The momentum tilted either way in the declining, frenzied seconds of this All-Ireland football final, with Monaghan's Edel Byrne denied after a dashing assault on goal and Waterford's Martina O'Ryan screwing a late pressure shot wide as Croke Park's avant garde new siren left matters deadlocked.
Both teams had their grumbles but a draw was certainly the choice result for neutrals observing this, the 25th All-Ireland Ladies' Final, an event which has been under the stranglehold of these two counties throughout the '90s.
Monaghan belied their mediocre winter form in the early stages of the game, tearing through the Munster side's back lines with astonishing ease, repeatedly leaving their opponents badly exposed as they scorched them for three first-half goals.
Waterford were possibly disrupted by the late withdrawal of influential half-back Annalisa Crotty but under-16 star Mary O'Donnell deputised admirably, nailing two secondhalf points as her side surged forward after the break. Trailing by 3-4 to 0-7 at the break, Waterford shuffled their full-back line, introducing Triona White at the left corner and quickly found their collective composure when Catriona Casey chipped two early frees to leave them trailing by four. They kept Monaghan penned in their own half over the following four minutes, with Martina O'Ryan and Olivia Condon breaking priceless ball at midfield for Hallahan, Fiona Crotty and Casey to collect. Geraldine O'Ryan curled another point from the kick-out and then Claire Ryan, freed by Aine Wall, arced a score to leave just two between them.
Edel Byrne replied for Monaghan but from the kick-out, their backs were under siege once again, with Julianne Torpey breaking free along the Cusack stand side before hammering a point towards the ruined Canal End.
On fire now, and spying growing chinks in the Monaghan defensive line, Waterford eased into the lead after 42 minutes as Rebecca Hallahan latched onto a flick from Geraldine O'Ryan and Mary O'Donnell blasted past the on-rushing Brenda McAnespie to leave the score at 1-13 to 3-5.
Monaghan would later declare that they had anticipated Waterford's onslaught, but once they had relinquished their lead they resembled, for a time, something of a spent force. Byrne did convert a free after 43 minutes but Waterford prised them open from the kick-out, with Hallahan initiating a scything move which involved Clare Ryan and Geraldine O'Ryan before Casey steamed through the defence to smash a shot against the crossbar.
That sequence merely proved a prelude to another spate of Waterford scores, with O'Ryan, Clare Ryan and O'Donnell converting to push them into a 1-16 to 3-6 lead.
Early in the game, Monaghan had sundered their opponents' defence with direct, probing ball and, in trouble now, they resorted to the same again, with the free-running and inspiring Angela Larkin launching a hopeful lob which crashed against the crossbar. It fell for substitute Ciara McGuinness who nervelessly rounded Sarah Hickey before tapping home. Alive again, Monaghan visibly sharpened up and with just over five minutes left, Edel Byrne fired home a brave equaliser which made for a gripping conclusion.
The new electronic clock on the old Hill ticked imperturbably as the atmosphere grew more electric and although both sides pushed, neither could fashion a definitive score and so their season continues.
At half-time though, Monaghan must have been hopeful that they could subdue their old foes for yet another season. They looked increasingly promising during their wind-assisted first half, making imaginative use of the wide prairies of space presented to them by Waterford. Diane Dempsey established a platform with their first goal, leisurely rounding Hickey before tapping in after eight minutes, and seven minutes later, Niamh Kindlon took a perceptive handpass from Dempsey to slide home Monaghan's second goal. Waterford fought back through the impressive Aine Wall and Casey but after 20 minutes, they were stunned again, Jenny Greenan collecting a long pass and blasting past Hickey on the turn.
Another 60 minutes to play and this old dual is more evenly poised than ever.
Monaghan: B McAnespie; A O'Reilly, C Brady, A O'Reilly; M Kelly, E McElvaney, N Kindlon (1-1); J Greenan (1-0), L Farrelly; M Kierans (0- 1), E Byrne (0-4, 1 free), J Treanor; A Larkin (0- 1, free), B Swift, D Dempsey (1-0). Subs: C McGuinness (1-0) for J Treanor (49 mins).
Waterford: S Hickey; P Walsh, S O'Ryan, N Walsh; M O'Donnell (1-3), D O'Rourke, J Torpey (0-1); M O'Ryan, O Condon; C Casey (0-4, 2 frees), R Hallahan, F Crotty (0-1), C Ryan (0-2), A Wall (0-3), G O'Ryan (0-2). Subs: T Whyte for P Walsh (half-time), D Nagle for F Crotty (51 mins).
Referee: Christy Haughney (Carlow).
