2013, Another good year for Ladies Football in Waterford.

We are only in the first full week of 2014, but for the Waterford Ladies Football County Board the year is already underway and many will be wondering if what was achieved in 2013 can be equalled and in some cases even bettered.

While results wise 2014 has not began well for Waterford, going under to UCC in the Jim Kennedy Cup, no sleep will be lost yet. The competition while it is important in blooding new players into the panel and building up fitness for the more senior members, at the end of the year, the winners of the competition will not roll off the lips of many people.

In 2013 however the year did begin. Waterford won their way through to the final against Tipperary in Bansha in January.

Conditions on the day were far from ideal for good football to be played. Waterford played with the elements at their backs in the opening half and at the break lead 0-7 to 0-5 with Michelle Ryan hitting three of the points, Elaine Power hit a brace with Aileen and Linda Wall also getting their names on the score sheet.

Tipperary in the second half were expected to be a much stronger side especially with the elements now at their backs, but they found the Waterford defence hard to break down with Anne and Nora Dunphy playing vital rolls in the Waterford defence keeping the Premier County side getting too close to the Waterford goals.

With just under seven minutes to play in the second half, Tipperary had drawn level, and when they took the lead moments later, things were not looking good for Waterford.

It may sound like a broken record to some, but Waterford in almost every grade when it comes to hurling or football, be in in the mens or ladies games are often difficult to beat, as they seldom if ever give up before the full time whistle is blown.

In this game Waterford showed once more this never say die mentality. Linda Wall levelled matters in added time in the second half and moments later, Elaine Power split the Tipperary defence and dissected the posts to win the title for Waterford.

The league was next up for Waterford. For the Déise to win the competition was always going to be a tough ask, as a number of sides playing in the senior championship would have to be played, most notably Kerry who a few months earlier had contested the All-Ireland Final against Cork in Croke Park.

Waterford could not have asked for a tougher opener to the league. Kerry were the visitors to Pairc Naomh Colman in Old Parish. When the sides clashed in Castleisland twelve months earlier, just one point separated the sides in Kerry’s favour.

After winning the Jim Kennedy Cup the Waterford team were not lacking confidence, but this was a very good Kerry Team, one that had improved a lot over the past twelve months. Kerry on the day proved clinical in front of goal. Waterford put 1-11 past them, a tally that on another day would win many a game, but Kerry put 5-25 past Waterford.

Next up for Waterford was a trip to Tuam to play Galway. The Tribes Ladies again proved to be strong opposition, winning the game 3-14 to 2-7.

After two tough opening games, there were hopes that Waterford would pick up their first points of the campaign at Fraher Field when Westmeath travelled down, but it was not to be as again despite a good performance from Waterford, the visitors proved strongest winning 3-10 to 2-7.

Early March saw Waterford made the first of two successive long trips into Ulster to play games.

The first was to Killeshandra to play Cavan. Waterford played well on the day, putting in their best performance in the league, earning a deserved draw, the game finishing on a 2-11 to 2-11 score line.

After a break for the playing of the latter stages of the Secondary and third level Colleges competitions, Waterford were back on the road again at the end of March, this time making the journey to Kinawley to play Fermanagh.

Waterford had beaten Fermanagh in the Intermediate All-Ireland Semi Finals a few months earlier, but this time around, the Northerners proved to be too strong for Waterford, winning 7-8 to 2-7.

Late March saw Clare make the trip to Fraher Field to play Waterford game for both were trying to secure the points which would help them possibly avoid relegation.

However, on the day it was the visitors who once again won, by the smallest possible margin, Waterford going under 2-11 to 2-10.

Early April and Waterford were on the road once more, this time making the trip up the motor way to play Kildare at Mount Hawk.

Here Waterford again put in another good performance, and the journey home was a much happier one that the other journeys that the side had undertaken during the course of the league as Waterford won the game 2-11 to 2-8, meaning that for now, Waterford had a chance of avoiding relegation.

Waterford’s fete however was made known twenty four hours later, when Clare for the second game running were on the road, travelling to Kinnegad to play Westmeath, and put seven goals past them in a 7-8 to 0-8 victory.

Many GAA fans are often frustrated when games in the final round of a league are played at the same time, especially when there is games where there is nothing to play for. Why the Ladies Football Association did not play all games in the league at the same time especially when relegation or promotion issues were concerned is a little baffling, but its no good crying now, but maybe making reference to it could prove fruit for thought going into the future.

In the Munster Championship, Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford played off in a round robin competition for the Intermediate Championship with the top two teams advancing to the final.

Waterford began with a win over Tipperary at Fraher Field, but were made fight very hard by the visitors.

The second game was against Limerick also at Fraher Field. In the first half, Limerick put it up to Waterford, but in the second half, Waterford’s greater experience showed and they managed to win the game comfortably, to set up a Munster Final against Tipperary.

