Beth Carton scored 2-10 as Waterford defeated Antrim 5-16 to 0-10 at a bright and breezy SETU Arena and topped Group 3 in the All Ireland Camogie Championship.
Four goals in nine first half minutes against the wind proved decisive for Sean Power's side. Mairead O'Brien netted twice while Carton and Niamh Rockett also raised green flags. The icing on the cake came four minutes into the second period when Carton lobbed Antrim goalkeeper Caitriona Graham. The De La Salle attacker has scored six goals and 106 points in county colours this season.
Both sets of players wore #UnitedForEquality shirts during the warm-up as the player protest among camogie and ladies football teams continued. After Amhrán na bhFiann was played, they returned to the dressing rooms and changed into their jerseys.
Antrim won the toss and elected to play with the elements in the first half. Carton converted four frees before Lorraine Bray took off on a lung bursting solo run on 18 minutes. She passed inside to Carton who found the far corner. Annie Fitzgerald then picked out the unmarked O'Brien who made no mistake. O'Brien then left the Antrim defence for dead as she ran with the sliotar from the 65 and flashed the ball past Graham. The Modeligo attacker turned provider for Rockett's three pointer on 26 minutes. A Carton free left the hosts 4-6 to 0-7 ahead at the break.
Four minutes into the second half, Carton spotted Graham off her line and lobbed the stranded Saffron goalkeeper. Bray, Rockett, Orla Hickey and Roisin Kirwan all added points. Two Brianna O'Regan saves made sure that the home side kept a clean sheet. Three wins out of three by a total of 55 points.
