Waterford are 60 minutes from another league final

Last weekend Waterford’s Senior Hurling team and the Counties Intermediate Camogie Team both qualified for National League Finals next weekend, and this coming weekend Waterford’s Intermediate Ladies Footballers have the opportunity of making it three sides from the county contesting ‘Spring’ finals as they take on Roscommon in the first of this years Division three Tesco Homegrown National Ladies Football League semi finals at Nenagh on Sunday.

Roscommon are the surprise package of this years competition. They won the Division four final twelve months ago and they have reached this years semi final ahead of the likes of Tipperary who were in the Intermediate All-Ireland Final in 2013, Fermanagh who were in last years Intermediate decider and Wexford who won last years Junior All-Ireland Final.

Waterford has proven to be the side to beat in this years league.

Yes along the way there was some scares for Waterford but they ended the league section of the competition with twenty one points from a possible twenty one and they also were able to blood in some exciting new players into the panel which is under the guidance of Pat Sullivan who has helped win honours with some excellent underage panels in the past few years.

An added plus for Waterford is that some of these players have shown up to be very capable players and have made more experienced players settle for a place on the sub bench at the start of many games.

Twelve months ago Waterford reached the final against a hugely fancied Armagh side at Parnell Park and made the Orchard County girls fight right to the end before they won the game. Had Waterford a little more lady luck on the day the outcome could have been much more different.

Waterford no doubt will be looking to get past this game and have another stab at winning a final. A win in a league decider would mean that Waterford would enter the Munster Championship where they would be looking for a seventh Intermediate title in a row in a confident mood and then set out on the All-Ireland series on an even bigger high.

Another plus for Waterford this year is the way Maria Delahunty and Sinead Ryan have settled back into the set up after a period away.

All throughout the campaign they have proven a thorn in the side of many defences and will look for the same to happen here.

The inclusion of these two players has also helped take some of the pressure of Michelle Ryan when it comes to the scoring stakes.

The elder of the three Ryan Sisters has in the last few years proven to be the sides leading scorer.

While she has not scored as much this year as she has in the last few years the experienced player who was a mascot for the great Waterford senior side under the guidance of her Father Michael back in the 1990’s, she has proven to be a key player in attack this year leading herself as the experienced head in what at times was a very youthful attack.

And another plus for Waterford this year has being the way that the side has been set out.

For many years Elaine Power and Michelle McGrath proved to be one of the best centre field pairings in the country. The pair has moved into the half back line this year and have settled into their new positions like ducks to water. Another player to settle into a new position well is Karen McGrath who has played directly in front of new regular goal keeper Katie Hannon this year.

This will be the second meeting of the sides this year.

On March 15 the sides met at Fraher Field.

The Rossies travelled to Dungarvan in a confident mood. They had lost their first game of the campaign against a strong Leitrim team but followed it up with good wins over Longford, Tipperary and Sligo ahead of the Fraher Field clash.

In was after this game that Waterford booked their place in this weekend’s game.

It was the visitors to Dungarvan’s historic venue that made the better start to the game.

Jenny Downey was without question Roscommon’s best player on the day. She kicked the first point of the game and then set up Sheila Brady for a goal that gave Roscommon an early four point lead.

Aoife Dunne and Sinead Ryan kicked Waterford’s first score’s of the game but at this point it was not looking good for Waterford as they trailed 2-4 to 0-2, Siobhán Tully kicking the visitors second goal.

Waterford in the second half proved to be a different side as Emma Murray, Elaine Power, Megan Dunford, Mairead Wall, Aileen Wall, Michelle Ryan and Aoife Murray were all introduced.

The changes made an immediate impact.

Sinead Ryan hit two early second half points and then levelled matters by the 39^th minute.

Aileen Wall hit a third Waterford goal on 44 minutes and Aoife Murray struck a fourth less than 60 seconds later.

The Comeragh Rangers player would hit a point followed by one from Maria Delahunty after which Aoife Murray struck a fifth Waterford goal five minutes from time.

The visitors however would finish the game the stronger of the two sides as Jenny Downey, Laura McLone and Rachel Ryan all kicked late points, but they proved to be mere consolation scores as Waterford ran out 5-6 to 2-9 winners.

Both sides have made changes from the previous game between the two sides. Roscommon start with 13 of the side that started in Dungarvan. Waterford has just seven of the side that started in Fraher Field selected to start in Nenagh.

Waterford will start this Sunday as the favourites to advance to the final where they will play the winner of the second semi final between Leitrim and Sligo. However nobody within the Waterford camp will be listening to what the bookies will be saying. Roscommon will make it difficult for Waterford, but with Pat Sullivan putting out a much stronger starting fifteen to which he put out in Fraher Field from the top, it would be a surprise to many if Waterford did not advance.

Paths to the Semi finals:

Roscommon:

1 February   Roscommon            3-8      Leitrim           4-11

8 February   Roscommon            3-14   Longford       0-6

22 February Roscommon            0-13   Tipperary      1-4

1 March        Roscommon            2-9      Sligo               1-7

15 March      Roscommon            2-9      Waterford    5-6

29 March      Roscommon            3-15   Fermanagh  1-10

12 April         Roscommon            2-16   Wexford       2-5

19 April         Roscommon            3-11   Leitrim         5-10 (Playoff game)

Waterford:

1 February   Waterford    0-9      Wexford       2-2

8 February   Waterford    5-12   Fermanagh  0-3

22 February Waterford    5-13   Sligo               0-6

1 March        Waterford    2-12   Tipperary      3-5

15 March      Waterford    5-6      Roscommon            2-9

29 March      Waterford received a walkover from Longford

12 April         Waterford    5-11   Leitrim                       3-9

Waterford and Roscommon have named their starting teams ahead of their Tesco Homegrown Division 3 National Ladies Football League Semi Final at Nenagh on Sunday. The game has a 12-15pm thrown in.

Waterford: 1. Katie Hannon; 2. Megan Dunford, 3. Karen McGrath, 4. Linda Wall; 5.  Michelle McGrath, 6. Elaine Power, 7. Emma Murray; 8. Nicola Fennell, 9. Mairead Wall; 10.  Grainne Kenneally, 11. Maria Delahunty, 12. Aileen Wall; 13.  Michelle Ryan, 14. Sinead Ryan, 15. Aoife Murray.
Roscommon: 1. Sheila Brady; 2. Feena Beirne, 3. Gillian Dufficey, 4. Ruth Finlass; 5.  Joanne Craig, 6. Louise Tully, 7. Aisling McAuliffe; 8. Jenny Higgins, 9. Caitriona Regan; 10.  Deidre Regan, 11. Rachael Ryan, 12.Laura Fleming; 13. Siobhan Tully, 14. Martia Freyne, 15. Jenny Downey.