Waterford Ladies involved in an All-Irleand Semi Final and Final this weekend.

When it comes to the G.A.A. in Waterford, we have had our share of big weekends in recent weeks.

Two weeks ago, we saw not one, not two but three of our inter county sides reach All-Ireland finals. Our Minor hurlers of the three were the side that created most of the headlines but what out ladies teams achieved that weekend was equally as impressive.

The Counties under 16 Ladies Footballers were the first of the three sides to reach an All-Ireland and the counties Under 16 Camogie team was the third team that weekend to qualify for an All-Ireland Final.

This weekend we have another big weekend, as our Under 16 Ladies Footballers are in action again when they take on Meath in Nenagh in the All-Ireland Final while the counties Camogie team take on Galway in the Intermediate semi final at The Ragg outside Thurles.

While most within the county will be focusing their attention on the last round of games in the county senior hurling championship, our ladies teams deserve and should be getting a great deal of attention this weekend.

This is Waterford’s second year in a row reaching this stage of the intermediate championship. For three years prior to that, Waterford reached the All-Ireland Junior Final, winning it in 2011, which proves that great strides are made with the game within the county.

In last years semi final, Waterford again played Galway who won by four points, adding the scores which won them the game late on in the day. The Tribe’s Ladies went on to play a very strong Derry side in the All-Ireland which ended in a draw, but the Northerners came out on top in the replay.

Waterford it could be argued go into this years encounter with a stronger panel to choose from. Manager Mark Cooney this year is able to call upon the likes of Aisling O’Brien and Karen Kelly who are very experienced players at this level of competition.

Galway will go into the game this weekend on very much a high. Last weekend their senior team beat All-Ireland Champions Wexford at the semi final stages of the competition to qualify for the All-Ireland Final on September 15 against Kilkenny who had a narrow win over Cork.

The Tribe’s Ladies have qualified for this year’s semi final in an impressive manner. They have recorded wins over Tipperary and Wexford’s second string teams and also beat Meath who have also qualified for this years semi finals.

Against Tipperary three early Fionola Keely points got Galway off to a good start. They also had impressive performances in front of goal from Orlaith McGrath and Rebecca Hennelly while Katie O’Dwyer also chipped in by scoring a second half goal.

At Wexford Park, the Tribes Ladies also impressed. Orlaith McGrath and Finola Keely again were key for Galway in the game against Wexford while Aoife Donohue also impressed in a eleven point win.

Against Meath, Galway had seven points to spare. Orlaith McGrath again impressed for Galway in this game as did Rebecca Hennelly while Caitriona Cormican and Tara Kenny also caught the eye.

If Galway’s path to this weekend’s semi final is impressive, the same could be said of Waterford’s path to this weekend’s game.

They opened with a narrow 2-10 to 1-11 win over Cork at the Glen Rovers grounds, Nicola Morrissey and Shona Curran raising the green flags for Waterford on the day.

Game two for Waterford was a home game against Kilkenny at the Saint Molleran’s Club Grounds in Carrickbeg.

Waterford proved to be the better of the two sides in the first half of that game, and lead 0-10 to 1-4 at the break with Nicola Morrissey, Trish Jackman, Zoe O’Donoghue and Jennie Simpson all finding the target for Waterford.

Kilkenny proved to be the better of the sides in the early exchanges of the second half and managed to draw the sides level, but it could well be argued that had it not been for the brilliance of Emma Hannon, Vicki Falconer and Aisling O’Brien between the posts, Kilkenny could have gone ahead.

However, in the closing minutes, Waterford on the day upped their game as Trish Jackman put some placed balls between the uprights, including a side line cut which counted as double when it went clean over the crossbar.

Next up for Waterford was a long trip to West Limerick to play the Shannon-siders. The home side got off to a flying start in this game racing into a 1-4 to 0-2 lead, both of Waterford’s scores coming from Karen Kelly, but Waterford rallied and another Karen Kelly point followed by a goal from Zoe O’Donoghue meant Waterford were within one of the home side.

These scores inspired Waterford and a further four points in a row came the way of the visitors, two from Trish Jackman and one a piece from Karen Kelly and Jennie Simpson with Limerick hitting back with a single score to give Waterford a deserved two point lead, but three points for Limerick responded to with a Zoe O’Donoghue effort meant that the sides retired at the break locked at 1-8 a piece.

