Munster Express Online

National Ladies Football League Division Three

Wexford 3-7
Waterford 1-17

Waterford hung on to eke out a narrow win over Wexford in the Lidl National League Division Three to preserve their unbeaten status and their position at the top of the table at Gusserane O’Rahilly’s pitch on Sunday last.
Waterford were quickly out of the blocks with a pointed free from Maria Delahunty in the second minute and had doubled that lead through Sinead Ryan seven minutes later.
Waterford were rocked on their heels a minute later when Wexford were awarded a penalty. Corner forward Caitriona Murray struck it well, and while it rebounded off the crossbar, Murray followed it up and slipped it beyond Deise goalkeeper Katie Hannon and into the net.

Michelle Ryan levelled matters with a glorious point struck with the outside of the boot from 30 metres out in the 12th minute and the Ballymacarbry sharpshooter was on hand again two minutes later to put Waterford ahead.
Four minutes later, midfielder Niamh Moore got a point for Wexford to narrow the gap but points from Maria Delahunty and Sinead Ryan put two between the teams.
Waterford were awarded a penalty on 22 minutes but Katie Hannon’s effort narrowly cleared the crossbar and had to be content with a point.
Moments later, Marcella Cullen evaded her marker and slotted over a neat point for the Model County and with three minutes to go to half time Maria Delahunty scored her third point to leave three between the teams.
Just before the break, an excellent counter attack by Wexford resulted in half- forward Clara Donnelly rattling the Waterford net with a rocket of a shot to leave it all square at half-time: Waterford 0-8 Wexford 2-2.
Wexford were first out of the blocks with a pointed free from centre forward Fiona Rochford in the sixth minute, but this was soon cancelled out by a free from Maria Delahunty.
In the eighth minute Michelle Ryan fisted over a point to give Waterford the lead again and from the next attack, Gráinne Kenneally put some daylight between the teams with an unstoppable shot to the back of the Wexford net. Maria Delahunty stretched the lead to five by the 12t hminute but Wexford substitute Siobhán Cloake pulled one back for the Slaneysiders two minutes later.
In the 15th and 16th minutes, Waterford’s Nicola Fennell and Wexford’s Fiona Bennett traded points before Fiona Rochford cut the deficit to four points with a well taken effort with 10 minutes remaining.
Aileen Wall then scored a brace of points to leave six in it. Then Waterford goalkeeper Katie Hannon made a point-blank save from Marcella Cullen and the over-worked defence made two last-ditch blocks to prevent the Wexford ladies from getting badly needed goals.
Sinead Ryan kicked two points for Waterford in the 25th and 26th minutes but there was still a sting left in the tail of the Wexford performance. A point from half-back Sandra Thorpe pointing and a goal from Caitríona Murray left four points between the teams going into injury time.
Waterford’s goal lived a charmed life for the last few minutes but the Wexford forwards were unable to capitalise and get the vital scores to clinch the league points.
Waterford now move on with a clash with Down at home on Sunday, April 3rd before completing their regular season programme with a tough away tie against second placed Roscommon.