Waterford seek six in row while Limerick seek first Intermediate title

The second weekend of July in recent years has come to mean one thing. It’s Munster Final Weekend.

Many will associate the weekend with the playing of the Munster Minor and Senior Hurling finals. This year’s big provincial deciders are a repeat of the 2013 finals, with All-Ireland Champions Waterford taking on the Munster Champions Limerick in the minor final, while the senior final sees reigning champions Limerick take on last years beaten All-Ireland Finalist Cork, the games going ahead at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, possibly the largest games to be played at the ground first opened in the mid 1970’s before it flattened and rebuilt.

However, a person could be forgiven for thinking that these are the only Munster Finals to be played this weekend. The Ladies football Senior and Minor finals are down for decision at Rathmore on Saturday afternoon.

In the senior game old rivals Cork and Kerry are again set to do battle while the curtain raiser will see Waterford take on Limerick in the Intermediate final.

The Treaty County Ladies will go into this game looking for a first Provincial win at this grade of football, while Waterford will go into the game looking to record six finals in a row.

When the two sides clashed in the round robin section of the competition recently at Adare, it was Waterford that came out on top, but not before they were pushed all the way by a gallant Limerick side that could well push Waterford hard again this time around.

The fact that Limerick are in the final may shock some, but they are there on merit.

At the start of the year most would have predicted that Waterford and Limerick would appear in the final for the third year in a row.

However, as we are all aware, with some time to ask for a repeat of the last two finals was going to be a big ask, as Tipperary from near the end of the National League which was played during the Spring played without a number of the players that got them to Croke Park last year.

However, this is not and should not take from the fact that Limerick are in the final.

Both Waterford and Limerick both recorded big wins over Tipperary who while they started with some young players in their starting line out, started the game with fifteen players, the same as their opponents.

Over the past twelve months some great work has been done in Limerick. They have brought in some new and experienced players into their set up this year. Getting Marie Curtin into their set up and as captain has proven to be a major plus for the treaty siders as she was free from soccer duties which took her to Norway in the last few years.

They are by no means a one woman team either, as in the likes of Janet Garvey, Kathryn Fahy, Niamh Richardson, Megan Kelleher, Claire O’Riordan and Dympna O’Brien they have some quality players in their line up.

When the two sides clashed in Adare a few weeks back, seven points in Waterford’s favour separated the sides.

We have all heard the old adage that goals win games and it was never truer than in this game. In fact the timing of the goals in this game proved even more crucial.

Ballyduff Upper’s Hannah Landers struck for an early goal in that game, which helped Waterford to a 1-7 to 0-7 lead at the interval.

In that first half Limerick put a lot of pressure on the Waterford defence. The experience amassed in recent years was called upon in those opening thirty minutes to keep Limerick from raising a green flag, and when they did manage to get past the Waterford backs, they found there was no passing Aimee Jordan who was in outstanding form making at least two top class saves.

In the second half, Limerick continued to exert pressure on the Waterford defence and got the Waterford lead down to one point, but in the end, a late goal by Linda Wall as well as some late points from Liz Devine, Aileen Wall and Elaine Power proved crucial.

Over the past few years, Waterford has become a very experienced team. The team has a very settled look to it and also has plenty of experience in reserve.

The team is likely to line out in a similar manner to which it has in recent games.

That will mean Aimee Jordan will start between the posts. Nora Dunphy, Grainne Kenneally, Mary Foley, Grainne Enright, Karen McGrath, Roisin Robin, Louise Ryan, Ciara Dunphy and Megan O’Connor fighting it out for shirt number two to seven.

In the middle of the field, Michelle McGrath and Elaine Power would be expected to be the selected partnership.

In attack Waterford manager Pat O’Brien will have plenty of options including Linda Wall, Michelle Ryan, Mairead Wall, Aileen Wall, Hannah Landers, Liz Devine, Shona Curran, Margaret Revins, Shauna Dunphy and Lauren McGregor.

Limerick will be under no illusions going into this weekend’s game as they attempt to win a first provincial final at this level. They will know that Waterford will go into the game as the favourites. However after pushing Waterford hard in the round robin game, they will be looking to do the same again, especially after backing that performance up with another good showing in easily accounting for Tipperary.

Last year they were competitive in the games with Tipperary and Waterford but faded in the last quarter. This year they have put in a lot of work to try and ensure that the same would not happen.

Waterford manager Pat O’Brien this year has freshened things up in his panel. He is working with a relatively small panel, but he has brought in some new young players into the set up and all got to play during the league, making an impact.

Will Waterford make it six in a row of finals? Well they go into the game as the favourites, something that does not always sit well on the shoulders of Waterford teams.

