Waterford look for All-Ireland glory against Derry

Twelve months ago, Waterford were beaten in the All-Ireland under 16 Camogie Final against Cork at Mallow.

This coming weekend Waterford will be hoping to make up for that defeat, for when they play Derry at Leixlip on Sunday afternoon.

Waterford manager Declan Drohan has assembled what is an experienced panel this year, and he and his charges will take to the road on Sunday morning, confident of winning, but at the same time will respect the challenge that Derry will serve up.

Nine members of last year’s panel are included in this year’s panel. Brianna O’Regan, Courtney Healy and Beth Carton from De La Salle, team captain Aisling Power from Cappoquin and Club mate Clodagh Glavin, Megan Dunford of the Brickeys, Kate McMahon as well as the Saint Annes duo of Sibeal Harney and Saoirse Bonner can all have a big influence on this game. Having done it all before, they could surely be used in the dressing room and in the build up to the game to talk to other players about what they can expect when playing in an All-Ireland final.

Since loosing to last years final to Cork, some of these players would have gained some extra experience which should stand to them in this game.

Brianna O’Regan, Courtney Healy, Beth Carton and Sibeal Harney were part of the Waterford minor that won this years All-Ireland Minor ‘B’ Final, while the De La Salle three-o also helped Presentation College Waterford to a Junior Camogie final earlier in the year. Even if defeat was to be the sides lot on the day, playing in such games is extra experience and loosing out in such occasions could make you even more determined to win should you get to play in another All-Ireland Final.

Both sides in this years final have come from the one group in the league stages of the championship, meaning that both will be familiar with each other and should know the others strengths and weaknesses and will be working on this over the past few weeks at training.

Derry began their championship campaign with a round two game against Cork at Donaghmore against Cork, a game they won 4-5 to 2-5.

The two sides met at Donaghmore in the third round of games, where Waterford came out on top, winning 4-13 to 3-8. After this, the Oak Leaf county recorded two wins with wins over Antrim (4-15 to 0-4) and Tipperary (8-7 to 2-6) to secure their place in the semi finals.

If Derry’s path to the knock-out stages of the championship is impressive, to find an adjective to describe Waterford’s path to the semi final is hard to find.

In the first game of the competition, Waterford easily beat Cork 5-15 to 0-10 at Walsh Park. In round two, Waterford made the trip to Donaghmore, a home away from home for many sides from the south of the country who play northern opposition in Camogie and returned home with a 7-112 to 3-9 win against Antrim.

It was back to the County Meath venue for a round three game with Derry, where another win for Waterford was secured and the side rounded off the league section of the competition in round four with a 3-16 to 0-6 win over Tipperary at The Ragg.

In the semi finals, both sides again put up impressive tallies on the score board. At Inniskeen, Derry had little trouble in beating Dublin 7-12 to 3-8 while Waterford travelled to the Capital to play Down at O’Toole Park in Crumlin, winning the game on a 1-014 to 0-4 score line.

Both sides head to Leixlip this Sunday and will feel that they can win.

Having lost the earlier game between the two sides, Derry will feel that they will have learned more from that game. Often the side that looses the first day when sides meet in the same competition in the one year, goes on to win the second game.

Waterford’s experience picking up in winning two Munster ‘B’ Finals in a row, playing in last years final, as well as having players that have helped the county win a Minor ‘B’ All-Ireland final and playing in an All-Ireland Colleges final this year has to count for something.

Waterford Panel: Saoirse English (Tramore);  Roisin Oates (Ferrybank), Roisin Uniacke, Laura Murray, Sinead O' Brien, Clodagh Glavin, Aisling Power, (all Cappoquin), Chloe Dempsey, Collette Hogan, Beth Carton, Caoimhe Drohan, Niamh Murphy, Brianna O' Regan, Courtney Healy, Taylor Healy, (all De La Salle), Sinead Cunningham, Anne Corcoran, (both Gailltir), Sharon Williams, Ellen Curran, (both Lismore), Sibeal Harney, Saoirse Bonner, Rachel McDonald, (all Saint Annes), Aoife Shanahan, Kate McMahon, Sally Brown (Butlerstown), Meagan Dunford, Kate McGrath (both Brickeys)