Galway Edge Out Waterford in the Rain

When those involved with Ladies Football in the county sit down to look back at 2019 in a few months time, it is fair to surmise that it would be a good year for Ciaran Curran’s senior side.

After just three years in a very competitive second division of the National League, retaining their status the first year and reaching the semi final the second year, they won this year’s final against a Kerry side that had dropped down a division the year before and looked favourites to go straight back up at the first time of asking, the Dungarvan club man’s side went on to reach the quarter final stages of the championship for the second time in three years, having been involved in a relegation play off last year.

Expectations going into Saturday afternoon’s quarter final in the rain at the midlands venue were that the side from the western province would have too much for their opponents, as they had pushed Cork hard in the division one league final a few months back and were said to be moving in the right direction.

Huge credit must go to the players on both sides for playing out this game in the torrential rain which fell throughout the game, and it can be assumed that if this Waterford side stays together and can bring some names back into the squad which were with the panel earlier in the year, this is a side that will learn from this defeat and as a result they will be a better outfit playing against the very best sides in the country all throughout 2020, something that can only be good for the players further development.

Galway corner forward and team captain Tracey Leonard was the difference between the sides in this contest as she finished the game with 1-5 behind her name on the score sheet as she helped her side to advance to an All-Ireland semi final against Mayo, a repeat of the recent Connacht Final which the tribes ladies won at the second attempt, a game that was played in Limerick.

Waterford to their credit really tested the winners in this game and two goals, one in each by Aileen Wall gave the winners who were overwhelming favourites with the bookies to advance something to think about.

It was Róisín Leonard that opened the scoring for the side from the west of the country in the fourth minute but Waterford would respond almost straight away with a point from Maria Delahunty.

Tracey Leonard from a free and Michelle Ryan swapped scores in a three minute spell to keep the sides inseparable with ten minutes on the clock, but over the next ten minutes when it came to taking chances presented to both sides in front of goal, it was the eventual winners that proved to be the most economical.

Megan Glynn and Louise Ward tagged on scores for the side in maroon and white to give them a double score lead with sixteen minutes played and they further stretch their lead on 17 minutes when Róisín Leonard laid off a pass for her cousin and team captain who made no mistake in beating Rosie Landers for the first goal of the game, putting her side five up with 17 minutes played and steamily in cruise control.

But the sign of a good team is how they bounce back after the concession of a goal and in Waterford’s case it was with a Maria Delahunty point from a placed ball, and while Sarah Conneally and Michelle Ryan would share the next two scores for their respective sides, Waterford were right back in the game with five minutes of the half remaining when Aileen Wall after swapping passes with Eimear Fennell got through the Galway defence and planted the size four past Lisa Murphy to leave just the one between the sides.

Galway however would go in at the break in a slightly better position as team captain Tracey Leonard split the posts two minutes from the break to give her side a 1-6 to 1-4 lead at the interval.

Galway came out strong for the second half hitting an early score from the boot of Tracey Leonard after which Áine McDonagh got her name on the score sheet.

Tracey Leonard followed up with another free to give her side a five point cushion with eight minutes of the second half played.

The same player pointed again on 42 minutes and two minutes later it was her cousin Róisín that edged Galway 1-11 to 1-4 in front.

While Galway were piling on the pressure on Waterford at one end, when Waterford conjured a goal chance at the other end Aileen Wall made no mistake in beating Lisa Murphy for the second time with 12 minutes of the game remaining to leave just four between the sides.

But from a Waterford perfective this proved to be the sides only score of the second half. Both sides it must be said were finding chances hard to get in the final quarter in the conditions and while Galway would hit one further score through Sarah Conneally ten minutes from the end to secure her sides passage to an All-Ireland semi final at Croke Park, this Waterford side will take great heart from this game, knowing playing tougher opposition to which they have become accustomed to in recent years in next year’s league, come Championship 2020 Waterford will be a side that few will relish playing.

Waterford: Rosie Landers; Mairead Wall, Caoimhe McGrath, Emma Murray; Kate McGrath, Karen McGrath, Rósín Tobin; Michelle Ryan, Kelly Anne Hogan; Aileen Wall, Katie Murray, Shauna Dunphy; Eimear Fennell, Chloe Fennell, Maria Delahunty.

Subs: Brigita Valuntaite for Maria Delahunty (49), Lauren McGregor for Chloe Fennell (54).

Scorers: Aileen Wall 2-0, Maria Delahunty 0-2 (0-1f), Michelle Ryan 0-2

Galway: Lisa Murphy; Sarah Lynch, Nicola Ward, Sinead Burke; Orla Murphy, Barbara Hannon, Charlotte Cooney; Louise Ward, Áine McDonagh; Olivia Divilly, Megan Glynn, Mairead Seoighe; Tracey Leonard, Sarah Conneally, Róisín Leonard.

Subs: Leanne Coen for Megan Glynn (44), Mairead Coyne for Mairead Seoighe (53), Shauna Molloy for Sarah Lynch (60).

Scorers: Tracey Leonard 1-5 (3f), Sarah Conneally, Róisín Leonard 0-2 each, Leanne Ward, Megan Glynn, Áine McDonagh 0-1 each

Referee: Brendan Rice (Down).