Waterford miss out on final spot despite snatching late draw
Waterford Ladies Footabllers. Photo: Eddie Dee
Áine O’Neill struck a late goal at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in Dungarvan as Waterford fought from behind to claim a share of the spoils with Kildare in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League.
Despite Waterford creating early daylight in this contest with points from Hannah McGrath and Kellyann Hogan, Kildare soon replied with fine efforts courtesy of Molly Aspell and Alannah Prizeman.
Hogan did find the target for a second time after an Aoife Rattigan free had briefly put their opponents into the lead, but the Lilywhite outfit flexed their muscles with a powerful second-quarter showing.
Having already joined Mayah Doyle, Aoife Murnane and Rattigan (two) in kicking unanswered points, centre-forward Ciara Wheeler seized upon a short kick-out in the 29th minute and proceeded to chip Waterford netminder Gemma Corcoran for a superbly-taken goal.
Waterford had lost Laura Mulcahy to a yellow card not long before this green flag strike and even though Brid McMaugh responded with a two-point salvo, Kildare brought a healthy 1-8 to 0-5 cushion into the interval.
They reasserted their authority on the resumption with Rattigan’s fourth point of the game, but Waterford came roaring back into life when Hogan used the element of surprise to rattle a close-range free to the net on 35 minutes. This reinvigorated the Deise challenge and Hogan was also on hand to cancel out another Aspell score at the opposite end in advance of Mulcahy returning to the fray.
The Lilies were still four ahead in the 51st minute thanks to a brace of Rattigan points matching the contributions of Hogan and substitute Lia Ní hArta for the Munster side, but Waterford brought the gap down to two when Katie Murray and Hogan split the posts in quick succession.
While a Ciara Wheeler point offered Kildare some much-needed breathing space, O’Neill embarked on a strong run before unleashing a powerful shot to the net at the end of normal time.
Despite coming away with something to show from this encounter, third-place Waterford will miss out on a final spot in Division 1 due to victories elsewhere for Cork and Galway, ensuring their places in the upcoming showpiece decider.
The point garnered from this game could yet prove to be vital for Kildare, but Pat Sullivan’s charges have now slipped back into the relegation spots ahead of their home showdown with Kerry tomorrow week.
Waterford: K Hogan 1-5 (1-3f), Á O’Neill 1-0, B McMaugh 0-2, K Murray, L Ní hArta, H McGrath.
A Rattigan 0-6 (4f), C Wheeler 1-2, M Aspell 0-2, M Doyle, A Prizeman, A Murnane 0-1 each.
G Corcoran; R Browne, L Mulcahy, R Casey; Á O’Neill, K McGrath, C Murray; E Power, E Murray; K Murray, K Hogan, B McMaugh; A McGrath, C Walsh, H McGrath.
M Daly for Walsh, K Gardiner for Corcoran (both h-t), L Ní hArta for H McGrath (42), C Fennell for Daly (49), L Cusack for A McGrath, T Ní Chrotaigh for McMaugh (both 58).
R Fennin; A Mernagh, M Doherty, H McLoughlin; L Shaw, R Sargent, L Lenehan; N Murphy, G Wheeler; A Murnane, C Wheeler, M Aspell; A Rattigan, M Doyle, A Prizeman.
M Cooney for Prizeman (46), A Mahon for Shaw, M McDonagh for Murphy (both 49).
Barry Redmond (Wexford).
