Heartbreak for Déise Ladies Footballers

There was no joy for the Waterford Minor Ladies Football team on Saturday afternoon last in Nenagh in the All-Ireland B Semi final as Kildare win by a single point, thanks to a brilliant third quarter by the Lilly whites.

A disappointing small crowd made their way to the North Tipperary venue for this game, but while it is Kildare that advance to the All-Ireland Final the real winners are those that showed up on the day to see these two sides clash in what was a hugely exciting game where the outcome was in doubt right to the end.

Waterford opened brightly with points from Aoife Fitzgerald, Abbey Dunphy and Annie O’Neill after Sarah Doyle had given the Lilly whites an early lead.

Molly Aspel and the brilliant Neasa Dooley pulled points back to level matters before Kelly Ann Hogan put Waterford back in front.

But it was to be a short lived lead as Neasa Dooley with a brace of scores and once from Sarah Doyle gave Kildare a 0-6 to 0-4 lead.

Clodagh Carroll pointed for Waterford but it was followed with efforts from Leah Hayes and Neasa Dooley which put Kildare three in front.

But back came Waterford in fine style as Sarah Lacey rattled the Kildare net for the games first goal to level matters before the same player pointed to give Waterford the lead.

While Nanci Murphy soon levelled matters once more, Clodagh Carroll hit a second goal for the Déise Ladies to edge them back in front for a deserved three point lead.

Claire Nugent and Neasa Dooley made it a one point game but before the short whistle Sarah Lacey pointed for Waterford to give them a 2-7 to 0-11 lead at the break.

It was Kildare that had the better of much of the second half.

Aislinn Dooley and Kelly Ann Hogan swapped early scores before Nanci Murphy, Lara Curran, Molly Aspell, Neasa Dooley and Molly Dagg hit points in a row for the eventual winners.

But it was Waterford that finished the stronger of the sides.

Kildare finished the game with a numerical disadvantage as Lauren Murtagh was sin binned, and in the closing minutes Waterford kicked scores from Sarah Lacey, Aoife Brazil and Brigita Valuntaite, but the further score that Waterford needed to get something from this game did not arrive.

Kildare: Ciara Farrell; Ciara Regan, Lara Gilbert, Emily Birch; Hazel McLoughlin, Lauren Murtagh, Ali Cullen; Molly Aspell, Lara Curran; Claire Nugent, Neasa Dooley, Aislinn Dooley; Sarah Doyle, Nanci Murphy, Leah Hayes. Subs: Joanne Deasy for Claire Nugent, Ciara Downey for Hazel McLoughlin, Molly Dagg 0.02 for Leah Hayes, Eve Kehoe for Sarah Doyle.

Scorers: Neasa Dooley 0-6 (5f), Nanci Murphy, Sarah Doyle, Molly Dagg 0-2 each, Molly Aspell, Lara Curran, Claire Nugent, Aislinn Dooley, Leah Hayes 0-1 each,

Waterford: Rosie Landers; Cara Murray, Roisin Dunphy, Kirsty Green; Abby Dalton, Mary Kate Curran, Brigita Valuntaite; Kelly Anne Hogan, Keeley Corbett Barry; Annie O Neill, Sarah Lacey, Clodagh Carroll; Abby Dunphy, Aoife Fitzgerald, Kate Cliffe. Subs: Briona McGrath for Abby Dunphy, Aoife Brazil for Kate Cliffe, Sadbh Hallahan for Abby Dalton, Alanna White for Aoife Fitzgerald.

Scorers: Sarah Lacey 1- 4(1f), Clodagh Carroll 1-1, Brigita Valuntaite, Kelly Ann Hogan, Annie O Neill, Aoife Fitzgerald (f), Aoife Brazil (f) 0-1 each

Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford).