Hannah Tyrell marked her return to inter county football in style this afternoon as the Irish rugby international hit 1-5, as reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin convincingly defeated Waterford in Parnell Park.
In a game that was dubbed a dress rehearsal for Championship, Dublin welcomed back Olwen Carey, Siobhan Killeen, and fresh from their endeavours in Australia, Lauren Magee and Niamh McEvoy.
Waterford did get off to a quicker start and dominated early possession, Maria Delahunty hit one from play and converted a free. Early Dublin efforts skimmed wide of the post but they opened their account for 2021 with a Sinead Aherne free after Niamh Hetherton was fouled.
As Dublin upped the intensity, Tyrell proved her worth hitting four first-half points. The first was a beautiful long range exchange cross field with Niamh Hetherton and Tyrell was again on the scoresheet twice more minutes later.
Aherne converted her second free from 30 yards before Lyndsey Davey opened up a six-point gap when she found the net after a sweeping team move involved Hetherton and Siobhan Killeen.
Hetherton's first-half efforts were rewarded with with a point of her own, while returning Killeen and Tyrell also pointed leaving nine points between the teams at the water break, 1-8 to 0-2.
Making her senior debut, Abby Shiels was comfortable in goals while Orlagh Nolan and Leah Caffrey bolstered a Dublin defence that proved difficult to break.
Dublin’s second goal began as a sweeping team move down field and with Aherne in an inch of space, the captain offloaded to Hetherton, the Clontarf player made no mistake finishing to the net to open up a 12-point lead.
Waterford steadied their ship and Eimear Fennell (2) and Delahunty brought the Munster side back into contention. The teams traded scores before the break, with Aileen Wall finding space and Delahunty firing over from short range. However, a brace of Aherne frees ensured Dublin took a nine-point lead into half time, 2-10 to 0-7.
The third quarter was a tighter affair, although Dublin did have to cope with two separate yellow cards, Aoife Kane just before half-time and Caoimhe O’Connor before the second water break but it had little impact on the champions.
Aherne raised a green flag of her own when Hetherton found her in space and as the substitutions rolled in, the scoreboard continued to tick over. Aherne (3) and Tyrell raised white flags while Delahunty and Kellyann Hogan converted for Waterford.
The game finished in a goal frenzy with five goals inside eight minutes. Orlagh Nolan and Tyrell found the net for Dublin inside a minute, Aileen Wall and substitute Kate McGrath raised green flags for the visitors.
Caoimhe O’Connor signed off on the win for Dublin when she converted from the penalty spot.
Dublin: A Shiels, O Nolan 1-0, L Caffrey, O Carey, M Byrne, A Kane, L Collins 0-1, L McGinley, H Tyrell 1-5, C O'Connor 1-0 (1-0 pen), S McGrath, L Davey 1-0, N Hetherton 1-1, S Killeen 0-1, S Aherne (c) (1-7 (5f)).
Subs: H Leahy for M Byrne (28), M Davoren for N Hetherton (42), L Magee for S McGrath (45), H O’Neill for S Killeen (45), J Egan for S Aherne (48), N McEvoy for H Tyrell (52), L Kane for O Nolan (55), C McGuigan for L McGinley (55), S Loughran for L Davey (55).
Waterford: M Foran, A Mullaney, L Mulcahy, R Casey, C Fennell 0-1, K McGrath 1-0, M Wall (C), C McGrath, M Dunford, R Tobin, A Wall 1-1, K Hogan 0-1, E Fennell 0-2, M Delahunty 0-7 (4f), K Murray.
Subs: K McGrath for R Tobin (39), A Murray for E Fennell (46), L Cusack for A Mullaney (49), B McMaugh for K Hogan (49), N Power for M Wall (56), C McCarthy for C Fennell (56), R Dunphy for A Wall (56).
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)
In the other Division 1 game on Sunday, captain Niamh McLaughlin scored two goals as Donegal began their 1A season with a 2-13 to 1-7 win over Westmeath.
In Division 2A Clare left it late to edge past Wexford, with Fidelma Marrinan kicking two late points in a 0-13 to 1-8 win, while Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Siofra O'Shea and Hannah O’Donoghue goals helped Kerry to a 3-10 to 1-10 win over Meath in Navan.
Two goals from Geraldine Sheridan saw Cavan claim a 3-11 to 2-10 win over Monaghan in Division 2B, while Armagh staged a late, late comeback to deny Tyrone, winning on a 3-11 to 3-10 scoreline.
Elsewhere, Roscommon were 3-10 to 1-12 winners over Fermanagh, while Down fell to a shock defeat to Sligo with Ciara Gorman and Tara Walsh hitting key second-half goals in Division 3A.
In Division 3B, Emer Heaney’s goal gave Longford a 1-7 to 0-8 win over Wicklow, while in Division 4 there were wins for Leitrim over Louth, for Antrim against Derry, while Offaly made their goals count in victory over Carlow.
