A great weekend for Waterford's Camogie and Ladies Football teams.

What a weekend it was for the different Waterford teams that entered action this weekend. While most of the attention will go to the County Senior Hurling teams, the performances of out different ladies teams also need to be recognised and the players involved in the different games congratulated.

The counties under 16 Camogie team took on Westmeath at Bushy Park in the first round of the championship.

I don’t know if any thought has gone into it by the respective associations at National Level, but I for one have often wondered should the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Camogie Association should merge.

Both associations have some great women and men involved as players, officials and administrators. There are players that play both games and there are officials who are involved in both games, and then again there are players and officials who are involved in just one game.

If there was a merger you could not force people to get involved in both codes. There are men who play hurling and football, and then there is players that play just one game. You can’t force the men to play both if they don’t want to and you could not force the ladies to do so either.

However if there was a merger with the best of minds from both associations brought together to run the ‘new’ association you cannot but feel that the games of Camogie and Ladies Football would be much stronger as a result.

While the counties under 16 Camogie Team were playing yesterday at Bushy Park, less than five miles up the road at the same time, Waterford Ladies Intermediate Ladies Footballers were in action at Fraher Field.

There was a good crowd at Fraher Field, I don’t know what was in Bushy Park, but if there was one body running the two games, you can’t but think that the two games could be played at the one venue and that supporters would not have to pick which game they wanted to attend.

At Bushy Park Waterford were always the better team at the break they lead 7-7 to 0-3 and by full time, Waterford had added 3-3 without conceding.

Played with a strong wind blowing, this was Waterford’s first competitive game since they beat Cork earlier in the year in the Munster final earlier this year.

In the second half, even playing with a strong wind in their faces, Waterford continued to play well, bringing a number if fresh players into the game and in the end ran out convincing winners.

Beth Carton finished top scorer for Waterford hitting 4-3 for the side coached by former Waterford hurler Shane Ahearne. Also on the score sheet for Waterford were Elizabeth McGrath who hit a hat-trick, Ciara Twomey and Aisling power hit 1-2 and 1-1 respectfully. Molly Curran hit 0-3, Jessica Glavin hit two points and goal keeper Brianna O’Regan landed a goal from a free.

The Waterford panel that played Westmeath was Brianna O’Regan, Courtney Healy, Beth Carton, Ciara Twomey (all De La Salle), Rachel Donnelly, Megan Dunford, Caoimhe McGrath, Molly Curran, Hannah Murphy-Nix, Catherine Hahessy (all Brickeys), Sarah Geoghegan (Lismore), Roisin Cahillane, Jessica Glavin, Aisling Power, Clodagh Glavin, Emily Power (all Cappoquin), Bronwyn Grace, Sibeal Harney, Aoife Shanahan, Saoirse Bonner (all St. Anne’s), Iona Heffernan, Niamh Ahearne (all Ferrybank), Elizabeth McGrath, Kate McMahon (all Butlerstown), Sarah Murray (Tramore), Taylor Murray, Kayleigh Veale  (Dungarvan).

In the Munster Intermediate Ladies Football Championship, Waterford has one foot in this year’s Munster Final on July 13 after they beat a determined Tipperary side at Fraher Field on Sunday.

Tipperary and Limerick must meet in the second round of games in this years round robin championship this weekend and on the following weekend, Limerick must travel to a Waterford venue for a third round game where a draw would guarantee Waterford a place in this years final at Castletownroche against the side that wins this weekends game.

Played in a strong wind on Sunday afternoon, it was the home side that emerged as winners of the opening game in this year’s championship with five points to spare.

Tipperary had first use of the strong wind which blew into the road goal but it was Waterford that made the early running hitting points from Mairead Wall and Michelle Ryan inside three minutes of the game starting.

In a game that saw the sides swap the lead a number of times, the visitors were not very long behind as a Gillian O’Brien effort on four minutes was deflected in the direction of Aherlow’s Edel Hanley and she made no mistake in putting the ball past Aimee Jordan from relatively close range.

Waterford hit back with points from Linda Wall and Michelle Ryan to retake the lead but the visitors soon levelled thanks to an Edel Hanley effort. Linda Wall and Gillian O’Brien swapped scores for their respective sides to keep the sides tied at the end of the first quarter.

Tipperary retook the lead through Sheelagh Carew but the very impressive Aileen Wall wasted no time in responding for Waterford.

Points from Jennifer Grant and Edel Hanley were landed for Tipperary before Michelle Ryan halved the visitors lead.

Tipperary when two points in front when Edel Hanley put over a free six minutes from the break and seconds later, Waterford had their numbers temporarily cut when Mary Foley was harshly sin binned.

In the time that remained, with the wind at their backs and with an advantage of numbers on the field, Tipperary pressed at the Waterford defence, retiring at the break with a 1-7 to 0-7 lead after Niamh Lonergan pointed three minutes from the break.

Waterford with the wind at their backs in the second half came out a much more determined side. Early points from Linda Wall, Shona Curran and Michelle McGrath were all landed to level matters once more six minutes after the restart.

Tipperary kicked the next two scores through Edel Hanley and Lorraine O’Shea to retake the lead but Waterford responded with a good score from Linda Wall.

Edel Hanley on the day proved to be one of Tipperary’s most dangerous players, put over another free before Sinead Ryan who impressed immensely in the second half in front of the Tipperary goal put over a point leaving just one between the sides at the end of the third quarter.

