Waterford's Lauren McGregor is hopeful the team can push on in 2025

Following a run of games that saw them coming close to claiming the scalps of some of the top teams in the land, things really came together for Lauren McGregor and the Waterford footballers last weekend.

After recording an opening round victory over a newly-promoted Kildare in Division 1 of this year’s Lidl National Football League, the Deise fell to a three-point defeat at the hands of reigning TG4 All-Ireland senior football champions Kerry in Carriganore on February 3rd.

Six days later in Pairc Tailteann, Navan, the Munster outfit finished a single point adrift (2-11 to 1-13) of Meath – back-to-back winners of the Brendan Martin Cup in 2021 and 2022.

While a draw with Dublin – who secured the All-Ireland senior championship as recently as 2023 – at Parnell Park on February 23rd put them on four points from as many games, the Deise were nevertheless seeking a return to winning ways when they faced Tyrone in Aghyaran last weekend.

This is something the visitors managed with considerable aplomb as an outstanding 3-2 haul from McGregor propelled them towards a 6-15 to 0-6 triumph.

“We definitely did believe that performance was there for us and it was just waiting to come. We were slow to start against Meath and they were on top of us at half-time. We just had to claw it back, but we didn’t get enough in the end,” McGregor said.

“The same against Dublin. We went ahead, but we just couldn’t finish out the game. There was definitely more in us. We haven’t really been getting goals the last few games. We took our chances on Sunday and hopefully we can just keep going on from there now.”

Having played their opening five games of the year in the space of just six weeks, Waterford will have an extended break before facing