Waterford through to last 16 after impressive Gaynor Cup start

The Waterford Gaynor Cup squad completed their three first-round matches at the UL Complex over the past 24 hours and, after a winning start, finished second to qualify for the last 16 of the Cup.

Waterford began their campaign with an evening kick-off on Monday against Louth and were in sparkling form, sweeping aside their northern opponents. It was a dream start as Molly Dooling opened the scoring after just six minutes, and within seconds of the restart they had doubled their lead through Alicia Radley. By the 13th minute it was 3-0, with Niamh Kirwan getting on the scoresheet. It got even better when, with only a quarter of an hour played, Dooling added her second and Waterford’s fourth. There was no let-up in the second half as, within a minute of the restart, Radley pounced to net her second goal of the game. Anna Rochford rounded off the scoring on 51 minutes to make it 6-0.

Waterford began Tuesday with an early morning kick-off against the Cavan/Monaghan League, and it proved to be a thriller, with Hollie Roche Murphy grabbing a last-minute winner. In the opening minute, Vittoria Pascolini rounded Carragher in the Cavan/Monaghan goal, but her effort was blocked by a retreating defender. Radley also had an opportunity on 13 minutes, but her shot was saved by Carragher. Waterford’s pressure finally paid off on 20 minutes when Pascolini’s effort was parried by Carragher into the path of Winnah Shanahan, who pounced to finish at the back post.

The lead was short-lived, however, as straight from the restart Cavan/Monaghan were awarded a free kick in front of goal, and Bateson’s effort deceived Penny White to find the net.

Waterford responded two minutes into the second half, retaking the lead when Radley got on the end of Roche’s pass to fire home. Again, though, the advantage didn’t last long as Darcy McCormack collected the ball on the right and sent a spectacular effort over Emily Fraher and into the top corner. Waterford pushed hard in search of another goal and had to wait until the closing moments to find it. Anna Cullinane’s throw-in was backheeled by Pascolini into the path of Roche, whose low drive flew past Carragher and into the bottom corner.

Waterford’s final group game saw them face Cork to decide top spot, with a draw enough for Waterford due to their superior goal difference. However, they never really found their stride and Cork emerged as 2-0 winners. Cork took the lead on 11 minutes when Molly Dennis held off her marker and fired across the body of White into the net. White produced a superb double save on 27 minutes to keep Cork at bay, first saving at her near post before tipping Aoibhinn Fitzgerald’s follow-up onto the crossbar. Cork extended their lead on 38 minutes when Dennis delivered a dangerous corner and Fitzgerald rose to head home, leaving Fraher with no chance.

Waterford will now face a repeat of last year’s quarter-final as they take on the Limerick District League at 11.45am on Wednesday in the Cup quarter-final.