Thomas Keane through his blog Deise Abu previews Waterfords Round
2 encounter with Wexford. You can follow him on Twitter @thomaskeane1973
Waterford Ladies Footballers last weekend began their
Division Three campaign in the National Football League with a big win over
Offaly at the Gold Coast Grounds.
This weekend, Waterford are on the road for their second
game in this years league when they take on a Wexford side that Offaly beat in
last years Leinster and All-Ireland Junior Finals.
Last weekend, at Grantstown, the same venue for this
weekends game, Wexford suffered a loss to John Leahyâs Tipperary who Waterford
play in the third series of games.
Wexford last weekend fielded six debutants from the start in
their game against a strong Tipperary outfit who included eight of the team
that played Cavan in last years All-Ireland Intermediate Final and as a result
the Premier Counties greater experience told as they raced into a 1-3 to 0-1
lead with fifteen minutes of the game played, the goal coming from Lorraine
OâShea on three minutes.
Full Forward Fiona Bennett on her debut hit a goal for
Wexford which gave her side some hope, cutting Tipperaryâs lead to a point, but
at the break they trailed 1-7 to 1-2.
The home side played well in the third quarter, hitting
points from Julie Coakley, Maria Byrne and Katie Redmond but the closest they
could get to their opponents was three points.
Wexford had goalkeeper Katie Sludds sent off when she pulled
down Mairead Morrissey and from the resulting penalty, Bernie Ryan who was
making her debut in the Blue and Gold shirt made no mistake and from there on
in there was only going to be one outcome.
Substitute Chantelle Martins in injury time at the end of
the game put a gloss on the score board, putting over three frees and in doing
so possibly won for herself a place in the team from the start this weekend.
Waterford in their game despite only leading at the break by
four points were always in control.
Margaret Revins started at full forward and the Old Parish
Club player really impressed hitting 2-1 while Michelle Ryan hit 0-7.
For many years when Waterford were the number one team in
the country, Ãine Wall was one of the most ruthless players in the game, and
right now another Ballymacarbry player with the same surname â Aileen Wall is
one of the most dangerous forwards around.
She was another stand out players for Waterford finishing
the game with 1-3.
The second half was all Waterford as Michelle Ryan, Aileen
Wall, Margaret Revins, Linda Wall and Hannah Landers all registered scores for
the home side while at the opposite end of the field, the Waterford defence
were able to hold the visitors scoreless in the second half.
In the second half, Manager Pat OâBrien was able to send on
some of the outstanding young players that have won honours with Waterford on
the underage front giving them some experience at playing at the highest level,
something that will no doubt will benefit the players in the future and they
will be hoping to have done enough again this weekend to earn a run.
This will be another game that manager Pat OâBrien will have
earmarked to collect the maximum points available which would set the team up
nicely for much tougher games in the weeks to come against much tougher
opposition in the likes of Tipperary and Armagh, but while the team will be
confident of winning, they will not be under-estimating the challenge of
Wexford who will want to not fall further behind the teams that won the first
time out.
In other games this weekend Tipperary will welcome Armagh to
Grangemockler, Offaly and Leitrim will play at OâBrien Park in Tullamore and at
Newtown Cashel Longford have home advantage against Sligo.
