2 from 2 for Waterford Ladies

Waterford Intermediate Ladies Footballers made it two wins from two games in this year’s Tesco Homegrown National Football League when they recorded a facile victory over a fancied Fermanagh side at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon last.

Waterford in the first round of games were made to work very hard to earn a first round victory a week earlier when 2014 Junior All-Ireland Champions Wexford visited the same venue and the side were set for another massive battle this past weekend.

Fermanagh had not played a competitive game since their 6-16 to 1-10 loss to Down in last year’s Intermediate All-Ireland Final, as their opening round game against Tipperary who were beaten in the All-Ireland Intermediate Final twelve months earlier was called off because of the weather.

Waterford manager Pat Sullivan and his selectors in picking the team to face the Ulster side opted to make two changes to the team which beat Wexford, bringing in Grainne Kenneally who missed the game with Wexford as she was assisting Lismore in their All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie semi Final on the same day and Mairead Wall who came on for Mary Kate Morrissey late in the game with Wexford, Margaret Revins and Shauna Dunphy the players to move out.

There were also some positional changes as Hannah Landers moved from centre field in the game with Wexford to wing forward in the absence of Shauna Dunphy and Mairead Wall slotted into the middle of the field position.

It was the Ulster side that got off to the best start in this game as Sharon Little opened the scoring inside five minutes, but from this point on there was only one side ever going to win this game.

Waterford however wasted no time in hitting back as a brace of Maria Delahunty points followed to give Waterford a lead that would never be lost. Team captain Linda Wall followed up with a point on the quarter of an hour mark after some good work by Megan Dunford and Hannah Landers.

Over the years Waterford has produced some great players. In more recent years one of these players is Elaine Power. The Tramore Club player has moved from centre field to the half back line this year and has settled into her new position like a duck to water. She broke up a good Fermanagh movement and then went on an excellent run before blasting the ball to the roof of Róisín Gleeson’s net to give Waterford a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

Grainne Kenneally extended Waterford’s lead with a point but it was cancelled out shortly afterwards with an effort from Joanne Doonan.

Fermanagh however will feel that they should have been closer to Waterford at this stage as between Grainne Kenneally’s and Joanne Doonan’s effort for the second week running Waterford gave away a penalty. Against Wexford ? beat Katie Hannon for a late consolation goal for the Model County, but this time the ball did not get past her as Caroline Little saw her effort come back off the post.

Waterford before the break sealed the victory as they kicked some late important scores.

A effort from Sinead Ryan hit the post but Mary Kate Morrissey was in the right place to capitalise to finish to the net and a minute later Michelle Ryan hit Waterford’s third goal of the game.

Before the break however there was still time to keep the score board operator busy as Hannah Landers another of the Waterford players that has impressed immensely in the last few years kicked a brace of scores to give Waterford a 3-6 to 0-2 lead at the mid point stage of the game.

Waterford at the start of the second half started where they had left off.

Grainne Kenneally hit a point a minute into the second half. Two former Waterford captains then linked up, for another Waterford score as Michelle McGrath set up Michelle Ryan to give Waterford a 3-8 to 0-2 lead.

Sinead Ryan in last year’s County Final made a huge impact after coming on as a sub and it was no real surprise to see her recalled to the inter county set up this year following that performance. She hit Waterford’s fourth goal having been set up by Aoife Murray who had just come on for Michelle Ryan.

Sinead Ryan followed up with a free and Aoife Murray and Aileen Wall also landed points to extend Waterford’s lead.

Noelle Connolly pulled a point back for Fermanagh, their third and final of the game, but Waterford as they had all throughout the game finished strong as Aileen Wall kicked a point and the scoring was rounded off in the last minute of the game as Margaret Revins after coming on finished to the net. The Old Parish Club player was unlucky before she hit the net late on not to have done so earlier as she drew a good save from Róisín Gleeson in the Fermanagh goal.

Waterford have no game this coming week, but play Sligo in Fraher Field on February 22 where they will be looking to gain revenge for the defeat they experienced in Sligo last year.

Waterford Panel: 1. Katie Hannon, 2. Megan Dunford, 3. Karen McGrath, 4. Emma Murray, 5. Michelle McGrath, 6. Elaine Power, 7. Caoimhe McGrath, 8. Mary Kate Morrissey, 9. Mairead Wall, 10. Linda Wall, 11. Grainne Kenneally, 12. Hannah Landers, 13. Maria Delahunty, 14. Sinead Ryan, 15. Michelle Ryan, 16. Clodagh Walsh, 17. Mary Foley, 18. Nora Dunphy, 19. Aoife Murray, 20. Shauna Dunphy, 21. Nicola Fennell, 22. Liz Devine, 23. Aileen Wall, 24. Emer Scanlon, 25. Kate McGrath, 26. Ciara Hurley, 27. Lauren McGregor, 28. Margaret Revins, 29. Aoife Dunne, 30. Mairead Power, 31. Louise Ryan, 32. Aoife Landers, 33. Dede Fahy, 34. Eimear Fennell.

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 1-2, Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan 1-1 each, Elaine Power, Margaret Revins 1-0 each, Grainne Kenneally, Hannah Landers, Aileen Wall 0-2 each, Linda Wall, Aoife Murray 0-1 each.

Fermanagh Panel: 1. Róisín Gleeson, 2. Shannon McQuade, 3. Lynne McFreddrick, 4. Danielle Maguire, 5. Shauna Hamilton, 6. Tara Little, 7. Marcella Monaghan, 8. Áine McHugh, 9. Naoimhin Daly, 10. Noelle Connolly, 11. Caroline Little, 12. Joanne Donnan, 13. Sarah McCausland, 14. Aisling Moane, 15. Sharon Little, 16. Shauna Murphy, 17. Rion Gallagher, 18. Edel Campbell, 19. Róisín O’Reilly, 20. Maura McDonald, 21. Maria Connolly, 22. Martina McDonald, 23. Aileen Moane, 24. Ciara Durnien, 25. Brenda Bannon, 26. Michelle Trotter, 27. Collette Cassidy, 28. Laura McFarland.

Scorers: Sharon Little, Joanne Doonan, Noelle Connolly 0-1 each.

Referee: Kevin Phelan

 

Results from Round Two - Homegrown National Ladies Football League – Division three.

Leitrim 3-13 Tipperary 3-3

Roscommon 3-14 Longford 0-6

Waterford 5-12 Fermanagh 0-3

Sligo 4-8 Wexford 0-5

 

Round Two Fixture Homegrown National Ladies Football League – Division three. 22 February.

Leitrim V Fermanagh

Longford V Wexford

Roscommon V Tipperary

Waterford V Sligo

 

League Table - Homegrown National Ladies Football League

Sligo                    2       2       0       0       +27   6

Waterford           2       2       0       0       +25   6

Leitrim                2       2       0       0       +16   6

Roscommon         2       1       0       1       +11   3

Tipperary            1       0       0       1       -10    0

Wexford               2       0       0       2       -16    0

Fermanagh         1       0       0       1       -24    0

Longford              2       0       0       2       -29    0