Aileen Wall pointed for Waterford on forty-seven minutes and straight away Pat O’Brien sent on Dearbhla Ní hAodha for her championship debut replacing Shona Curran, and the Abbeyside club lady was on the field just seconds when she repaid the fate shown in her by the selectors hitting a goal, the ball creeping to the net between Tipperary goalkeeper Jacquie O’Gorman and her near post as the ball came in from the bank side of the field.

From the restart, Tipperary attacked the Waterford goal and within seconds of Waterford hitting the Tipperary net, the visitors hit the Waterford net the second time this time through Lorraine O’Shea.

Gillian O’Brien kicked a point for Tipperary but in the closing minutes they had to play second fiddle to Waterford who called on the experience amassed in recent years to hit the scores that won them the game.

There was a degree of luck to some of Waterford’s scores in the last few minutes, but as everyone knows, at times it does not matter how they go between the uprights so long as they do.

Linda Wall pointed for Waterford before Sinead Ryan attempted her luck for a goal but Jacquie O’Gorman did well to turn the ball over for a point.

Lorraine O’Shea again pointe for Tipperary to level matters, but with four minutes to play, Waterford ate a huge slice of luck as a Michelle Ryan side line crept all the way to the Tipperary net to give Waterford a three point lead and within seconds, Ann Dunphy pointed to give Waterford a deserved four point lead with time almost up.

Waterford: Aimee Jordan; Mary Foley, Gráinne Enright, Nora Dunphy; Aoife Landers, Ann Dunphy, Louise Ryan; Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power; Linda Wall, Shona Curran, Mairéad Wall;  Aileen Wall, Sinéad Ryan, Michelle Ryan. Subs: Dearbhla Ní hAodha for Shona Curran, Shauna Dunphy for Sinéad Ryan

Scorers: Michelle Ryan 1-3 (1-0 side line, 0-1 free), Linda Wall 0-4, Aileen Wall, Sinead Ryan 0-3 each, Dearbhla Ní hAodha 1-0, Shona Curran, Michelle McGrath, Ann Dunphy 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Jackie O’Gorman; Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert, Catriona Walsh; Katie Lyne, Claire Carroll, Barbara Ryan; Jennifer Grant, Sheelagh Carew; Lorraine O’Shea, Mairead Morrissey, Niamh Lonergan; Edel Hanley, Gillian O’Brien, Patricia Hickey. Subs;  Aisling McCarthy for Mairead Morrissey, Orlagh Walsh for Catriona Walsh, Siobhan Condon for Niamh Lonergan, Sarah Everard for Edel Hanley.

Scorers: Edel Hanley 1-4 (0-4 frees), Lorraine O’Shea 1-2, Niamh Lonergan 0-3, Gillian O’Brien 0-1, Jennifer Grant 0-1, Sheelagh Carew 0-1

Pride and place however must go to the counties Under 14 Ladies Football team on retaining the All-Ireland Championship they won twelve months ago, this time beating Westmeath at Crettyard in Co. Laois.

Like so many other games over the past weekend, this game was played with a strong wind blowing.

The Leinster side won the toss and opted to play with the aid of the elements in the first half.

However it was Waterford that got off to the best start as from the throw in Hannah Power played the ball to Katie Duggan for a goal inside forty seconds of the game starting.

Waterford did not have to wait long for their next score. With less than four minutes played Kaiesha Tobin slotted home a penalty with considerable force to give Waterford an early six point lead.

Waterford needed every point of that start as with the wind at their backs, Westmeath attacked the Waterford goal at every chance and kicked a number of points in succession.

Kaiesha Tobin broke Westmeath’s continuous flow of scores with a point on fifteen minutes, but the Midlanders hit back with three points to give them the lead for the first time.

Nine minutes from the break Katie Duggan Sullivan hit a third goal for Waterford but Westmeath struck back with points from Roisin Clinton and Emma Collins to leave the half time score 3-1 to 0-10.

Waterford with the wind at their backs in the second half were superb. The forwards attacked the Waterford goal at every opportunity and hit points from Kaiesha Tobin and Abbie Dunphy.

Further points from Kaiesha Tobin, Katie Duggan Sullivan and Abbie Dalton gave Waterford a five point cushion with the third quarter drawing to a conclusion. However, Westmeath did manage to cut that lead by one when their best player on the day Rebecca Ennis who hit seven of their eleven points shout over their only score of the second half at the mid way point of the half.

Aisling Mullaney pointed for Waterford which was followed by a brace by the impressive Abbie Dalton extended Waterford’s lead to seven and on twenty nine minutes the Na nDéise club player struck a well taken fourth Waterford goal to send the Waterford support present wild.

Waterford rounded off a terrific performance with a point from Kaiesha Tobin, a player with a very bright future ahead of her, to seal Waterford’s win.

After the game, Katie Duggan Sullivan was presented with the winner’s trophy on behalf of the Waterford team and Kaisha Tobin not surprisingly was announced as the player of the Match.

The Waterford panel that put back to back Munster and All-Ireland titles together was; Kelly Tutty, Clodagh Curran, Edwina Curran, Chloe Fennell, Rachel McGuckan, Bronagh Condon, Maeve Ryan, Hannah Power (Old Parish), Hannah Power (St Pats),Aishling Mullaney  Abbie Dunphy, Abbie Dalton, Katie Duggan Sullivan, Kaiesha Tobin, Lia Nic Craith, Shauna McGrath, Becky Hogan, Faye Curley, Niamh Kennedy, Beth Norris, Emma Gildea, Shauna Coakley, Megan Phelan, Niamh Purcell, Emily Frisby, Orna O Brien, Lauren Dunford, Aine Flynn, Aisling Baumann and Sadie May Rowe.