Waterford for the fifth year running secured the Munster Final when they had three points to spare at Castletownroche.

The meeting of the sides for the third time in seven months was expected to be just as tight as the two previous games and the sides served up another close battle.

Tipperary hit the ground running on what was surely the hottest day of 2013, as Edel Hanley and Gillian O’Brien hit early scores to give the Challengers a 1-1 to no score lead.

Michelle Ryan hit back with a point for Waterford which was followed with similar efforts from Shona Curran and Aoife Landers to leave just one between the sides, but Waterford were somewhat unlucky not to be in front at this stage (ten minutes into the game) as a Linda Wall effort came crashing back off the cross bar between Michelle Ryan and Shona Curran’s scores.

At the mid way point in the first half, things were still very tight as Gillian O’Brien with a brace and Michelle Ryan from a free landed scores which gave Tipperary a 1-3 to 0-4 advantage.

A brilliant Waterford goal followed. Elaine Power who over the past decade has proven to be a model of consistency for Waterford in the middle of the field did brilliant to pick out Shona Curran who blasted to the Tipperary net with seven minutes of the first half remaining.

Edel Hanley soon levelled for Tipperary but another Michelle Ryan point gave Waterford a 1-5 to 1-4 advantage with time ticking down.

Tipperary levelled matters once more, this time through Gillian O’Brien but Linda Wall and Michelle Ryan kicked the next two scores to give Waterford a two point advantage but just before the half time whistle was sounded, Patricia Hickey kicked a point to leave her side trailing 1-7 to 1-6.

In a reverse of what happened in Waterford’s two previous games in the championship, it was their opponents that had the better of the exchanges at the start of the second half.

Tipperary made all the early running in the second half. Lorraine O’Shea hit a brace early in the second half with Gillian O’Brien and Patricia Hickey also finding the target. Waterford hit replies through Elaine Power and Michelle McGrath to leave the Déise Girls trailing 1-11 to 1-9.

A point from Aoife Landers brought Waterford to within one of Tipperary but points from Gillian O’Brien and Patricia Hickey soon had day light between the sides.

However it was at this point that Waterford started to call on the experience they amassed in recent years.

Aileen Wall (who in my view was Waterford’s player of the year), cracked a second Waterford goal which gave Waterford the lead and they added two more which helped Waterford to a 2-13 to 1-13 victory.

Waterford were Munster Champions for the fifth year in a row and through to the All-Ireland quarter finals.

When the two sides had met earlier in the league, they shared the spoils, but this time on neutral ground in Birr, it was the Breffini Girls that came out on top, winning 3-18 to 1-8, having lead 1-9 to 0-3 at the break.

Waterford were out of the All-Ireland Championship, there would be no visit to Croke Park in September, but the year would be a success overall. The Jim Kennedy Cup was won by the Intermediate’s as was the Munster Championship, but that was not all that was won.

The Counties Minor team reached the Munster Final following wins over Tipperary and Limerick, but Clare were to prove too strong in the provincial decider.

The Banner Ladies at the break lead 2-7 to 0-4, but a brace of second half goals from Liz Devine as well as points from Shauna Dunphy, Hannah Landers and Eimer Fennell had the sides all square with the game in its final minute, but lady luck was not to be with Waterford as all the sides hard work in the second half was undone by a point from Clare in the final thirty seconds as they won by the smallest possible margin.

There was however to be happier ends for the counties under 16 and 14 sides.

The under 16 side was a very strong side in 2013. They accounted for both Clare and Limerick in the Round Robin Stages of the competition which set up a final against Clare.

The game proved to be a very tight affair, with the Banner Management team sending extra players into their own half of the field to curb the danger which the Waterford attack could inflict on them.

At the break Waterford lead 2-2 to 1-2, the goals coming from Lauren McGregor and Aoife Murray.

In the second half, things proved to be just as tight. Waterford won the game 3-6 to 2-5 with the brilliant Ciara Hurley getting the all important third Waterford goal.

In the All-Ireland semi final’s Waterford proved too strong for Roscommon in Limerick which set up an All-Ireland Final against Meath in Nenagh.

Meath entered the game as the favourites. They had hammered a fancied Armagh side in the final and their attack was believed to be too strong for the Waterford defence.

Waterford however on the day were outstanding. They proved forever too strong for Meath, winning 4-12 to 2-6. Aoife Murray hit two of the Waterford goals with Liz Devine and Lauren McGregor also getting the umpires to reach for a green flag.

The under 14 team also proved to be a strong outfit in 2013.

They began the year with a defeat against Limerick, but from here on in, it was wins all the way.

They beat Clare in the second round of games in the Round Robin series, Aisling Mullaney and Beth Norris hit the Waterford goals.

It was Tipperary next for Waterford, another game that Waterford won by a small margin. Aisling Mullaney again kept the umpires busy scoring two goals in a 2-4 to 1-4 victory.

