Munster Express Online

National Ladies Football League

Waterford 1-13
Down 1-10

Waterford maintained their unbeaten run in the LIDL National Football League Division Three when they overcame a dogged determined Down team at Ardmore on Sunday
Waterford’s centre forward Ciara Hurley opened the scoring with a free in the first minute but Down put it up to the Waterford girls from the start and very impressive centre forward Kate Mc Kay opened their account in the sixth minute with a good point.
Both centre forwards traded points before Mc Kay put an unstoppable shot past Waterford goalie Katie Hannon in the 23rd minute to leave the northern girls three points to the good.
Ciara Hurley got a point back for the Déise girls to narrow the gap in the 24th minute before Nicole Catney stretched the Down lead with a point in the 30th minute.
Kate Mc Kay brought her total in the first half to 1-3 with a point just before referee Jason Mullins blew the half time whistle with Down ahead on the score-line Down 1-4 Waterford 0-3.
Waterford opened brightly in the second half, a point from Róisín Tobin in the first minute followed by one from Michelle Ryan in the sixth minute left two between the sides before Maria Delahunty struck for a goal in the eighth minute to put Waterford ahead for the first time.
Aisling Mullaney kicked a good point to extend the Waterford lead a minute later but Down came back with two points of their own from Mairead Kavanagh and Kate Mc Kay to keep the Waterford lead down. Katie Murray pointed for Waterford in the 14th minute keep Waterford noses in front but Down never gave up and points in the 17th minute from Nicole Catney and one in the 19th minute from Kate McKay left the teams all square at 1-8 apiece to ensure a tense last ten minutes for the Waterford girls.
In the last ten minutes the experience of the Waterford girls shone through with points from Katie Murray, Caoimhe Mc Grath, Michelle Ryan (2) and Linda Wall ensured that Waterford did enough to preserve their one hundred per cent record in the league and qualify for the semi-finals with a game to spare. Next up for the Deise girls is a trip to Roscommon next weekend.