Caoimhe O’Connor top scored with 1-01 as Dublin enjoyed a winning start to their Division 1B league campaign
Dublin 4-07
Waterford 1-04
By Aisling Clery
Caoimhe O’Connor hit 1-1 as reigning champions Dublin opened their Lidl National Football League Division 1B campaign with a win against Waterford at Fraher Field.
Dublin led throughout, taking a 2-3 to 0-1 lead into the half time break, while Waterford dominated possession at times but they couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard.
Dublin were on top in the early exchanges and Hannah Tyrrell landed their first score on three minutes.
Waterford tested out the Dublin defence with Emma Murray and Aisling Mullaney trying to make the most of their chances but the scores came up the other end.
Dublin’s first goal arrived after eight minutes with a sweeping team move finished to the net by Jennifer Dunne. And Kate Sullivan was unlucky to see her effort drop into the arms of Eimear Gallagher in the Waterford goals a minute later.
Leah Caffrey and Orlagh Nolan both scored points to leave Dublin with a 1-3 to 0-0 lead at the water break.
Waterford enjoyed more of the possession in the second quarter and were duly rewarded when Brid McMaugh scored from distance.
Dublin’s response was immediate in the shape of their second goal. Tyrrell won possession and her offload freed O’Connor who found the net. That goal gave Dublin a 2-3 to 0-1 advantage at the interval.
The hosts controlled much of the third quarter. Katie Murray grabbed their second score but this was cancelled out minutes later by a fine O’Connor point. Then substitute Siobhan Killeen left her mark on the game when she chipped Gallagher for Dublin’s third goal.
Waterford’s pressure eventually told when Emma Murray scored a goal just before the second half water break, making it an eight-point game, at 3-4 to 1-2.
Dublin were reduced to 14 players when Abby Shiels was shown a yellow card but it didn’t swing the game in Waterford’s favour. They did score through Lauren McGregor and Brid McMaugh, but Dublin finished the stronger with Tyrrell, Siobhan Woods and Hannah Leahy all finding their range to ensure the reigning champions opened their 2022 account with a comfortable win.
Waterford Scorers
8. Emma Murray 1-00
10. Bríd McMaugh 0-02
13. Katie Murray 0-01
23. Lauren McGregor 0-01 (1f)
Dublin Scorers
12. Caoimhe O’Connor 1-01
14. Hannah Tyrrell 0-03 (2f)
8. Jennifer Dunne 1-00
22. Siobhan Killeen 1-00
4. Hannah Leahy 1-00
3. Leah Caffrey 0-01
5. Orlagh Nolan 0-01
23. Siobhan Woods 0-01
Waterford
1. Eimear Gallagher
2. Megan Dunord
3. Caoimhe McGrath
4. Rebecca Casey
5. Aisling Mullaney
6. Karen McGrath
7. Laura Cusack
8. Emma Murray
9. Laura Mulcahy
10. Bríd McMaugh
11. Hannah Power
12. Mairead Wall
13. Katie Murray
14. Chloe Fennell
15. Kate McGrath
Waterford Substitutions
17. Kellyann Hogan for 14. Chloe Fennell (41)
18. Aine O’Neill for 11. Hannah Power (41)
23. Lauren McGregor for 5. Aisling Mullaney (59)
21. Maeve Daly for 15. Kate McGrath (59)
22. Cora Murray for 3. Caoimhe McGrath (61)
25. Aoife Murray for 7. Laura Cusack (61)
24. Sheena McGuckian for 4. Rebecca Casey (61)
Dublin
1. Abby Shiels
2. Jess Tobin
3. Leah Caffrey
4. Hannah Leahy
5. Orlagh Nolan
6. Martha Byrne
7. Aoife Kane
8. Jennifer Dunne
9. Kate McDaid
10. Kate Sullivan
11. Nicole Owens
12. Caoimhe O’Connor
13. Oonagh Whyte
14. Hannah Tyrrell
15. Jodi Egan
Dublin Substitutions
22. Siobhan Killeen for 13. Oonagh Whyte (HT)
17. Ellen Gribben for 15. Jodi Egan (HT)
20. Niamh Hetherton for 7. Aoife Kane (32)
23. Siobhan Woods for 11. Nicole Owens (51)
16. Emer Ní Eafa for 23. Siobhan Woods (51)
23. Siobhan Woods for 1. Abby Shiels (62)