Waterford were now through to the Munster Final against Limerick. After there earlier win over the Déise girls, many were making Limerick the favourites to take the title.

But playing twice in close proximity can be more of an advantage to the side that looses the first day than the winners, especially at underage level as it can lead to a bit of over confidence to the first winners.

This is exactly what happened here as Waterford won another close game, 4-4 to 3-8, the Waterford goals coming from Katie Duggan Sullivan, Kaiesha Tobin and Aisling Mullaney.

Sligo were Waterford’s opposition in the All-Ireland semi final and again Waterford proved too strong, this time in a rather one sided game.

Abbie Dunphy with a brace as well as Lia Nic Craith and Katie Duggan Sullivan struck for goals for Waterford in a 4-16 to 1-4 victory.

Westmeath would provide the opposition for Waterford in the All-Ireland final at Crettyard. There was a confidence now in the Waterford team that back to back titles could be put together. The early defeat to Limerick was confined to history, almost forgotten about.

Waterford had a dream start in this game. They played with the wind at their backs in the first half and made full use of it.

Katie Duggan Sullivan hit a goal for Waterford inside a minute of the game starting. Kaiesha Tobin added a second from a penalty and Katie Duggan Sullivan hit a second of the game for herself and a third from Waterford which gave Waterford a big lead at the break.

Westmeath did come more into the game in the second half, but the damage was done as far as they were concerned in the first half. Abbie Dalton added a fourth goal for Waterford in the second half which helped the side to a 4-10 to 0-11 victory.

In the club championships, sixteen sides finished with at least one county title to their name while nineteen sides were to finish as runners up.

In the adult Championships, Ballymacarbry won the senior final, beating Comeragh Rangers in the final. In Intermediate Saint Anne’s emerged as victors beating Stradbally in the final while in the Junior finals, Dungarvan beat Brickeys to win the ‘A’ final while Na Déise won the ‘B’ final, beating Old Parish in the final.

In the eleven a side competition, the ‘A’ Final between Ballymacarbry and Abbeyside was not played, while Ballyduff Upper won the ‘A Plate’ Final, beating Stradbally in the final. In the ‘B’ Final Dungarvan beat Mount Sion while in the Plate Final Comeragh Rangers beat Kilmacthomas.

In the Seven a side competition, Ballymacarbry won the Division One final, beating Comeragh Rangers in the final. The Division two final was won by Stradbally who beat Brickeys and in the Division three final Mount Sion beat Dungarvan.

In the Division One Plate Final Abbeyside beat Ballyduff Upper, in Division two the Laurels went to Tramore who beat Saint Anne’s and in the Division three plate final Old Parish proved too strong for Na Déise.

At minor level Comeragh Rangers are county ‘A’ Champions after they beat Saint Anne’s. The ‘B’ championship has found a home in Stradbally who proved too strong for Kilrossanty/Brickeys. The ‘C’ Final has a home in Waterford City after Roanmore beat Old Parish and in the ‘D’ final Ballymacarbry beat Ballysaggart.

The Under 16 ‘A’ title has also found a home within the Comeragh Rangers club after they beat Dungarvan in the final. Kilrossanty/Brickeys won the ‘B’ final against Ardmore. Ballysaggart are under 16 ‘C’ Champions after defeating Roanmore and in the ‘D’ Final Tramore proved too strong for Ballymacarbry.

At under 15 level there was wins for Comeragh Rangers, Stradbally, Roanmore and Saint Patricks in the ‘A to D’ finals respectfully over Dungarvan, Abbeyside, Kilrossanty/Brickeys and Ballyduff Upper.

Dungarvan won the Under 14 ‘A’ Final beating Stradbally in the final, while in the plate final Tramore beat Comeragh Rangers. In the ‘B’ Final Old Parish were victorious over Na Déise and in the plate final Saint Pat’s beat Kilrossanty/Brickeys. The ‘C’ Final was won by Ballymacarbry against Abbeyside while Shamrocks won the ‘D’ final against Saint Saviours.

At Under 13 level, Dungarvan are ‘A’ Champions after beating Tramore, Na Déise are ‘B’ champions after they beat Stradbally. Ballyduff Upper proved too strong for Abbeyside in the ‘C’ final while Saint Patricks beat Saint Oliver’s in the ‘D’ Final.

In the under 12 competitions, Na Déise are ‘A’ Champions after they beat Comeragh Rangers. Stradbally won the ‘B’ final beating Saint Anne’s, Ballymacarbry won the ‘C’ final against Ballysaggart and Shamrocks proved too strong for Saint Oliver’s in the ‘D’ Final.

In the under 12 plate competitions, Ballyduff Upper beat Tramore in the ‘A’ Final, Kilrossanty/Brickeys beat Ballyduff Lower in the ‘B’ Final, Abbeyside beat Ardmore in the ‘C’ Final while Old Parish won the ‘D’ final against Kilmacthomas.