Lismore and Saint Annes do battle in County Final

It’s possibly fair to say that the majority of G.A.A. Supporters in the County will be unaware that the County Senior Intermediate and Camogie finals are taking place this coming weekend.

Ardmore is the setting on Saturday afternoon for what could well prove to be two very entertaining games.

The first game of the day is the Intermediate clash between two sides from the west of the county, An Rinn and Cappoquin at 2-15pm.

This is followed seventy five minutes later with the meeting of Lismore and Saint Anne’s in the senior final.

The two sides have met a number of times this year with the most notable meeting been their recent clash in the league final at Fraher Field.

That meeting proved to be a classic, which went down to the wire with Lismore eventually coming out on top and if this latest instalment was to prove as entertaining, those that make it to the sea-side village for the game are set for a classic.

On that occasion, the sides were locked in stalemate at the break and with time running down on the night, it looked that at the games conclusion, that the sides were not going to be separated either.

Duel inter county star Shona Curran handed Lismore the lead but Saint Anne’s through one of their Inter County Players Zoe O’Donoghue pegged them back and went in front after she hit 1-1.

When Saint Anne’s through Zoe O’Donoghue hit her and her sides second goal of the game, the signs were that on the night the new league cup, put up in memory of Lismore man Denny Buckley was going to find a home in the middle section of the county.

However, Lismore on the night were to hit back and points from Ruth Geoghegan, Shauna Kiernan and Aoife Hannon, with Shauna Kiernan also raising a green flag brought Lismore’s tally to 1-6 by the break, but points from Zoe O’Donoghue and Niamh Rockett ensured that the sides retired at the break with the same difference between the sides as they had started the game.

An early second half goal that night by Ruth Geoghegan gave Lismore the initiative and when points from Shauna Curran and Nicola Morrissey soon followed, the signs were beginning to show that Lismore could have been on for a landslide victory.

Saint Anne’s in the minutes that followed showed why they are one of the better sides in the county. They hit back fighting and points from Jenny Simpson and Zoe O’Donoghue had them in front.

It was Lismore’s turn now to show that showed that they were a side that narrowly missed out on an All-Ireland final appearance last year.

With her side trailing, Shona Curran pointed from a free to level matters just before the end of normal time and ion stoppage time Nicola Morrissey struck a crucial point for her side to capture the title.

What happened in the league final will be forgotten on Saturday afternoon by both sides. Both will be expected to go out and give those present a good account of themselves.

The two sides are very evenly matched as the league final clash showed, and for many, especially those that do not see much Camogie played (myself included), to pick one over the other with a degree of certainty and say they will win is a difficult task.

One thing however is certain, which ever side comes out on top in the senior decider (as well as the intermediate clash) will be worthy winners, and will go on to represent Waterford well in the Munster Championship.