This game was played on what was the hottest day of the year and for many of the Waterford panel they were on the road over six hours before the ball was thrown in.

The gruelling head was to take its toll on Waterford in the second half. But in a ten minute spell at the start of the second half the home side put five points past Waterford which they found it hard to come back from.

The heat and long journey was showing as the home side added another 1-4 before Waterford scored from a Karen Kelly free. Limerick added a further three points from the brilliant Niamh Mulcahy but Waterford refused to give up and were rewarded when Trish Jackman struck for a late consolation score. Limerick won the game 2-20 to 2-9 but you cant but feel that if the sides were to meet again, the gulf between the sides would be nowhere near as great.

Waterford’s last game in the All-Ireland Championship saw the side travel to Dublin to take on Antrim.

At the break Antrim lead 1-5 to 0-4, but Waterford put in a terrific second half performance turning a four point defecate at the break into a four point lead at the end of the hour, Marie Russell netting a crucial goal in the second half as Waterford won 1-14 to 1-7.

Waterford has also been in Munster Championship action in recent weeks. They accounted for Cork at Tallow in the Munster Intermediate semi final winning 4-14 to 1-11, the goals coming from Nicola Morrissey, Zoe O’Donoghue, Karen Kelly and Lorraine Bray.

In the Munster Final it was another away game for Waterford as they had to travel to Cahir to play Tipperary.

Waterford proved too strong for Tipperary’s second string team as a first half goal from Zoe O’Donoghue added to by another from Karen Kelly in the second half helped Waterford to a 2-18 to 1-6 victory.

Waterford will go into the game with Galway this weekend in a confident mood. In recent weeks they have brought Frank Flannery to help with the coaching and it appears to be working. The Cork man has a proven record when it comes to coaching, helping Cork side Milford to reach and win the 2013 All-Ireland Senior Club Camogie Final beating Killimor from Galway in the final 3-6 to 1-6 and he was also involved with the WIT team that won this years Ashbourne Cup in Limerick.

Galway are going to be on a high with their seniors in Croke Park this September. There is nothing more that they would like now than to see their Intermediate’s also there and for them to go a step further than they did last year.

The game at The Ragg is one that could well go either way. Both teams appear to be evenly enough balance. When they met in the league earlier this year, Waterford returned home with a two point win. Could this be some sort of an omen?

Meanwhile up the road, on the same afternoon the Counties Under 16 Ladies Football team take on what will be a fancied Meath side in the All-Ireland ‘B’ Final at McDonagh Park in Nenagh.

To reach this weekend, Waterford recorded impressive wins over Limerick and Clare in the round robin stages of the Munster Championship before they beat Clare for the second time in the Munster Final.

Against Clare at Tipperary Town, it was the Banner Ladies that started the brighter of the two sides hitting a goal on ten minutes and added to it a minute later when a free was put over.

Waterford however wasted not in responding as the brilliant Lauren McGregor stcul for a well taken goal and she levelled matters moments later with a point.

Six minutes from the break Waterford began a well worked move from their own corner back position up field where Kate McGrath did brilliantly to pick out Aoife Murray who made no mistake in rattling the Clare net and giving Waterford the lead. Clare pulled a point back before Lauren McGregor again pointed for Waterford to give the side a 2-2 to 1-2 lead at the break.

The second half of the Munster Final opened with Caoimhe McGrath and Chloe Moloney swapped points before Róisín Cahalane made a brilliant save to deny Clare what appeared to be a certain goal and moments later Megan Dunford put in a time interception to again deny Clare when another goal chance looked on.

Ciara Hurley pointed for Waterford to extend the Déise lead before she struck for a goal eighteen minutes from time.

Waterford’s seven points lead was cut by one soon afterwards but Liz Devine and Katie Hayes hit points for Waterford to extend the Déise lead. Although Clare were to hit back scoring 1-1, the scores proved to be mere consolation scores as Waterford set up a semi final meeting with Roscommon thanks to a 3-6 to 2-5 victory.

In the All-Ireland semi final played two weeks ago, Waterford were always on top against Roscommon at the Gaelic Grounds.

