Munster Express Online

Roscommon 2-7;   Waterford 4-10

Waterford ladies made it three wins out of three in the Bord Gais, National League when they beat Roscommon by 9 points in Dr Hyde Park on Sunday.

The visitors were on the scoreboard in the opening minute with a pointed free from Michelle Ryan. However, Roscommon took the lead on the 4th minute with a fortuitous goal, when a Waterford back deflected the ball into her own net.

Waterford did not score again until the 11th minute when Ruth Kirwan kicked a fine point from 25 metres. Waterford struggled to find any rhythm in the freezing conditions and were made to pay over the next 10 minutes with Roscommon slotting over 3threepoints without reply to lead by four.

In the 21st minute a quickly-taken free kick to Aileen Wall saw the young Ballymacarbry player slot the ball neatly over the bar for Waterford’s third point. The Deise girls upped the tempo and Louise Ryan, who had replaced Ruth Kirwan in the 18th minute, finished off a fine move with a point.

Waterford took the lead when Sinead Ryan scored a goal after the Roscommon goalkeeper had saved her first attempt. The home side drew level a minute later with a point from their busy wing forward Naomi Ward.

The Waterford management made a tactical switch on 25 minutes with Roisin Tobin replacing Margaret Foley at wing-back.

They duly finished the half strongly with points from Michelle McGrath and Michelle Ryan (free) to go into the break 1-6 to 1-4 ahead.

Great move

A scrappy opening to the second half saw both sides waste good scoring opportunities, before Louise Ryan got in behind the Roscommon defence on 38 minutes to score Waterford’s second goal.

Two minutes later Waterford went eight points up when Elaine Power finished the best move of the game, sending the ball crashing into the back of the net. Waterford stretched their lead in the 42nd minute with a point from Michelle Ryan.

Roscommon responded with a goal of their own in the 43rd minute when their number 15 Margaret Fannon fielded a high ball and sent a shot in off the post.

Points from Sinead Ryan and Nora Dunphy reasserted Waterford’s advantage with 10 minutes to go. Three points from Roscommon to a converted injury-time penalty from Sinead Ryan and an Aisling O’Donnell point saw Waterford win through on a 4-10 to 2-7 scoreline.

There is a break next weekend as the Colleges take centre stage with the O’Connor and Lynch Cups. Waterford take on Longford at home in two weeks’ time.