Annie Fitzgerald netted a hat trick as Waterford advanced to the knockout stages of the All Ireland camogie championship with a 4-16 to 2-11 win over Dublin on a scorching Saturday afternoon in Walsh Park.
Beth Carton also found the back of the net as Mick Boland’s charges recovered from a sluggish start. Niamh Rockett shot six points and assisted two goals. The Déise produced 2-11 without reply either side of half time as the Dubs went 30 minutes without a score. It sets up a top of the table clash away to Galway next weekend with an All Ireland semi final spot on offer.
Waterford won the toss but captain Lorraine Bray elected to play against the wind. A Dublin team fighting for their championship lives made a blistering start as captain Niamh Gannon grabbed the sliotar off the throw in and drove through the Déise defence. A goal was on but her shot flew over Brianna O’Regan’s crossbar. Further points from Grace O’Shea and Aisling O’Neill made it three nil inside two minutes. Niamh Rockett converted a much needed free for Waterford in the fourth minute. The next three points belonged to the fired up visitors however as two from Aoife McKearney and one from Aisling Maher left them 6-1 ahead after just nine minutes.
Lorraine Bray supplied fellow All Star Beth Carton with a point. Off the Dublin puckout, Rockett won a turnover and sent Annie Fitzgerald through on goal. The Gailltir attacker slipped the ball past Eimear Hurley (0-6 to 1-2). Aisling Maher created a point for Gaby Couch at the other end.
On 18 minutes, Rockett played a free short to Carton and she buried the sliotar to the bottom corner of the net. Waterford in front for the first time (2-2 to 0-7).
The hosts never looked back as they hit the last four points of the half. Teenager Eimear O’Neill used her speed to strike two from play as Mick Boland’s team led 2-7 to 0-8 at the break.
A defence splitting run from Lorraine Bray on 44 minutes laid the groundwork for Annie Fitzgerald who billowed the far corner. Four minutes later, Fitzgerald spotted Dublin goalkeeper Eimear Hurley off her line and flicked the ball into the unguarded net. The hard working Abby Flynn added two points.
Waterford finished with fourteen players as Bevin Bowdren received her second yellow card for charging. Aisling Maher and Emma Flanagan struck injury time goals for Dublin as they exited the championship.
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