Monaghan hang on for win
It lived up to its promise as Monaghan withstood a ferocious Waterford comeback and hung on by a single point, 2-11 to 3-7, to claim their place in the decider.
Waterford trailed 2-6 to 1-4 after a disappointing first half and when Monaghan went seven points clear eight minutes into the second half, it appeared as if they were heading for a runaway victory over the side that had caused them so many problems in the past.
But a spectacular goal from second half substitute Marie Hogan, brought the Decies back into the game and when full-forward Geraldine O’Ryan shook the Monaghan net with another, with five minutes to play, the finish everyone expected was on the cards.
Waterford pushed forward and the Monaghan defence rallied. Waterford’s sharpshooting corner-forward Mary O’Rourke was fouled when it appeared as if she might be about to equalise. Midfielder Mary O’Donnell had a free cleared by Monaghan substitute Anita Harvey and Martina and Geraldine O’Ryan were also denied.
“We had our chances but it took us too long to get going,” said Waterford manager Michael Ryan.
“On the day we just never clicked and it all came down to the first half performance.”
He was reflecting on a first half that saw Monaghan take control despite a dream start for Waterford when Mary O’Rourke had the ball in the net after just a minute and a half.
But the first attack from Monaghan saw Edel Byrne herald her return after injury with a great long range point. And when Aisling Tierney had the ball in the net , the game was turned upside down.
Another Monaghan goal from Byrne and Waterford were struggling. Monaghan were stringing the passes together into a series of movements that had the Waterford defence stretched.
“We just did not perform and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb,” the Waterford manager said. “You just can’t go out and not perform in the first half in an All-Ireland semi-final and that’s what we did with the wind at our back. We got the ideal start with the goal.
“Monaghan were playing a very short game and with the weather conditions as they were, it suited them. They moved the ball around four, five and short passes, and they pulled us out of position. We allowed them to come down the field and they picked us off.”
He said it was difficult to explain why it happened, stressing that they did not win single break in the first half and he described the first half performance as lethargic.
“The ball was bouncing around and we were not scrapping for it,” he said.
“We improved in the second half when we really went for it, but it took us too long and we paid the price.”
Mary O’Rourke pointed three minutes into the second half, but Monaghan hit back with two points from captain Niamh Kindlon and another from Orla Callan and things looked ominous for Waterford.
But the Waterford defence, with the player of the match Donna Frost, was superb, and came to grips with the Monaghan attack that had given them such problems in the first half.
Play began to swing around in their favour. They had a couple of chances but did not capitalise on them until midway through the half when Martina O’Ryan found O’Rourke. Her point blank shot was blocked down by Martina Gray from Scotstown but substitute Hogan, on the run, blasted the ball to the net and there was just four points between the sides.
Byrne steadied Monaghan with a point but Waterford came storming back and Geraldine O’Ryan found her twin sister Martina, who fisted a point when it appeared she had the advancing goalkeeper beaten.
Then came the goal of the game at the end of a movement involving the Waterford full-back Elaine Power, Rebecca Hallahan, O’Rourke and Martina O’Ryan, who passed ahead to her sister Geraldine, who rounded the keeper and tapped the ball to the Monaghan net.
“You can never write Waterford off. They are a very experienced team,” Monaghan manager Michael Morgan said. “It came down to one point and that did not surprise me. Maybe a few decisions went against them that, on a different day, they might have got and they might have got a draw out of it.
“Both sides played great football. When Waterford got that third goal myself and the other two selectors just looked around at each other. It was out of our hands at that point. We were keeping our fingers crossed. Waterford went down and we were lucky to dispossess them.”
Scorers for Monaghan: E. Byrne 1-4 (0-1 free), A. Tierney 1-0, N. Kindlon 0-3 (frees), O. Callan 0-3, D. Dempsey 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: M. O’Rourke 1-3 (0-1 free), M. Hogan 1-0, G. O’Ryan 1-0, M. O’Ryan 0-3, J. Torpey 0-1.
MONAGHAN: M. Gray; C. Reilly, M. Croarkin, U. McNally; L. Connolly, J. Greenan, M. Lavelle; C. Mlligan, C. Brady; A. Tierney, N. Kindlon, E. Byrne; O. Callan, B. McAnespie, D. Dempsey. Subs: A. Harvey for M. Lavelle and C. McGuinness for B. McAnespie.
WATERFORD: N. Hearne; D. Frost, E. Power, O. Butler; J. Torpey, A. Crotty, F. O’Reilly; M. O’Donnell, D. Breathnach; L. Wall, M. O’Ryan, R. Hallahan; A. Murphy, G. O’Ryan, M. O’Rourke.
Subs: C. O’Keeffe for L. Wall and M. Hogan for A. Murphy.
Referee: M. Duffy (Sligo).
