Waterford 1-10 Cavan 4-13

Waterford closed the gap on 10 minutes with another Ryan free and two minutes later Waterford got themselves back into the game when Stephanie Power finished well into the top corner of the net after Linda Wall had opened up the Cavan defense with a good run. Cavan’s Grainne Smith and Waterford’s Grainne Kennealy kept the score board ticking over for both sides.

Cavan got their second score on 17 minutes when a promising Waterford attack broke down and Cavan moved the ball fast into their forwards. A good run from Cavan’s Roisin O’Keefe through the middle of the Waterford defence left Bronagh Sheridan with a close range shot and she finished powerfully to the back of the net. A minute later Cavan’s Brid Boylan got through only to be denied by excellent save from Aimee Jordan in the Waterford goal.

However a third Cavan goal on 20 minutes from Roisin O’Keefe, after Waterford had again failed to hold onto possession from a kick-out, saw Cavan take control of the game. Waterford management brought on Louise Ryan for Roisin Tobin on 21 minutes and Aileen Wall on for Stephanie power as they revamped their half back line in an attempt to contain a rampant Cavan half forward line. Waterford did have chances in the closing minutes of the half and points from Michelle and Sinead Ryan narrowed the gap to 5 points at the half time break. (H.T. Waterford 1-5 Cavan 3-4).

A point in the first 15 seconds of the second half from the outstanding Aisling Doonan, saw Cavan open up a six point gap. Waterford added to their tally in the second half with points from Michelle McGrath, Michelle Ryan (3), Sinead Ryan, but never really threatened to close the gap and Cavan finished comfortable 12 point winners.

It’s back to the drawing board for the Waterford team as they head into the Munster and Intermediate Championships, which will kick off at the end of June. In addition to Cavan, Waterford will have to overcome Division 2 Champions Donegal, Fermanagh, Longford and Westmeath among others if they are to fulfill their ambition of winning an All Ireland Intermediate Champions this year
WATERFORD: A Jordan, R Toibin, M Foley, L Hogan, G Enright, N Dunphy, M Wall, M McGrath (0-1), E Power, G Keneally (0-1), S Power (1-0), A McGovern, L Wall, M Ryan (0-6, 4f ), S Ryan (0-2), L Ryan (for R Tobin 21 min), A Wall (for S Power 25 min), T Fitzgerald ( G Enright 37 Min), D Hayes, C Dunphy, R Kirwan, A O’Donnell, E Wilson, A Barron
CAVAN: K Baxter, C Reilly, J Moore, C Kearins, R Murphy, A Cornyn 0-1, C Smith, R Crowe 0-1, C Murtagh, P Crowe-McCabe 0-1, R O’Keefe 1-1, G Smith 1-2, B Boylan 1-0, B Sheridan 1-2, A Doonan 0-5