Waterford Senior Ladies maintain 100% record

 

Waterford senior ladies maintained their unbeaten start to the LIDL National League with a comprehensive win over a game but very under-strength Leitrim. Played in excellent conditions in the well-appointed Páirc Dheaglaín Naofa in Ardmore, Waterford were first out of the blocks but registered two wides in as many minutes.

Leitrim actually opened the scoring with a point from captain Áine Tighe from a free in the 3^rd minute. This lead was short-lived however as a great Waterford passing movement resulted in Maria Delahunty giving Leitrim keeper Michelle Guckian no chance. Delahunty was on the score sheet again in the 8^th minute with a point before Ailbhe Clancy cut the deficit to two with a well taken point in the 12^th minute. Maria Delahunty and Sinead Ryan with a free added to the Déise tally before Leitrim struck back with a vengeance with a great goal from Emma Guckian to leave a point between the teams. Maria Delahunty settled the Waterford nerves with a brace of points in the 23^rd and 26^th minutes before Leitrim star Áine Tighe converted a penalty to level matters and Róisín Fowley scored a point just on half time to leave the Westerners ahead by the minimum at half time on a score-line Leitrim 2-3 Waterford 1-5.

Playing with the wind in the second half, Waterford opened in whirlwind fashion with four unanswered points in as many minutes from Aileen Wall, Maria Delahunty, Sinead Ryan and Linda Wall. At this stage Waterford were rampant and it took a wonderful save from Michelle Guckian to deny Aileen Wall a goal. The goal arrived however in the 8^th minute when the Murray sisters combined and a pass from Emma led to Katie raising a green flag for the Déise. Not to be outdone the Wall sisters got in on the act, a beautiful foot pass from Mairead was taken by Aileen who quickly off-loaded it to Linda who duly put it over the bar in the 9^th minute to leave seven points between the teams.

Aoife Landers pointed in the 16^th minute and this was followed by a wonderful goal from centre forward Liz Devine in the 21^st .Waterford’s defence got a wake-up call in the 24^th minute when Áine Tighe got her second and Leitrim’s third goal  but this was cancelled out in the 27^th minute when Aileen Wall rattled the net. In the closing minutes Waterford tacked on two more points courtesy of Maria Delahunty and Lauren Mc Gregor to leave the Déise girls comprehensive winners on the final score line Waterford 4-13 Leitrim 3-3.

Waterford lined out as follows: Waterford lined out as follows: Katie Hannon, Mairead Wall, Caoimhe Mc Grath, Linda Wall(0-2),Emma Murray, Megan Dunford, Louise Ryan, Nicola Fennell ,  Grainne Kenneally, Katie Murray(1-0),Liz Devine(1-0),Aoife Landers(0-1), Maria Delahunty(1-6), Sinead Ryan(0-2), Aileen Wall(1-1).

Subs used: Hannah Power (St Pats), Ciara Hurley, Rebecca Casey, Chloe Fennell, Lauren Mc Gregor (0-1), Aisling Mullaney, and Carragh Mc Carthy.

 

This result leaves Waterford top of the league with 12 points from 4 matches. Next up for the girls is a tough away tie to joint second placed Wexford next weekend.