The game is expected to be a close and in a close game, experience is vital. What ever fifteen Pat O’Brien puts out will be experienced, and as the game goes on and the need to introduce some fresh faces into the game, then Waterford will have some experienced players to call upon.

Waterford should win a sixth title in a row, something that would not be a record for Waterford as the great senior team in the 90’s put seven in a row from 1994 to 2000 inclusive, but as pointed out already it could be close.

Waterford Panel: Aimee Jordan (Abbeyside); Nora Dunphy (Comeragh Rangers), Grainne Kenneally (Ballyduff Upper), Mary Foley (Abbeyside); Grainne Enright (Abbeyside), Karen McGrath (Ballymacarbry), Roisin Tobin (Abbeyside); Michelle McGrath (Ballymacarbry) Captain, Elaine Power (Tramore); Linda Wall (Ballymacarbry), Michelle Ryan (Ballymacarbry), Mairead Wall (Ballymacarbry); Aileen Wall (Ballymacarbry), Hannah Landers (Ballyduff Upper), Liz Devine (Brickey Rangers). Grainne Costelloe (Stradbally), Shona Curran (St. Pat’s), Margaret Revins (Old Parish), Louise Ryan (Ballymacarbry), Ciara Dunphy (Comeragh Rangers), Aisling Hahesy (Comeragh Rangers), Amy Whelan (Stradbally), Megan O’Connor (Brickey Rangers), Shauna Dunphy (Comeragh Rangers), Lauren McGregor (Dungarvan), Lauren Guiry (Ballymacarbry), Caoimhe McGrath (Abbeyside), Katie Hayes (Dungarvan), Aoife Landers (St Pat’s)

Limerick Panel:  Kristina Hennessy (Monagea), Alva Neary (Old Mill), Siobhan Moloney (Oola), Janet Garvey (Fr Casey's), Vicky McMahon (St Ailbe's), Emma McGuire (St Ailbe's), Aoife Meaney (Sliabh na mBan),  Kathryn Fahy (Monaleen), Niamh Richardson (Murroe Boher), Michelle Norris (Monaleen),  Megan Kelleher (Knockainey), Caroline Hickey (St Ailbe's), Lisa Harnett (Fr Casey's), Marie Curtin (Mungret/St Paul's)  Captain,  Claire O'Riordan (Monagea), Clodagh Kirby (Knockainey), Maeve Higgins (St Patrick’s), Katie Fitzgerald (Gerald Griffins), Janet O’Carroll (Mungret/St Paul’s), Niamh McCarthy (Drom/Broadford), Louise Ryan (St Brigid’s), Dympna O’Brien (Gerald Griffins), Megan O’Shea (St Brigid’s), Megan O’Mara (Monaleen), Stephanie Carroll (St Ailbes), Mai Kennelly (Old Mill), Laura Lyons (St Ailbes), Claire Coughlan (Mungret/St Paul’s), Kate McSweeney (Adare), Leanne Garvey (Fr Casey’s).

Paths to the Final –

Round 1:       Waterford       2-12    Limerick         0-11    (Adare)

Round 2:       Limerick         6-13    Tipperary       1-13    (Claughaun)

Round 3:       Waterford       4-23    Tipperary       1-8      (Carrick-on-Suir)

 

Leading Scorers:   Marie Curtain            (Limerick)       1-9

Hannah Landers     (Waterford)    2-5

Gillian O’Brien          (Tipperary)     0-11

                                    Claire O’Riordan      (Limerick)       2-3

                                    Dympna O’Brien      (Limerick)       2-2

                                    Aileen Wall               (Waterford)    1-5

                                    Linda Wall                 (Waterford)    1-5

                                    Michelle Ryan          (Waterford)    0-7

                                    Aimee Jordan           (Waterford)    2-0

                                    Marie Kelleher          (Limerick)       1-2

                                    Liz Devine                 (Waterford)    0-4

                                    Elaine Power            (Waterford)    0-4

                                    Laura Dillon              (Tipperary)     1-1

                                    Niamh Lonergan      (Tipperary)     1-1

                                    Mairead Wall             (Waterford)    0-3

                                    Laura O’Shea           (Tipperary)     0-3

                                    Aisling McCarthy     (Tipperary)     0-3

                                    Michelle Norris         (Limerick)       0-2

                                    Niamh Richardson  (Limerick)       0-2

                                    Stephanie Carroll    (Limerick)       0-2

                                    Louise Ryan             (Waterford)    0-1

                                    Shauna Dunphy      (Waterford)    0-1

                                    Caoimhe Boles        (Tipperary)     0-1

                                    Megan O’Shea         (Limerick)       0-1

                                    Kathryn Fahy           (Limerick)       0-1

                                    Sarah Everard          (Tipperary)     0-1