Late Aisling Doonan Scores Give Cavan Ladies Victory over Waterford

Waterford’s trip into Ulster to play Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park ended in disappointment on Sunday afternoon when they lost out by the minimum.

Waterford were forced into making a number of changes to the printed line up from the start, but none the less were still able to start with a very strong team. Early in the game it did not look as if Waterford were missing some of their bigger guns as they went 0-4 to 0-1 in front with fifteen minutes played.

It was the home side that opened the scoring through Aisling Sheridan but Waterford would hit back with the next four scores.

Maria Delahunty opened Waterford’s account with a point from a free, after which Katie Murray and Róisín Tobin who is impressing this year landed scores which was followed with an effort from Michelle Ryan again from play.

The second quarter belonged to the home side.

Aisling Doonan opened her account for the afternoon with a free on nineteen minutes which was quickly followed with an effort from Donna English from play.

With nine minutes of the first half remaining, the home side went back in front once more when Aisling Sheridan had the umpire reaching for the green flag in this game and from the restart Cavan won possession and the same player finished past Katie Hannon who was back in the Waterford goal after missing the last two games due to injury, a score that gave the home side a 2-3 to 0-4 lead.

Waterford ended a fifteen minute spell without a score just before the half time whistle when Maria Delahunty put over her second point of the afternoon to leave Waterford trailing 2-3 to 0-5 at the break.

Waterford in many of their games to date in this league have somewhat struggled in the second half, but in this game Waterford were the better side by some distance.

Maria Delahunty registered the opening point of the second half when she put over a free, which was followed with a point from Aileen Wall who had entered the game as a sub.

In the last few years the influence that Maria Delahunty have had on this team cannot be spelt out enough and the brilliant Abbeyside Club player followed up with the next three scores, two from play and the other from a free to put Waterford 0-10 to 2-3 in front with forty eight minutes showing on the clock.

With six minutes remaining Michelle Ryan extended Waterford’s lead when she again put over from play, but in the closing five minutes, it was the home side that were ever so slightly the stronger of the two sides.

Aisling Sheridan pointed from play which was followed with a similar effort from Aisling Doonan which levelled the game. Had the game ended at this stage the draw would possibly be the fairest result all round.

But there was still time to be played and in the closing minutes both sides went all out for the scores that would get them the full three points on offer.

Michelle Ryan edged Waterford back in from only for Aisling Doonan to cancel out the Ballymacarbry Club players effort with another converted free.

In added time referee Kieran McKeever awarded the home side and with plenty of pressure on her shoulders Aisling Doonan made no mistake to give her side the most slender of victories.

Waterford: Katie Hannon, Mairead Wall, Rebecca Casey, Katie Murray; Dearbhaile Hayes, Caoimhe McGrath, Megan Dunford; Róisín Tobin, Hannah Power; Emma Murray, Nicola Fennell, Geraldine Power; Maria Delahunty, Michelle Ryan, Lauren McGregor. Rest of the Panel: Michelle McGrath, Kate McGrath, Karen McGrath, Eimear Fennell, Aileen Wall, Jessica Fitzgerald, Lauren Grey, Aoife Murray, Caragh McCarthy, Eimer Scanlon, Chloe Fennell and Ciara Kearney.

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 0-6 (3f), Michelle Ryan 0-3, Katie Murray, Róisín Tobin, Aileen Wall 0-1 each.

Cavan: Elaine Walsh; Rachel Doonan, Ailish Cornyn, Mona Sheridan; Sinead Greene, Rachel Jordan, Sheila Reilly; Sinead O’Sullivan, Donna English; Caitriona Smith, Neasa Byrd, Rachel Talbot; Aisling Sheridan, Claragh O’Reilly, Aisling Doonan. Rest of the Panel: Shauna Lynch, Laura Fitzpatrick, Amy Rooney, Grainne Smith, Holly Lynch, Amy Wharton, Caoimhe McDermott, Gemma McLoughlin, Sinead McKenna, Andrea O’Reilly, Beth Farrelly Magee, Geraldine Smith, Katie Fitzpatrick, Keely Doonan, Geraldine Sheridan.

Scorers: Aisling Sheridan 2-2, Aisling Doonan 0-4 (3f), Donna English 0-1.

Referee:  Kieran McKeever (Armagh).