Winners on a 4-13 to 2-7 score line, Waterford lead 3-6 to 1-3 at the break, the goals coming from Geraldine Power hammered home inside five minutes of the game starting, while Ciara Hurley struck twice, while there was points scored from Lauren McGregor, Molly Curran, Liz Devine and Katie Daly, but Waterford were unlucky not to be even further in front as Roscommon goalkeeper Courtney Mullhall Gibbons did well to keep efforts from Jessica Glavin, Lauren McGregor and Aoife Murray out.

Ciara Hurley, Liz Devine, Lauren McGregor, Aoife Murray and Geraldine Power all hit second half points for Waterford and although Roscommon hit some late scores, they were to prove to be mere consolation scores. Ciara Hurley put the icing on top of the cake as far as Waterford were concerned when she completed her hat-trick in added time, but Waterford will know that if they are to win this weekend, the face a much stiffer test to what they have had all year.

That stiffer test could well come this weekend against Meath. Last time out, the Royal’s looked very impressive in beating Armagh at Birr. The first half proved to be even enough. At the end of thirty minutes, the eventual winners held a 6-5 to 4-4 lead but in the second half they ran the Ulster Champions rugged running out winners on a 13-17 to 7-8 score line.

Meath dominated the early exchanged, with Aoife Minogue signalling Royal’s intentions for the day in the opening minute,  but her shot clipped the post.

Susan Kealey did manage to open the Royal's account with a free on 4 minutes before Ellie O'Neill tried her luck at goal forcing the Armagh keeper into a good save.

Armagh levelled matter on 5 minutes, but Meath soon began to show their dominance. Aoife Minogue was rewarded with the opening goal of the game on 7 minutes. This was added to by a second goal thirty seconds later for Stacey Grimes while seconds later Minogue added her second goal of the game.

Susan Kealey added Meath's fourth goal on 12 minutes and while Armagh pulled back a goal almost straight away, Meath responded with points through Susan Kealey Stacey Grimes, a player that would finish the game with 4-5 behind her name on the score sheet.  

Armagh hit back scoring 3-1 of their own inside three minutes to leave them trailing 4-4 to 4-2. Regina Hand added goal number five for Meath on 23 minutes.

Ellie O'Neill got on the score sheet when she split the posts six minutes from the break. The same player and Stacey Grimes set up Aoife Minogue, for another Meath goal on 25 minutes. Armagh pulled back two points before the half time break but they were to change around seven points adrift.

Armagh were extremely clinical in front of goals throughout the game and the fact that they scored seven goals in the game has to be a major hope for Waterford who themselves have a very strong attack.

Meath however were the stronger of the two sides in their semi final and Waterford will know that they cannot afford to give the Royals the same amount of freedom and control of the ball as what Armagh did.

Armagh pulled back a goal on 31 minutes, but points free for Meath on 34 and 35 minutes almost cancelled out the early score.  

Stacy Grimes added her second goal of the game eight minutes after the restart, while Regina Hand hit another on 39.

With her first touch of the ball, substitute Hannah Mulvaney found the back of the net on forty four minutes. The teams traded goals on 45 and 46 mins respectively, Stacey Grimes with Meath's, her third of the game.

Both sides continued to trade scores in the final quarter of the game, but the Ulster Champions for as good as they proved to be at taking the chances afforded to them, they had no answer to a powerful Meath side.

Meath against Armagh had leaders all over the pitch. Niamh Gallogly played the captains roll as well as could be expected at centre back.  In the middle of the field, Stacey Grimes and Ellie O'Neill touched every blade of grass on the field on the day, while in attack, the forwards were clinical.

Throughout the field going on the performance against Armagh, Waterford could have their hands full to keep the likes of Stacey Grimes who hit 4-5. Aoife Minogue who struck 4-1, Susan Kealey who hit 1-7 and Regina Hand who hit 2-0, while substitutes Hannah Mulvaney with 1-1 after coming on for Regina Hand and Patricia Owens who hot 1-0 after coming on for Karley Leavy could all take some watching.

The Waterford management team will have put in the work with the team and will know how dangerous Meath could well prove to be. No doubt they will have a plan drawn up to try and restrict the movement within the Meath attack. They will be confident that their charges have it in them and put in the work to win this game and we should all have every confidence in the side.