Waterford suffered a two point defeat to Dublin in Round 1 of the All Ireland camogie championship at Walsh Park on Saturday evening (1-11 to 0-12).
The sides were all square with four minutes left but late points from Aisling Maher and Aisling O'Neill gave the Dubs the win.
Maher's free was originally waved wide but linesman Cathal McAllister raised his flag and the point was given. Waterford were then reduced to fourteen players when Clodagh Carroll got a second yellow card for an off the ball incident with Maher. This defeat means that Waterford must beat Wexford next Saturday to stay in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages.
Dublin led 1-8 to 0-8 at half time after playing with the breeze towards the city goal. The sides were level seven times before Aisling Maher smashed home a penalty on 25 minutes. Aisling Gannon kept the ball in play before she was fouled by Clodagh Carroll. The Gailltir defender was yellow carded. The Dublin number ten gave Brianna O'Regan no chance as she fired to the bottom corner. Maher added a point to make it 1-8 to 0-7. In injury time, Beth Carton set up Abby Flynn for her third point from play. Carton converted four frees for the hosts.
The two-time All Star struck three more in the second half and substitute Roisin Kirwan scored with her first touch as Waterford drew level. The home side hit four wides and three short with the elements. That controversial Aisling Maher free and that controversial second yellow for Clodagh Carroll tilted the game in Dublin's favour.
Scorers for Dublin: Aisling Maher 1-5 (1-0 penalty, 3fs), Aisling O'Neill 0-3, Jody Couch 0-2, Niamh Gannon 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: Beth Carton 0-7 (7fs), Abby Flynn 0-3, Lorraine Bray, Roisin Kirwan 0-1 each.
Dublin: Eabha Mooney; Roisin Baker, Eve O’Brien, Muireann Kelleher; Leah Butler, Hannah Hegarty, Emma O’Byrne; Orla Gray, Gaby Couch; Aisling Maher, Niamh Gannon, Jody Couch; Elyse Jamieson-Murphy, Aisling O'Neill, Aisling Gannon.
Subs: Ali Twomey for Aisling Gannon (36), Emma Flanagan for Gray (47), Issy Davis for Jamieson-Murphy (51), Kerrie Finnegan for Jody Couch (54),
Waterford: Brianna O'Regan; Iona Heffernan, Kate Lynch, Keeley Corbett Barry; Aoife Landers, Clodagh Carroll, Orla Hickey; Lorraine Bray, Clara Griffin; Mairéad O'Brien, Abby Flynn, Beth Carton; Vikki Falconer, Niamh Rockett, Sarah Lacey.
Subs: Roisin Kirwan for Lacey (44), Rachael Walsh for O'Brien (47).
Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork)
