Gutsy Waterford Ladies Bow Out To Kerry

Beaten Munster Finalists Kerry produced a strong third quarter performance to beat a gutsy Waterford side in the first round proper of this years All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship at Birr on Saturday afternoon last.

This was a game that had it all. Six goals split equally between the two sides, both sides between the created 56 scoring chances, Kerry taking 22 of their 32 chances, Waterford taking 13 of their 23, and some football of the highest quality.

Kerry corner forward Sarah Houlihan produced a player of the match performance in which she hit nine of her side’s point’s tally, seven of which came from open play, following up on the 1-6 she hit in the most recent clash between the two sides in the Munster Championship.

Waterford played without the services of Michelle, Louise and Sinead Ryan who were attending a family wedding and evening without the services of the three sisters, Waterford were still a match for the eventual winners for much of the game.

Waterford had a tonic start to this game.

Caoimhe McGrath won the thrown in from the start and found Hannah Power. The teenager who has won under 14 and 16 All-Ireland Medals in recent years in turn found Lauren McGregor. The Dungarvan club player laid the ball off to Caoimhe McGrath who in turn found Aileen Wall who played the ball into Grainne Kenneally in front of the Kerry goal. The Ballyduff Upper player turned Kate O’Sullivan and then beat Edel Murphy for a goal with less than thirty seconds played.

Kerry however were to be behind long as Laura Rogers hit a brace of points and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh hit one to draw the sides level. Maria Delahunty and Sarah Houlihan swapped scores before Houlihan pointed again to give Kerry the lead for the first time, and never fell behind again.

Midway through the half Kerry hit the first of their goals. An attempt for a point by Roisin Tobin fell short and was cleared by Edel Murphy. Aileen Desmond, Kate O’Sullivan, Caroline Kelly, Lorraine Scanlon, Bernie Breen, Sarah Houlihan, Amanda Brosnan, Laura Rogers and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh all were involved in a movement that saw the latter fist pass the ball across the Waterford goal to Bernie Breen who scored from close range.

Straight away Waterford attacked the Kerry goal and Murphy was forced to make good saves from Caoimhe McGrath and Grainne Kenneally.

A brace of Maria Delahunty scores was followed with efforts from Lorraine Scanlon, Jane Lynch and Sarah Houlihan after which Waterford followed up with points from Roisin Tobin and Lauren McGregor to trail 1-9 to 1-7 at the break.

Kerry were well on top in the third quarter.

Sarah Houlihan opened the second half scoring in the first minute after the restart and quickly followed it up with an effort from Bernie Breen and then a hat-trick of points from Sarah Houlihan gave Kerry a 1-14 to 1-7 lead with eight minutes of the second half played.

A minute later Kerry held a double score lead.

From the kick out after Sarah Houlihan’s third point in a row, Bernie Breen won the ball and played it to Jane Lynch, who linked up with Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Laura Rogers who found Emma Sherwood who blasted past Katie Hannon.

Further points from Lorraine Scanlon and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh extended the Kerry lead to twelve, but in between these efforts Katie Hannon did brilliantly to keep two efforts from Lorraine Scanlon from hitting her net.

With 18 minutes of the game remaining, Waterford started a good movement starting with a Katie Hannon kick out. The Ballyduff Upper player found Aileen Wall who brought Shauna Dunphy, Karen McGrath, Mairead Wall, Maria Delahunty and Grainne Kenneally into the move and as the Ballyduff Upper player was about to pull the trigger she was fouled by Denise Hallissey who was issued with a yellow card by referee Mel Kenny who also awarded the Déise girls a penalty. Katie Hannon was brought up field to shoot at her opposite number and the Ballyduff Upper player who captained the side on the day in the absence of Sinead Ryan, made no mistake hitting low and hard past Edel Murphy.

A point from Laura Rogers gave Kerry a nine point cushion and moments later they went twelve in front after a Waterford attack broke down and Kerry were able to clear their lines with Bernie Breen, Eilis Lynch, Kate O’Sullivan, Laura Rogers and Sarah Houlihan were involved. The latter attempted to beat Katie Hannon but her effort was well saved but the rebound fell kindly to Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh who was unmarked and was able to finish to the net.

The sign of a good team is how they respond to conceding a goal and Waterford showed that they are a good team by hitting a third goal of their own moments after Kerry hit their third.

The ball broke between Mairead Wall and Caoimhe McGrath. Falling kinder to the Ballymacarbry player she brought Karen McGrath, Roisin Tobin and Katie Murray into the move and when Roisin Tobin was brought back into the move she saw her effort come off the upright by Grainne Kenneally was in the right place to collect the ball and slot past Edel Murphy for a third Waterford goal.

After this the game proved to be an evenly balanced game as both sides shared the next five scores with Waterford just edging it.

Maria Delahunty and Sarah Houlihan swapped scores before used subs on their respective sides, Andrea Murphy and Nicola Fennell did like wise.

Despite trailing Waterford never gave up and they hit a consolation score from a Maria Delahunty free two minutes from time.

There may be no trip to Croke Park for the Waterford ladies footballers in 2016, but it was a year that has proved to be a good one for Pat Sullivan and his charges.

The winning of the National League Division Three final after loosing the last two finals will be the highlight of the year, but on the championship front, having moved up from intermediate last year, Waterford have shown in both the Munster and All-Ireland Championships, even if they won just one of their four games played that they are more than capable of holding their own against more seasoned players playing at this grade of football.

KERRY: Edel Murphy; Aisling O’Connell, Aileen Desmond, Kate O’Sullivan; Denise Hallissey, Caroline Kelly, Eilis Lynch; Bernie Breen, Emma Sherwood; Laura Rogers, Lorraine Scanlon, Jane Lynch; Sarah Houlihan, Amanda Brosnan, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Subs: Anna Galvin for Amanda Brosnan (39), Aisling Leonard for Eilis Lynch (48), Casandra Buckley for Jane Lynch (54), Andrea Murphy for Laura Rogers (54), Caoimhe O’Sullivan for Sarah Houlihan (54).

Scorers: Sarah Houlihan 0-9 (2f), Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh 1-2, Bernie Breen 1-1, Emma Sherwood 1-0, Laura Rogers 0-3, Lorraine Scanlon 0-2, Jane Lynch, Andrea Murphy 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Katie Hannon; Linda Wall, Michelle McGrath, Megan Dunford; Aisling Mullaney, Mairead Wall, Hannah Power; Karen McGrath, Caoimhe McGrath; Emma Murray, Maria Delahunty, Roisin Tobin; Lauren McGregor, Grainne Kenneally, Aileen Wall. Subs: Katie Murray for Lauren McGregor (39), Shauna Dunphy for Aisling Mullaney (42), Nicola Fennell for Karen McGrath (50), Ciara Hurley for Linda Wall (54), Chloe Fennell for Hannah Power (60).

Scorers: Grainne Kenneally 2-0, Maria Delahunty 0-6 (3f, 1 45), Roisin Tobin 0-2, Lauren McGregor, Nicola Fennell 0-1 each.

Referee: Mel Kenny (Mayo).