The Waterford ladies suffered a heartbreaking 2-10 to 2-7 loss to Dublin in Division 1 of the National League on a Sunday afternoon of sunshine and showers at Fraher Field.
Lauren McGregor and Kellyann Hogan netted second half goals for the home side but two late frees from Hannah Tyrell secured victory for the Sky Blues. The turning point of this entertaining contest came on 41 minutes when Dublin defender Leah Caffrey smothered a goalbound shot from Lauren McGregor. The ball was worked up to the other end of the pitch where Niamh Hetherton hit the Waterford net.
The home side, led by Katie Murray, Emma Murray and Aine O'Neill, emptied the tank but only took two of their eight goal chances. The Déise are now tied with Galway and Cork at the bottom of the table on three points.
The Sky Blues took the field with ten starters from the All Ireland final win over Kerry last August. The home side went for an unchanged line-up after their big victory away to Cork two weeks previous.
It was end to end stuff early doors. Orlagh Nolan was denied a goal for Dublin while Clare Walsh saw her fisted effort disallowed for a square ball. A foul on Katie Murray gave Lauren McGregor the chance to send the home side ahead in the third minute. Murray was then thwarted by Dublin netminder Abby Shiels at the near post. Annabelle Timothy equalised for the away team. A lovely right footed effort from captain Kellyann Hogan edged Waterford back in front. Ballymacarbry club mate Clare Walsh made it 3-1 on the quarter hour.
Dublin clocked up four wides before points from Niamh Hetherton and Hannah Tyrell tied the match. As the rain started to fall in Fraher Field, Kate Sullivan shot the visitors into the lead for the first time (0-4 to 0-3). The marauding Katie Murray continued to drive at the Dubs' defence and a Lauren McGregor free levelled matters again in injury time. McGregor missed an opportunity to retake the lead from another dead ball.
Seven minutes into injury time, referee Jonathan Murphy signalled a Dublin penalty for a foul on defender Niamh Crowley and Orlagh Nolan buried the ball in the bottom corner. 1-4 to 0-4 in favour of Mick Bohan's side at the break as the sun reappeared.
Waterford made a blistering start to the second period. Lauren McGregor slammed home a penalty on 33 minutes after Abby Shiels clattered into Clare Walsh. A McGregor free and a Brid McMaugh effort from play sent Pat Sullivan's side 1-6 to 1-4 up. 1-2 without reply.
On 41 minutes, Dublin went from one end of the field to the other as a Leah Caffrey block led to a Niamh Hetherton goal. Two points apiece by Kate Sullivan and Hannah Tyrell left the away side five to the good (2-8 to 1-6).
Mairead O'Brien fisted a ball off the Dublin crossbar when a Brid McMaugh free dropped short. With two minutes left, Kellyann Hogan let fly from a quickly taken free and the ball flew into the roof of the net. The volume lifted in the stand as the number nine added a last minute point off that lethal right boot (2-8 to 2-7). The Dubs survived that onslaught as Tyrell tapped over two injury time frees.
Scorers for Waterford: L McGregor 1-3 (1-0 pen, 3fs), K Hogan 1-2 (1-0f), C Walsh, B McMaugh 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: H Tyrell 0-5 (4fs), N Hetherton 1-1, O Nolan 1-0 (1-0 pen), K Sullivan 0-3 (1f), A Timothy 0-1.
Waterford: E O’Brien; K McGrath, H Power, E Murray; A Murray, A McNulty, E Power; M O'Brien, C Carroll; A O'Neill, K Murray, K Hogan; B McMaugh, C Walsh, L McGregor.
Subs: C McCarthy for Carroll (42), A Brazil for McGregor (51), M Comerford for McMaugh (55).
Dublin: A Shiels; A Nyhan, M Byrne, N Donlon; A Kane, L Caffrey, N Crowley; J Dunne, N Hetherton; E Gribben, O Carey, K Sullivan; O Nolan, H Tyrell, A Timothy.
Subs: C O'Connor for Gribben (HT), K Murray for Nyhan (HT), G Kos for Kane (40), J Egan for Timothy (43), J Tobin for Murray (54), H McGinnis for Donlon (58), C Coffey for Nolan (62).
Referee: J Murphy (Carlow)
