Munster Senior Ladies’ Football Championship Round 2:
Waterford 1-11 (14)
Kerry 2-09 (15)
The Waterford ladies’ footballers have suffered an agonizing one-point defeat at the hands of All-Ireland champions Kerry in Dungarvan this afternoon.
When Siofra O’Shea found the net for the Kingdom on 39 minutes – they were as much as eight points in front, but a late rally from the Deise very nearly earned them a draw as Kerry held on by the skin of their teeth.
Despite being without captain Emma Murray and star forward Brid McMaugh, the Deise gave the league and All-Ireland holders an almighty scare in Clogherane.
O’Shea gave Kerry an early lead but a free from Kellyann Hogan brought Waterford level before Chloe Fennell kicked the hosts in front. Danielle O’Leary responded to bring the sides level again before Clare Walsh got on the scoresheet – but a 14th-minute goal from Rachel Dwyer moved Kerry 1-2 to 0-3 ahead and they kicked on again from that point.
Further points from O’Leary and Aoife Dillane caused more problems for Waterford, but efforts from Hogan and Fennell either side of another Dwyer score made it 1-05 to 0-05 in Kerry’s favour at the interval.
The second-half started badly for Waterford as Dillane and Dwyer kicked Kerry five in front, before 1-1 in quick succession from O’Shea seemingly had the Kingdom out of sight approaching the final third.
Credit to Tomas Mac a tSaoir’s Deise side, they battled back valiantly – three scores on the spin from Fennell, Hogan (free) and Aine O’Neill put the pressure back on Kerry – and when Dungarvan’s Lauren McGregor kicked her ninth goal of the season on 47 minutes – it was suddenly a two-point affair.
Hogan and O’Leary traded scores before Hogan added another as it was a one-point game heading down the home straight. In ten minutes of added time, the hosts threw the kitchen sink at the league and All-Ireland champions, but to no avail – as Kerry held out to take the points on offer.
The Kingdom are now assured of their place in the Munster Final. Waterford and Cork battle it out next Sunday for the right to face them – following Cork’s 3-13 to 0-11 win away in Tipperary this afternoon.
