All Ireland Intermediate Championship Semi Final


Waterford Ladies Football

All Ireland Intermediate Championship Semi Final

Waterford 1-14 Cavan 0-10

Waterford booked their place in the All Ireland Final in Croke Park on the fourth Sunday of September, when they beat Cavan by 7 points in Dr Cullen Park, Carlow on Saturday last. Waterford’s Elaine Power was named player of the match after an outstanding performance in midfield by the Tramore player.

Cavan, missing the influential Grainne Smith who caused Waterford so much trouble in the League Final, appeared very unsettled in the early stages of the match and were finding in very difficult to get ball from midfield into their dangerous full forward line.
Much of the credit for this goes to the midfield pairing of Elaine Power and Michelle McGrath and Waterfords half forward line, particularly Grainne Kenneally who had another outstanding game.

Cavan having won the toss elected to play with a strong breeze blowing nearly straight down the pitch. However it was Waterford that made the better start and Michelle McGrath scored Waterford’s opening point in the first minute after excellent play by Maria Delahunty and Aileen Wall. Waterford had a lucky break on five minutes when Aisling Traynor’s shot came back off the post as it appeared to be heading to the corner of the net. Waterford responded with a sweeping move that ended with Sinead Ryan scoring Waterford’s second point.

A long range Bronagh Sheridan shot rattled the Waterford cross bar on seven minutes and from the resulting clearance Waterford moved the ball up field at speed for Ryan’s second score and Waterford third point of the match. Cavan got on the scoreboard on the ninth minute with an Aisling Doonan free kick. A Bronagh Sheridan point a minute later narrowed the gap to a single point.

Waterford got a crucial goal on thirteen minutes when the Waterford attack opened up the Cavan defence and Elaine Power found the top corner of the net with an unstoppable shot from 20 metres. Aisling Doonan and Michelle Ryan (free) exchanged
points on fifteen minutes to leave Waterford with a four point lead.

Grainne Kenneally scored an excellent point on 20 minutes to put Waterford five points to the good. Cavan put the Waterford defence under severe pressure for the final ten minutes of the half particularly the pacey Claragh Reilly (0-2, 1f) and Aisling Doonan (0- 1f). Waterford went into the half time break leading on a score line of 1-5 to 0-6.

A Michelle Ryan point on thirty two minutes restored Waterford’s three point lead. Cavan continued to pressurize the Waterford defence and two converted frees (Sheridan and Doonan) brought Cavan to within a point of Waterford. Grainne Kenneally increased Waterford’s lead with a well taken point on thirty eight minutes and four minutes later Aisling Doonan reduced the gap to a single point with her fifth point of the match.

The turning point in the game came in the forty third minute when Claragh Reilly turned her marker and shot from close range. Waterford’s keeper, Aimee Jordan, made a good save, but the rebound fell to Bronagh Sheridan who put the ball over the bar to level the match when it would have been easier to stick the ball into the open goal.

Cavan heads dropped and Waterford upped their game to score seven unanswered points ( Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan (0-3, 1f), Elaine Power, Michelle McGrath and Aileen Wall ) in the next ten minutes. Cavan dominated the last ten minutes of play, but
were unable to get the goals they badly needed. Waterford finished deserving winners and will play in the All Ireland Final in Croke Park against the winners of next weeks semi final between Longford and Donegal.

This was Waterford’s best performance in the Championship and ranks with the win over Fermanagh in the National League Semi Final. The work rate all over the field was key to this win, particularly when Waterford lost possession. All of the backs stuck to their jobs, restricting Cavan to five points from play, a job well done. If one back stood out it would have to be Laurissa Hogan who was exceptional.

Waterford
A Jordan, N Dunphy, G Enright, L Hogan, M Wall, M Foley (capt), L Ryan, E Power (1- 1), M McGrath (0-2), G Kenneally (0-2), M Ryan(0-3, 1f), L Wall , A Wall (0-1), S Ryan (0-3), M Delahunty, C Kearney, A McGovern, R Tobin, A Dunphy, E Power, C Gleeson, T Fitzgerald, E Wilson, S Power, C Dunphy

Subs used: E Power for M Delahunty (45 min), A Dunphy for G Enright (45Min),

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