be so much different.

ARMAGH: Katie Daly; Mairead Tennyson, Caoimhe Morgan, Sarah Marley; Marian McGuinness, Niamh Marley, Sharon Reel; Caitlin Malone, Caroline O'Hanlon); Niamh Henderson, Finnuala McKenna, Aoife McCoy; Lauren McConville, Kelly Mallon, Mags McAlinden Subs: Siobhan Mackle for Caitlin Malone (28), Shauna Grey for Marian McGuinness (38), Louise Kenny for Mags McAlinden (45).

Scorers: Lauren McConville 1-2, Finnuala McKenna 0-5 (2f), Siobhan Mackle 0-3, Kelly Mallon 0-2, Mags McAlinden, Aoife McCoy 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Aimee Jordan; Nora Dunphy, Grainne Enright, Mary Foley; Shona Curran, Karen McGrath, Grainne Kenneally; Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power; Linda Wall, Michelle Ryan, Mairead Wall; Aileen Wall, Mags Revins, Liz Devine Subs: Hannah Landers for Mags Revins (19), Shauna Dunphy for Liz Devine (36).

Scorers: Shauna Dunphy 1-0, Michelle Ryan 0-2 (2f), Shona Curran, Hannah Landers, Liz Devine 0-1 each.

REFEREE: Mags Doherty (Wexford)