McEvoy leads Jackies to victory over Waterford

Sat, 13th July 2019

ALL-IRELAND LADIES SFC QUARTER-FINAL GROUP 2 ROUND 1

DUBLIN 5-15 WATERFORD 2-6

Dublin, the two in-a-row All-Ireland Ladies senior football champions, put in a dominant first half display to overcome Waterford by 18 points in their All-Ireland quarter-final Group 2 Round 1 clash at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday afternoon.

The Jackies led by 14 points at the break and while they were not as strong in the second period they were still much too dynamic and skillful for their Munster opponents.

Dublin led 4-6 to 0-4 after an impressive first half where a high work-rate was at the core of their dominance.

Waterford's first goal came ten minutes into the second half when Maria Delahunty converted a penalty to make it 4-8 to 1-5.

Five minutes later the Déise had another clear-cut goal chance but Eimear Fennell shot wide from close-range.

Dublin then lifted their game again with Niamh McEvoy inspiring her team-mates and points from Nicole Owens, Niamh McEvoy and two points from sub Siobhan Woods making it 4-14 to 2-6 after 55 minutes.

Just inside the last five minutes Eimear Fennell blasted to the roof of Ciara Grant's net to put a better look on the scoreboard.

Before the finish Lynsey Davey hit her second goal of the contest after being unselfishly placed by Noelle Healy.

In the opening half Lyndsey Davey get Dublin motoring with a point in the third minute after a long period of patient Dublin possession.

Two minutes later Niamh McEvoy hit the first of Dublin's first half goals when she gathered a high handpass from Nicole Owens before applying the finish.

The impressive McEvoy added a point after Noelle Healy was alert to a loose ball to make it 1-2 to 0-0 inside seven minutes.

The Jackies second goal arrived in the 13th minute when Lyndsey Davey brilliantly fired to the net at the end of a superb move initiated by Niamh Collins deep in her own defence and involving Davey on two occasions and Oonagh Whyte.

In the16th minute Dublin punished a mistake on the Waterford kickout when Niamh Hetherton won back possession to place Lyndsey Davey, her shot was saved but Nicole Owens was poaching and finished the rebound to the net to make it 3-3 to 0-3.

Points from Lauren Magee and Nicole Owens, after good work by Aoife Kane and Niamh McEvoy, extended the lead for Mick Bohan's team before Niamh McEvoy hit her second goal after Niamh Hetherton did very well to rescue a wayward point effort from Oonagh Whyte.

Before the break Noelle Healy showed her pace to accelerate onto a tap back from Niamh Evoy and fire over, so by the interval the Jackies were 14 points clear.

SCORERS - Dublin: N McEvoy 2-4 (0-2f), L Davey 2-3 (0-1f), N Owens 1-3, S Woods 0-2, L Magee, S McGrath, N Healy 0-1 each. Waterford: M Delahunty 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), E Fennell 1-0, R Tobin, A Wall, M Ryan 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: C Trant; E Rutledge, N Collins, M Byrne; A Kane, S Goldrick, L Magee; O Carey, S McGrath; N Healy, N McEvoy, N Owens; O Whyte, N Hetherton, L Davey. Subs: J Dunne for Whyte (ht), M Ni Scanaill for Hetherton (41), S Woods for Owens (47), S Fagan for Carey (50), C O’Connor for McEvoy (50).

WATERFORD: R Landers; C Murray, E Murray, K McGrath; R Tobin, K McGrath, A Mullaney; K Murray, C Fennell; A Wall, K Hogan, B Valuntaite; E Fennell, M Ryan, M Delahunty. Sub: L McGregor for Valuntaite (49).

REF: G McMahon (Mayo).