Donegal recorded a win in their opening group encounter of the Ladies Senior Championship, coming out five point winners over Waterford in a closely fought encounter.

Niamh Hegarty ran the show for Donegal scoring 1-4 in the tie, but plenty more plaudits for her teammates as they looked a solid cohesive unit throughout the tie, a stiff breeze made for troubling conditions but they weathered well.

After both sides having a fair share of the possession, Waterford struck the opening score as Aine O’Neill raced it to fist over a point, the midfielder quickest to a high ball saved by Claire Friel, could have been an early goal for the visitors.

Donegal were not behind for long, they had chances with Susanne White hitting the post with a fisted effort, but they would take their score as Niamh Hegarty dissected the posts from an acute angle to score in the seventh minute.

It was a massive error at the back that saw Waterford regain their lead a minute later, pressing Claire Friel in the Donegal goal and her full-back line, they turned over possession and had a 2v1 move going on, Kate McGrath passing to Lauren Mcgregor to score into an empty net.

But the game was frantic and dramatic from the first minute and two minutes was all Waterford’s lead lasted for, a lovely ball sent long for Hegarty to chase, she brought down, the referee needed to chat with his umpires, he would eventually signal for a penalty, Hegarty to take and she slotted it to the left hand bottom corner past Evelyn O’Brien, despite the keeper going the right way, an entertaining opening ten minutes.

By the end of the opening quarter, Donegal had built up a two point lead following that penalty, quick scores from a Susanne White free and a point from play by Amy Boyle Carr, made it 1-3 to 1-1.

Waterford looked to stage a comeback as Kellyann Hogan ended a 12 minute wait for a score as she made it a one point game, but the Deise were struggling in front of goal and failed to register another score for the rest of the half, they were pressing the Waterford kick out well and despite playing without the breeze in the half finished with a flurry of points.

White, Hegarty and Katie Dowds all scoring points in a three minute window, giving the home side a four point lead at the interval, a real championship tie, that had action and drama but Donegal looked in control at the break.

Like the opening half it was ip and tuck at the start of the contest, Waterford however would be dealt a huge blow as Boyle Carr hit the back of the net six minutes into the second half, putting her side in the driving seat, 2-7 to 1-3.

McGregor and Kate McGrath kicked points to cut the deficit, but Ciara McGarvey and Hegarty would make it 2-9 to 1-6 in their sides favour with less than ten minutes left. McGarvey added a second free as Waterford could not penetrate the Donegal back line for another goal and turn the tide in the contest.

Hogan and McGregor both kicked consolation scores late on for Waterford but they fell five shy of Donegal, they now have to face Meath, defending All Ireland Champions for a shot at making it out of the group.