The Waterford ladies secured their senior status for 2023 with a comprehensive 3-12 to 0-6 win over Monaghan in this afternoon's relegation play-off at the Bray Emmets GAA club.
Lauren McGregor shot 2-2 and Caoimhe McGrath also found the net as the Déise stayed up in style. Kellyann Hogan kicked five points for Pat Sullivan's side (four from play). A solid defensive unit, led by Megan Dunford, Hannah Power and Emma Murray, stifled Monaghan's attacking threat.
Katie Geoghegan was given her senior debut between the posts for Waterford. Monaghan captain Muireann Atkinson made her first start of the 2022 championship.
Goals from McGrath and McGregor gave Waterford a 2-4 to 0-3 half time lead. The sides were tied at two points each after a cagey first quarter in the blistering heat. Kellyann Hogan kicked the opener for the Déise inside a minute before Atkinson replied from a free. Áine O'Neill and Amy Garland then traded scores.
On 24 minutes, McGregor found the unmarked McGrath in front of goal. The former full back coolly rounded Orna Kelly and banged it in. McGrath then assisted a point for McGregor. Two minutes before the break, Waterford cut open the Monaghan defence again and McGrath supplied McGregor who rifled the ball to the top corner of the net. An injury time effort from Katie Murray left Sullivan's side seven points up.
Murray was sin binned in the third quarter for a challenge on Amy Garland. McGregor slotted home her second goal to the bottom corner on 49 minutes. Hogan hit four points off her lethal right boot. Aileen Wall, Sheena McGuckian and Kate McGrath also raised white flags for a rampant Déise who will enjoy an eighth straight season at senior level.
It took Monaghan 30 minutes to register in the second half as Lauren Garland eventually split the posts. Sub Jodie McQuillan added two more consolation scores.
Scorers - Waterford: L McGregor 2-2, K Hogan 0-5 (1f), C McGrath 1-0, A O'Neill, K Murray, A Wall, S McGuckian, Kate McGrath 0-1 each.
Monaghan: J McQuillan 0-2 (1f), L Garland, A Garland, R Courtney, M Atkinson (f) 0-1 each.
Waterford: K Geoghegan; A Murray, L Mulcahy, M Dunford; H Power, E Murray, Kate McGrath; Karen McGrath, K Murray; K Hogan, B McMaugh, A Fitzgerald; A O'Neill, C McGrath, L McGregor.
Subs: C Fennell for McMaugh (40), A Wall for C McGrath (40), S McGuckian for Fitzgerald (50), M Wall for Karen McGrath (50), L Cusack for Power (53).
Monaghan: O Kelly; S Brady, A McCarey, C Brennan; A Burns, R Courtney, C Jones; L Walsh, L Jones; L Garland, C Treanor, E Clerkin; A Garland, M Atkinson, H Sherlock.
Subs: J Drury for Burns (26), J McQuillan for A Garland (42), E Corley for C Jones (47), L Carey for Sherlock (50), U Connolly for Brady (52), K Nolan for Burns (52).
Ref - Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)
