Waterford prove much too strong for Wexford

Michael Gildea watched Waterford make it two from two with a 5-15 to 1-9 victory

In the second round of fixtures in the Tesco Home-grown
National Football League, Waterford maintained their 100% record by accounting
for an experimental Wexford team in Grantstown Park home of Barrow Ballymitty
GAA club. In bright sunshine Waterford set about their task from the opening
minute and the Wall sisters, Linda and Mairéad shared Waterford’s opening three
points in the first 5 minutes before full forward Fiona Bennett opened
Wexford’s account with a well taken point.

 In the 7th minute Hannah Landers ran
on to a through ball from Michelle Ryan and bravely beat Wexford’s goalkeeper
to the touch and finished the ball to the net to record the first of
Waterford’s five goals. The reply from Wexford was swift and instant as the
Waterford defence were caught napping and Fiona Bennett recorded a fine goal
for the Slaney girls.

 

This stung Waterford into action and for the next eight
minutes it was the Margaret Revins show as she hit a point in the 11th minute
followed by goals in the 13th and 15th minutes and a point in the 18th minute
to leave Waterford with a healthy lead at this stage on the score line
Waterford 3-5 Wexford 1-1. Julie Coakley pointed for Wexford in the 19th minute
to narrow the gap but Michelle Ryan extended Waterford’s lead to eleven with
two well taken points from play in the 21st and 24th minutes respectively and
indeed the lead could have been much greater only for the bravery of Wexford
goalie Natalie Cushe who made two wonderful saves from Waterford’s corner
forward Aileen Wall.

Waterford were unsettled somewhat with an injury to
midfielder Michelle Mc Grath who had to be replaced by Shauna Dunphy and
Wexford took advantage of this with three unanswered points from Fiona Bennett,
Katie Redmond and Fiona Rochford. Linda Wall completed the Waterford scoring in
the first half with a point in the 30th minute to leave Waterford comfortably
ahead at half time on the score line 3-8 to 1-5

 

The second half opened disastrously for Wexford when a 40
metre free from Michelle Ryan found its way to the back of the net in the 4th
minute. This was a hammer blow to the Wexford girls and Aileen Wall opened her
account with a well taken point in the 7th minute before her sister Linda
latched on to a poor kick out and scored Waterford’s fifth goal.

Hard working
Wexford midfielder Fiona Rochford got a good point in the 15th minute but
Waterford replied with two points from Michelle Ryan in the 25th minute and
Mairead Wall in the 27th minute. Manager Pat O Brien got an opportunity then to
give some members of the panel valuable experience of National league
football.  Michelle Ryan and Aileen Wall
got Waterford’s last two scores before a mini rally from Wexford led to points
by Siobhan Cloke, Niamh Butler and Fiona Rochford, leaving the final score
Waterford 5-15 Wexford 1-9

 

This was a good win for Waterford, who sit at the top of the
league table, but there are much sterner tests coming up, starting with next
week’s game against Munster rivals Tipperary. The management team can take many
positives from the game, the level of fitness for February is good and some of
the passing movements were excellent.

Louise Ryan had a very good game until
injury forced her off. Megan O Connor and Liz Devine settled well into the game
and Elaine Power got through a lot of good work in midfield. The forwards as a
unit played well but they will not be afforded the same space against other
defences in the division. All six forwards scored and Hannah Landers, Margaret
Revins and Linda Wall put in impressive performances.

 

Waterford lined out as follows: Aimee Jordan, Nora Dunphy ,
Ciara Dunphy, Mary Foley, Louise Ryan, Karen Mc Grath, Liz Devine , Michelle Mc
Grath, Elaine Power, Linda Wall (1-3), Michelle Ryan (1-6), Mairead Wall (0-2),
Aileen Wall (0-2), Margaret Revins (2-2), Hannah Landers (1-0).

 

Subs used :Megan O Connor for Ciara Dunphy,Shauna Dunphy for
Michelle Mc Grath,Aisling Hahessey for Louise Ryan, Lauren Mc Gregor for Hannah
Landers and Gráinne Costello for Aimee Jordan

 

 

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