No Joy for Waterford in Birr, But This Side Is Heading In the Right Direction

In big games in the last few years Waterford Ladies Footballers have often had to settle for second best when they play Ulster opposition, and the same happen again this afternoon at Birr when Cavan had three points to spare in the Division Two National League semi final clash between the two counties.

In previewing this game during the week I pointed out that when two sides meet twice in the matter of a short few weeks, its often that the side that lose the first day comes out on top on the second meeting as it is often that they have learned the most from the first game, and saying this might have appeared to be a curse down on the Waterford side as the Ulster side had lost heavily when the two met at the WIT Arena in Carriganore recently.

But in truth, this is not the case as it was a great start for the Ulster side in both halves that proved to be the difference between the sides, coupled with some unladylike luck for Waterford at times over the course of the game.

The Ulster side played with a strong wind at their backs in the first half of this game and in the opening ten minutes of this game they made full use of it, as they opened the scoring inside sixty seconds from Aisling Doonan and added to their early lead two minutes later through Bronagh Sheridan.

Eimear Fennell had a chance to pull a score back for the Déise County but she saw her effort from a free go just wide of the upright.

Both sides continued to create chances. Cavan took one when Bronagh Sheridan made it 0-3 to 0-0 after seven minutes before Geraldine Power again shot just wide for Waterford.

Cavan went four in front when Aisling Doonan hit her second score of the game. At the other end Waterford continued to make chance and on thirteen minutes a Lauren McGregor effort was well blocked down by Rachel Doonan.

Waterford did get off the mark on nineteen minutes when Maria Delahunty put over from play, but it was quickly cancelled out with an effort from Aisling Doonan, who put her side 0-5 to 0-1 in front.

Evelyn Baugh made a brilliant double save from Geraldine Power and Eimear Fennell three minutes from the break, but Waterford would add to their tally before the turn around when Maria Delahunty got her second of the game on the half hour mark and in added time at the end of the thirty Lauren McGregor got her name on the score sheet which left the Déise Ladies trailing 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Waterford came out and scored straight from the restart, Eimear Fennell cutting the Lake Land Counties lead to one.

But Waterford were dealt a blow soon afterwards as the Ulster side hit the next two scores, Sinead Greene hitting a point on thirty two minutes and less than sixty seconds later Catherine Dolan burst through the Waterford defence and finished past Gráinne Kenneally to give her side a 1-6 to 0-4 lead.

This was when he saw how good this Waterford side is, as they hit back with the next three scores, all from the boot of Maria Delahunty frees to cancel out Dolan’s goal to leave Waterford trailing 1-6 to 0-7 with thirty nine minutes played.  

For Waterford it was important to get the next score and to exert real pressure on the Ulster side, it was the side in Royal Blue that struck the next two scores from Aisling Doonan and Bronagh Sheridan to put them more comfortably four points to the good.

Credit this Waterford side however, even with time ticking down they continued to go in search of the scores that might give them something from this game, but they found it hard to get past what was a near water tight defence on the day which was superbly marshaled by wing back Sinead Greene and full back Laura Fitzpatrick.

Waterford did manage a late score from substitute Liz Devine but it proved to be a mere consolation score.

Cavan now advance to the league final where they will be hoping to go one better than last year when they lost out after a replay to Westmeath, and in that final their opponents will be Tipperary who proved too strong for Armagh and will be looking to put back to back promotions together when the pair clash in the final.  

For Waterford, this had been a terrific league campaign, when you consider that this time last year they finished in seventh position and with a score difference over seven games of plus one point.

Pat Sullivan and his side will now begin the hard work that needs to be put in for the Munster and All-Ireland Championships. Last year Waterford reached the Munster Final where they narrowly lost out to Kerry in Mallow but they will know that to reach the same stage this year could well be a more difficult task as not only will Cork and Kerry will be involved this year, so too will be Tipperary who won last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate title.

Waterford last year bowed out of the All-Ireland Championship at the quarter final stages of the competition when they lost out to Dublin, but they will know that while the Munster and All-Ireland Championship’s will be difficult asks this year, they are a much more experienced side now than they were this time last year and will feel that they can achieve more than they did last year, and who knows what might happen if they can put together a good result or two in the Munster Championship because as we all know winning can become a habit.

CAVAN: Evelyn Baugh; Rachel Doonan, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Joanne Moore; Sinead Greene, Mona Sheridan, Neassa Byrd; Catherine Dolan, Donna English; Gráinne McGlade, Bronagh Sheridan, Aisling Sheridan; Róisín O’Keeffe, Aisling Doonan, Ciara Finnegan.

Subs: Catriona Smith for Ciara Finnegan, Sinead O’Sullivan for Róisín O’Keeffe, Ailish Cornyn for Aisling Sheridan.

Scorers: Aisling Doonan 0-4 (1f), Bronagh Sheridan 0-3, Catherine Dolan 1-0, Sinead Greene 0-1.

WATERFORD: Gráinne Kenneally; Kate McGrath, Michelle McGrath, Rebecca Casey; Mairead Wall, Keeley Corbett, Megan Dunford; Karen McGrath, Katie Murray; Aoife Murray, Geraldine Power, Lauren McGregor; Maria Delahunty, Eimear Fennell, Aileen Wall.

Subs: Sinead Ryan for Lauren McGregor, Kelly Ann Hogan for Aoife Murray, Liz Devine for Eimear Fennell.

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 0-5 (4f), Lauren McGregor, Eimear Fennelly, Liz Devine 0-1 each.

Referee: Garryowen McMahon (Mayo).