Waterford Intermediate Ladies remain unbeaten in National League.

Waterford’s Intermediate Ladies Football team made it four out of four in this year’s Tesco Homegrown National League with a hard fought win over Tipperary at Ardfinnan on Sunday afternoon.

Operating with a large panel, Pat Sullivan and his selectors made wholesale changes to the side that beat Sligo a week earlier at Fraher Field.

Clodagh Walsh a used sub in the win over Sligo came in from the start in place of Katie Hannon between the posts. Megan Dunford and Emma Murray the corner backs that started against Sligo were replaced by the experienced Mary Foley and Kate McGrath. Emer Scanlon was the only change in the half back line replacing Caoimhe McGrath and in the middle of the field Nicola Fennell came in for Mairead Wall.

In attack the experienced pair of Linda Wall who captains the side this year and Michelle Ryan were also left out as was Aoife Murray, Ciara Hurley, Lauren McGregor and Shauna Dunphy the players coming in.

It was Gillian O’Brien who has stood out for Tipperary in the last few years that opened the scoring in this game after five minutes, but points from Sinead Ryan on ten minutes and Shauna Dunphy soon afterwards had Waterford in front.

Laura Dillon scored Tipperary’s first goal on fourteen minutes which was followed by an effort from the impressive Gillian O’Brien which went between the uprights.

Since re-joining the panel earlier this year, Maria Delahunty has impressed immensely. The Abbeyside player brought the visitors to within one of the hosts on nineteen minutes, hitting a brace of points inside a minute of each other, the first from play, and the latter from a free.

Gillian O’Brien with her third of the game extended Tipperary’s lead soon afterwards which was followed up with a second Tipperary goal, this one from Cappawhite’s Aoife Ryan to give the hosts a 2-4 to 0-4 lead.

Waterford would however finish strong and points from teenagers Lauren McGregor and Ciara Hurley, two players that have come through from successful underage teams left Waterford trailing 2-4 to 0-6 at the interval.

Tipperary came out for the second half in flying fashion and kicked a third goal inside a minute of the resumption, a second in the game from Aoife Ryan.

This was however as good as it got for the home side as from the restart, Waterford moved the ball up the field with pace and Lauren McGregor gave Lauren Fitzpatrick playing on a ground she is very familiar with no chance.

Maria Delahunty hit a point from a free on thirty four minutes which was cancelled out with a similar score from Aisling McCarthy, one that was to be her side’s last of the game.

From here on in it was Waterford all the way.

Aileen Wall landed a point on thirty four minutes after which Maria Delahunty, Ciara Hurley and Sinead Ryan landed points to draw the sides level (1-11 to 3-5) after forty-nine minutes.

Michelle Ryan not long after coming on for Lauren McGregor put Waterford in front with a second goal for the visitors and eight minutes from time Dede Fahey secured the win for Waterford with a point.

Next up for Waterford is a home game against Roscommon on March 15 at 2pm at a venue yet to be confirmed, while Tipperary this coming Sunday have a rearranged opening round game with Fermanagh to play at 2pm and on March 15 will be at home to Wexford.

Waterford: Clodagh Walsh; Mary Foley, Karen McGrath, Kate McGrath; Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power, Emer Scanlon; Mary Kate Morrissey, Nicola Fennell; Ciara Hurley, Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall; Lauren McGregor, Sinéad Ryan Shauna Dunphy. Subs used: Linda Wall, Mairead Wall, Michelle Ryan, Aoife Murray, Dede Fahey, Katie Hannon

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 0-4, Lauren McGregor 1-1, Michelle Ryan 1-0, Ciara Hurley 0-2, Sinead Ryan 0-2, Aileen Wall, Dede Fahey, Shauna Dunphy 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Treasa McGrath, Maria Curley, Elaine Kelly; Roisin McGrath, Louise Cadell, Lorraine O'Shea; Bernie Ryan, Breda Feeney; Laura Dillon, Gillian O'Brien, Aisling McCarthy; Shauna Ryan, Aoife Ryan, Sarah Everard. Subs used: Sarah Ryan, Elaine Butler, Emma Buckley.

Scorers: Aoife Ryan 2-0, Gillian O'Brien 0-4, Laura Dillon 1-0, Aisling McCarthy 0-1.

Referee: Jason Flood (Wexford).

Meanwhile, the same two counties clashed in the Munster Under 14 ‘B’ Championship at Bansha on Saturday afternoon.

A goal from Keeley Corbett Barry proved to be the crucial score of a very tight first half as it gave the visiting side a 1-4 to 0-6 lead.

Angela McGuckian in the second half scored a hat-trick of goals for the home side, but Waterford responded with goals from Sheena McGuckian who hit 1-5 on the day and Maeve Daly which helped Waterford to a 3-11 to 3-7 victory.

Next up for Waterford at this level is a game against Clare on March 14 while Tipperary play Limerick on the same day.