Outstanding Fennell Hits First Hat-Trick For Waterford Seniors

Waterford Senior Ladies Football team recorded back to back wins in this year’s National Football League at Ratheniska on Sunday afternoon last.

Full forward Eimear Fennell put in a player of the match performance for Pat Sullivan’s side hitting a second half hat-trick of goals to help her side to a comfortable 11 point win against a side that have yet to collect any points in this year’s league.

The Abbeyside player is in fine form for Pat Sullivan’s side this year. She hit a goal against Tyrone in the opening round of fixtures at Drumragh and then hit three points against Clare last time out at the WIT Arena, and if she can keep her impressive form going, she could well help her side reach the knockout stages of the competition later in the spring.

It was the home side with the wind at their backs that opened the scoring in this game with a Claire Conlon free, but Waterford soon got going and kicked the next three scores from Eimear Fennell, Lauran McGregor and a Sinead Ryan free.

The home side responded with efforts from Claire Conlon and Norin Kirwan to draw level but Waterford soon went back in front with an effort from team captain Mairead Wall.

Emma Lawlor and Liz Devine hit the next two scores, both resulting in green flags being waved which kept Waterford a point in front, but Pat Sullivan’s side would go to the dressing rooms with a three point lead on the score board thanks to points from Róisín Tobin and Sinead Ryan.

Waterford it looked early in the second half would be dealt with a massive blow when Maria Delahunty and Lauren McGregor were sin binned by the Wicklow referee in charge of this game, but the home side never made use of their numerical advantage as they could have.

Aileen Wall opened the second half scoring, and then just as was the case in the first half both sides swapped goals in quick succession. As a result of a green flag being waved from an Emma Lawlor effort levelled matters but Eimear Fennell soon cancelled out the home side’s second goal with her first of the game to put Waterford back in front by three.

With their full quota of players back on the field Waterford pressed on for the remainder of the game, as points from Lauren McGregor, Aileen Wall and Maria Delahunty followed for Waterford to stretch their lead to six and that went to nine when Eimear Fennell got her second of the game.

Mags McEvoy pulled a point back for the home side but there was still time left for Eimear Fennell to have her name make the headlines as she netted her third of the game for the visitors who in their next game are at home to a Sligo team that are also looking for a first win in this year’s competition at the end of the month.

Waterford: Geraldine Power; Dearbhaile Ní hAodha, Karen McGrath, Rebecca Casey; Liz Devine, Emma Murray, Megan Dunford; Mairead Wall, Aisling Hahessey; Róisín Tobin, Lauren McGregor, Katie Murray; Sinead Ryan, Eimear Fennell, Michelle Ryan. Subs: Maria Delahunty for Liz Devine, Aoife Murray for Dearbhaile Hayes, Aileen Wall for Sinéad Ryan, Keely Corbett Barry for Michelle Ryan, Kate Hahessey for Aisling Hahessey, Kelly Ann Hogan for Lauren McGregor

Scorers: Eimear Fennell 3-1, Liz Devine 1-0, Lauren McGregor, Sinead Ryan (1f), Aileen Wall 0-2 each, Mairead Wall, Róisín Tobin, Maria Delahunty 0-1 each.

Laois: Fiona Kelly; Aimee Kelly, Jenny McEvoy, Mary Cotter; Victoria Byrne, Mags McEvoy, Anna Healy; Laura Nerney, Joyce Dunne; Erone Fitzpatrick, Laura Maher, Caoimhe Simms; Claire Conlon, Norin Kirwan, Emma Lawlor. Subs: Ciara Burke for Norin Kirwan, Ciara Hughes for Joyce Dunne, Norin Kirwan for Victoria Byrne, Meaghan Dunne for Claire Conlon, Caoimhe Lalor for Caoimhe Simms.

Scorers: Emma Lawlor 2-1, Claire Conlon 0-2 (1f), Mags McEvoy (F), Norin Kirwan 0-1 each.

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow).

In the only other game played in Division Two last weekend, Cavan recorded a 3-10 to 3-5 win over Clare at Doonbeg.

The weather conditions over the weekend saw Sligo’s game at home to Armagh called off as was the clash between Tyrone and Tipperary. These two games are re-fixed for this coming Sunday with a 2pm throw in.

As things stand Cavan top the division with seven points from their three games played to date. Remember there is three points for a win in Ladies Football. Tipperary, Tyrone and Waterford are all on six points and are place in that order on score difference, but that will all change this coming weekend. Should there be a winner in the Tyrone/Tipperary game that side will go top, while if the game ends in a draw, both will overtake Cavan on score difference at the top of the table, while if Tipperary loose by five points or more, or Tyrone were to lose by two points or more Waterford would move up a place on score difference.

At the other end of the table Laois are bottom of the table on score difference over Sligo with both sides yet to win in this year’s campaign, but the side from Connacht have a game on hand over the side from the midlands. Armagh have one point from their two games to date and will go above Clare who have three points from their three games, this weekend if the 2012 Intermediate All-Ireland winners can get the better of Sligo.