Waterford advanced to the TG4 Ladies All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final with victory over Leitrim in Avant Money Páirc Seán MacDiarmada.
Waterford scoring a 21-point victory over Leitrim, 6-16 to 3-4.
Leitrim keeper Michelle Guckian was called into action in the opening minutes. Guckian pulled off two great saves to deny Lauren McGregor and Katie Murray.
McGregor (free) and Ailbhe Clancy traded points before Clancy was sin-binned in the 11th minute. Waterford then edged back in front. The Deise got their first goal in the 16th minute when McGregor played the ball to Karen McGrath and she made no mistake.
Leitrim enjoyed possession but just couldn’t get scores with the Waterford defence standing firm. Waterford got a second goal in the 22nd minute; with Guckian out of her goals, Katie Murray took advantage with an excellent effort to extend the lead to 12 points.
Credit to Leitrim they fought hard and in the 27th minute Laura O’Dowd grabbed a goal with a fine strike. The score at the break was 2-7 to 1-1 in favour of Waterford.
Waterford got their third goal in the 35th minute through Brid McMaugh but Leitrim’s response was a goal from Rachel McIntyre. Waterford were able to up their game. McGaugh scored 1-2 while Walsh and Murray fired over points to put 17 points between the sides in the 45th minute.
Substitute Síomhra Quinn hit over a lovely point for the home side in the 46th minute. Waterford hit back with McGregor finding the back of the net.
Waterford in control throughout
Despite the setback of conceding a fifth goal, Leitrim rallied and got their third goal of the game in the 49th minute; Aisling Quinn with a fine finish.
Guckian kicked over two frees for Leitrim. Waterford kept the scoreboard ticking and in the first minute of stoppage time got a sixth goal; substitute Megan Dunford with a fantastic finish.
Another sub Aileen Wall got on the scoresheet right at the end firing over a neat point in a resounding win for Waterford.
Waterford: K Gardiner; A Murray, L Mulcahy, C Murray; H Power, K McGrath, A O’Neill; E Murray, E Power; L Ní hArta, B McMaugh, K Murray; C Fennell, C Walsh, L McGregor.
Subs: Á Power for Ní hArta (ht), M Dunford for A Murray, N Power for Walsh and A Wall for O’Neill (47), C McCarthy for McMaugh (53).
Scorers: B McMaugh 1-6, K Murray 1-4, C Walsh 1-2, L McGregor 1-1 (1f), K McGrath, M Dunford 1-0 each, C Fennell 0-2, A Wall 0-1.
Leitrim: M Guckian; J Maye, C Tyrrell, E Quigley; D Beirne, C Owens, R McIntyre; N Tighe, A Quinn; A Gilmartin, V Egan, A Clancy; L Fox, S Ward, L O’Dowd.
Subs: S Quinn for Egan (36), L McKeon for Tyrell (47), L Redican for Clancy (53), L Tivnan for Quinn (58), E Shanley for Quigley (60).
Scorers: R McIntyre, A Quinn, L O’Dowd 1-0 each, M Guckian (f), S Ward, A Clancy, S Quinn 0-1 each.
Referee: Philip Conway (Armagh).
