Ladies: Sullivan's late free rescues draw for Dublin against Waterford

Dublin 2-7 Waterford 0-13

by Daire Walsh

Kate Sullivan came to the rescue of Dublin as her late free helped the home side to claim a hard-earned draw against Waterford at Parnell Park in an entertaining Division 1 clash in the Lidl National Football League.

After enjoying the lion’s share of possession during the early moments of the contest, Waterford eventually opened the scoring in the Donnycarney venue with a ninth-minute pointed free from wing-forward Kellyann Hogan. This was supplemented by a fine score courtesy of raiding corner-back Áine O’Neill at the end of a patient attack, before the reliable Hogan doubled her tally with another place-ball effort to leave the Deise three in front on the first-quarter mark.

Yet Dublin eventually got up and running with a 16th-minute point from Rebecca McDonnell and following a quick interchange with Niamh Hetherton, Chloe Darby also split the posts to reduce the Jackies’ deficit to the bare minimum. While Waterford fired back with three unanswered points from Hogan (two) and Lauren McGregor, the hosts reignited their challenge when substitute Caoimhe O’Connor hammered the ball to the net on the half-hour.

Maeve Ryan did find the target in stoppage-time to ensure Waterford brought a 0-7 to 1-2 cushion into the interval, however, and the Munster visitors reinforced their authority on the restart with additional contributions from McGregor and O’Neill. Although Dublin responded at the opposite end through Sullivan and Darby, the combined forces of Katie Murray and Hogan raised white flags to keep the Deise in the driving seat.

That was before Dublin bagged their second goal via the boot of Niamh Hetherton on 43 minutes and with Darby knocking over a close-range free moments later, the sides were suddenly inseparable (2-5 to 0-11) moving into the final-quarter.

The tie remained delicately poised after Hogan and Sullivan traded scores, and while Hogan looked set to offer Waterford a decisive edge when she slotted over yet another free, Sullivan (who also had an opportunity to win the game for Dublin in the final seconds) converted a place-ball strike of her own to give the Metropolitan outfit a share of the spoils.

After recording one win from their opening three games, this result leaves both Dublin and Waterford on four points apiece moving into round five of the NFL top-tier.

Scorers – Dublin: K Sullivan 0-3 (1f), N Hetherton, C O’Connor 1-0 each, C Darby 0-3 (2f), R McDonnell 0-1.

Waterford: K Hogan 0-7 (6f), Á O’Neill 0-2, L McGregor 0-2 (1f), M Ryan, K Murray 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, A Curran; N Donlon, M Byrne, A Nyhan; H McGinnis, G Kós; K Sullivan, N Hetherton, R McDonnell; E O’Dowd, C Darby, C Fox. Subs: C O’Connor for Kós (27), A Kane for Fox (39), A Timothy for McDonnell, J Egan for Darby (both 53).

WATERFORD: G Corcoran; Á O’Neill, R Casey, M Ryan; H Power, K McGrath, C Murray; E Power, E Murray; K Hogan, B McMaugh, A Hahesy; L McGregor, K Murray, C McCarthy. Subs: C Walsh for Hogan (30+3-36), C Walsh for McCarthy, C Fennell for Hahesy (both 53), N Power for O’Neill (56).

Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down).