Geraldine McLaughlin returns as Donegal dispose of Waterford in Lifford

Donegal got their All-Ireland Championship campaign up and running with a good win over Waterford in Pairc MacDiarmada, in Lifford.

Donegal 2-10 Waterford 1-8

Five points separated the sides at the finish, a 14-point turnaround from when the two teams met in the league in Letterkenny, earlier in the season.

It was a much changed Donegal from that 0-7 to 2-10 defeat to Waterford back in March.

Former All-Star Niamh Hegarty and Tanya Kennedy both returned to the squad for the Ulster final although Kennedy was absent this time out. However, the big news here was that another former All-Star, Geraldine McLaughlin, was named to start on the bench. 

McLaughlin had her first appearance of the season in the second half and that was huge news ahead of their second round tussle with All-Ireland champions Meath next up.  

Niamh Hegarty and Amy Boyle Carr scored the goals for the newly crowned Ulster champions who led by four points at half-time.

Donegal were 1-6 to 1-2 up at the end of an evenly contested opening half hour though Waterford would have been a little disappointed to be four down.

Hegarty scored a goal and two points for Donegal – the goal was from the penalty spot after she herself had been fouled – Susanne White, posted two points and Boyle Carr and Katie Dowd collected one each.

Lauren McGregor scored the Waterford goal while Aine O’Neill and Kelly Ann Hogan posted the points for the visitors.  

Waterford had got off to a lightning start and had a goal and a point on the board inside the opening nine minutes.

McGregor polished off a sweeping move to hit the net nine minutes into the tie for 1-1 to 0-1 lead.

The Donegal response was instant and the sides were level after Hegarty converted from the spot after she had been upended inside the area as she bore down on the Waterford goalmouth.

The locals went ahead shortly and were two up for the first time by the 15 minute mark .

Waterford, who were a little wayward in their finishing, did pull back a point before Donegal finished the strong with three late points to go in four to  the good at the break.

White and McGregor traded early points on the resumption before Boyle Carr broke through for a well taken goal.

Donegal now led 2-7 to 1-3 with just five minutes gone in the second half. McGregor, who had  a fine game, struggled to judge the breeze and missed three close frees in a row.

Katie McGrath did land Waterford’s second point of the half shortly after and with the lead still five all Donegal had to do was match Waterford score for score.

Ciara McGarvey posted two close-in frees after being introduced. And player of the match,Hegarty, brought her tally to a goal and three points, scored in the closing exchanges while McGregor and Kelly Anne Hogan scored the points for Waterford who were  forced to go for goals late on.  

Donegal scorers: Niamh Hegarty 1-3, 1-0 Pen; Susanne White 0-3 ,2f; Amy Boyle Carr 1-1; Ciara McGarvey 0-2, 2f; Katie Dowd 0-1,

Waterford scorers: Lauren McGregor 1-4,4f; Kelly Anne  Hogan 0-2; Aine O’Neill; Katie McGrath 0-1 each. 

Donegal: C Friel; N Carr, A Temple Asokuh, N  McLaughlin; A Boyle Carr, L  Ryan, T Hegarty; E Gallagher, N McLaughlin; R Rodgers, K Long, K Dowds; N Hegarty, K Herron, S White.

Subs; S McGroddy for L Ryan (h/t); C  McGarvey for S White (41), G McLaughlin for N McLaughlin (54), S McFeely for K Dowd (60).

Waterford: C Murray; K McGrath, A  Murray, A Wairing;N Power, K  McGrath, E Murray, K Murray; A O’Neill, K A Hogan; A Fitzgerald, C McCarthy; S McGuickian, C Hynes, L McGregor.

Subs; Katie Murray for C Hynes (h/t); Abby Murphy for Fitzgerald(41).

Referee: S Curley (Galway).