Munster TG4 Ladies Intermediate Football Final – Waterford 1-18 Cork 0-14

Waterford 1-18 Cork 0-14

WATERFORD recovered from a poor start to overcome Cork and claim the Munster intermediate ladies football title at Dr Crokes on Saturday.

Despite Cork beginning brightly, moving into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead inside six minutes, once Waterford got on top they proved stronger than the Rebels’ second team.

Early on, Cork threatened to run away with things, captain Shelly Twohig only denied a goal by a wonderful save from Waterford goalkeeper Aimee Jordan, but soon after that, Waterford’s Trish Fitzgerald went close, rattling the crossbar with a fine shot and from there they powered on.

Excellent points from Aileen Wall and Michelle Ryan had them level, and then three between the 18th and 21st minutes, from Sinead Ryan, Linda Wall and Michelle Ryan made it 0-6 to 0-3.

A good Clare Keohane free ended Cork’s drought but it was only brief respite as Linda Wall, Michelle Ryan and Sinead Ryan (two) made it 0-10 to 0-4 before Sinead Ryan’s handpass in injury time put Michelle McGrath in on goal and the joint-captain produced a cool finish to leave nine points between the sides at the break.

Cork applied plenty of pressure early in the second half, but Jordan in the Waterford goal – who won player of the match – was proving unbeatable, making a number of good saves, including two super stops for Orla Finn.

Finn was the main threat in the Cork attack, with Roisin O’Sullivan and Clare Keohane also impressing, but there was always daylight between the sides as McGrath, Sinead Ryan and Linda Wall all popped up with valuable Waterford points. As the game moved into injury time there were four points between the sides by two from Sinead Ryan and one from McGrath ensured that Waterford had seven to spare by the end.

Scorers –

Waterford: S Ryan 0-7, M McGrath 1-2, L Wall, A Wall, M Ryan (0-2f) 0-3 each.

Cork: C Keohane 0-5 (0-4f), R O’Sullivan, L Cronin, O Finn 0-2 each, S Twohig, J Luddy, E Ryan 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: A Jordan; N Dunphy, G Kenneally, G Enright; M Wall, M Foley, L Ryan; E Power, M McGrath; M Liston, M Ryan, T Fitzgerald; L Wall, S Ryan, A Wall.

Subs: K Hannon for Liston (49), F Morrissey for Fitzgerald, L Hogan for Foley (both 57).

CORK: M O’Brien; S O’Reilly, N O’Keeffe, E Harrington; P Murphy, R O’Mahony, R O’Sullivan; A Hutching, J Luddy; S Twohig, E Ahern, L Cronin; O Finn, E Ryan, C Keohane

Subs: L Curtin for Murphy (25), D Downey for Ahern (half-time), K Coakley for Ryan (53).

Referee: J Mullins (Limerick)