Mayo 2.09 - 2.06 Waterford
By OISÍN McGOVERN
Waterford remain in serious relegation trouble from the top flight of the Lidl NFL after going down by three points to Liam McHale’s Mayo in Ballina.
Mayo’s inability to close out the game kept Waterford in contention, as the Connacht champions saw their lead narrow from five points, to two, before they eventually prevailed by three.
The remaining game in Division 1 between Galway and Waterford, which was postponed last week because of weather, will now decide which of these two make the drop from the top flight with Cork.
Two goals from the impressive Fionnuala McLaughlin made the difference for Mayo against a Waterford side that were in it until the end.
Mayo got off to a bumpy start when Waterford’s Lauren McGregor opened the scoring with a goal from a quick free.
But Mayo quickly found their feet when Westport’s Fionnuala McLaughlin shot their first goal shortly afterwards.
Mayo were 1-3 to 1-0 ahead by the 19th minute against a Waterford side who proved tough to break down.
The last five minutes of the opening half saw both sides shoot three scores without reply, beginning when Waterford’s McGregor hit a point and a thunderbolt of a goal.
A follow-up effort from Mairead O’Brien drew a brilliant save from Mayo’s Laura Brennan but still put the Déise two points up.
The hosts replied with a volley of 1-2 in two minutes, with McLaughlin hitting her second goal before an exchange of points.
Mayo wing-back Kathryn Sullivan broke a 19-minute-long scoring drought with a fine point before substitute Aoife Staunton followed up to put the home side five points up.
Waterford railed with three unanswered points before Mayo’s Maria Cannon put three between them with a lovely finish near full-time.
Mayo have finished in fifth in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League while Waterford must secure a win over Galway to avoid relegation to Division 2.
Scorers – Mayo: F McLaughlin 2-0, M Cannon (2f), A Geraghty, C Needham 0-2 each, K Sullivan, L Cafferky, A Staunton 0-1 each.
Waterford: L McGregor 2-2 (1f), K Hogan 0-2, (1f) M O’Brien, K Murray 0-1 each
MAYO: L Brennan; E Ronayne, N O’Malley, D Caldwell; K Sullivan, E Murray, C Needham; A Geraghty, H Reape; F McLaughlin, S Delaney, M Cannon; S Cafferky, L Cafferky, S Walsh Subs: A Fitzpatrick for Reape (HT), C Durkan for Murray (36), A Staunton for L Cafferky (44) E Needham for S Cafferky (48), F McHale for C Needham (48), T Needham for Delaney (57).
WATERFORD: E O’Brien, H Power, E Power, A Murray; K McGrath, A McNulty, A O’Neill; E Murray, K Hogan; C Walsh, C Carroll, M O’Brien; M Comerford, K Murray, L McGregor. Subs: A Brazil for Comerford (HT), K Brazil for McGregor (52), A Fitzgerald for A Brazil (54), C McCarthy for O’Neill (54), L O’Shea for Walsh (57), C Murray for Carroll (62).
REFEREE: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
