Waterford Ladies Football - A look back at 2014 - Part 3

On the club scene in 2014 the different championships organised by the County Board were spread out right across the county where the game is played.

The senior Final was again won by Ballymacarbry for the 33^rd year in a row.

Comeragh Rangers provided the opposition for Ballymacarbry in the final back in mid September. The mid county side have made great inroads in the game in recent years and many were expecting them to really put it up to the champions, but it would be interesting to find out did many expect Comeragh Rangers to go as close as they did to ending Ballymacarbry’s long domination of the game.

For much of this game, Comeragh Rangers took the game to Ballymacarbry. On this blog, ‘Lady Luck’ is often referred to. If it was on the side of Comeragh Rangers at Fraher Field on County Final day, you cant but wonder if we would have had a different outcome to the game.

The Mid county side went to the dressing rooms with a 1-6 to 0-6 advantage on the score board but that lead could well have been upwards of a double digit advantage had the chances they had in the opening thirty minutes resulted in the scores that they richly deserved.

Ballymacarbry made a lot of the early running in this game, but failed to show the dominance they had in the opening minutes on the score board.

After settling into the game, Comeragh Rangers began to boss proceedings.

A quick Kate Hahessy free was worked into Aoife Dunne for the mid county sides first chance of the game but Sinead Grant made an excellent save from the lively corner forward. From a quick ’45 Shauna Dunphy and other lively corner forward attempted her luck for goal but her effort went just wide of the upright

Michelle Ryan kicked the first point of the game on seven minutes, but the challengers were soon on level terms when Aoife Dunne hit a point on twelve minutes and two minutes later the same player split the posts again to give her side the lead. Between Michelle Ryan’s opener and Aoife Dunne’s first score of the game Aoife Murray saw a third effort for a Comeragh Rangers goal go narrowly wide.

Linda Wall who won her 17^th County Senior Title in this game, levelled matters 12 minutes from the break. Comeragh Rangers tried their luck to have a green flag waved soon afterwards but Kate Hahessy saw her effort go wide of the upright.

An Eibhlin Power effort came off the post and Aoife Dunne was in the right place to pick up the rebounding ball and to slot it over the crossbar for her third score of the game. Ballymacarbry from the off attacked the Comeragh Rangers goal and Aileen Wall split the posts to level matters 0-3 to 0-3.

Eibhlin Power and Marian Ryan swapped scores, before Ballymacarbry went back in front thanks to another point from Linda Wall.

Comeragh Rangers all afternoon felt their was goals in them and they were proved right on 26 minutes when after some good work up the stand side of the field, the ball was worked to Katie Murray who rattled the Ballymacarbry net. Moments later Katie Murray who was not named on the starting XV for Comeragh Rangers but who came in before the game repaid the fate shown in her by setting up Kate Hahessy and her triplet sister Aoife for points which gave the mid county side a four point advantage.

Ballymacarbry however are not champions for so long for no reason and in the closing moments of the first half calling on their experience picked up down the years, Marian Ryan put the ball between the uprights to leave her side trailing 1-5 to 0-6 at the break.

Whatever side started the second half best would have a great chance of winning this game. Just a minute into the second half the first score of the half arrived and went in the way of Ballymacarbry.

Down the years the Ballymacarbry Club has produced some very good players. Lauren Guiry could well be one of the next big name to come from the area. She was brought into the Waterford Intermediate panel this year and she showed why here, as she finished to the net to level matters. Three minutes later Ballymacarbry were back in front when Marian Ryan found the range from free.

Comeragh Rangers went back in front seconds later when Shauna Dunphy struck her second goal of the game. This could well prove to be a special player in the years to come. If you have not seen her play up to now, try and make it your business to do so during 2015.

Nine minutes into the second half Shauna Ryan landed a point for Ballymacarbry to leave just one between the sides. It was important now that Comeragh Rangers were next to score.

But they were dealt a blow on 42 minutes when Aisling Hahessy was sin binned meaning that her side would be a player down for the next ten minutes. In the men’s game there is a lot of opposition to the cards introduced in recent years. In truth there is nothing wrong with them, but if something could be tweaked about them, it should be in relation to the black card whereby a player receiving one is sent to the stand for ten minutes and no replacement is allowed on.

In the ten minutes that Comeragh Rangers were a player down, Ballymacarbry hurt them. It was during these ten minutes that the game was won.

Ballymacarbry kicked 1-4 without reply in these then minutes. Shauna Ryan got the ball rolling with a point. Sinead Ryan and Marian Ryan followed up with points, turning a 1 point defecate when it was 15V15 to a 2 point advantage.  Lauren Guiry extended that lead to three when she split the posts and soon afterwards Sinead Ryan struck her sides second goal of the game.

Not long after the numbers on the field were restored to their full quota, Ballymacarbry had their numbers cut as Teresa McGrath was sin binned.

Aoife Dunne pointed for Comeragh Rangers on 54 minutes but it proved to be a mere consolation score. Further scores from Sinead Ryan and Marian Ryan followed for Ballymacarbry followed but Comeragh Rangers would hit the last score of the game from the boot of Aoife Murray.

This was a truly exciting game, with some brilliant players on show on both sides. Will Ballymacarbry make it 34 titles in a row, or will someone else take the title off them. We will find out in the coming months. Try and get out to a few games if you can. You might be surprised with the standard of players there is in Waterford at this point in time.

In the other adult grades, Stradbally won the Intermediate championship, beating Ballyduff Upper in the final. In the Junior grades, St Patrick’s in a local derby game beat Na Déise in the ‘A’ Final while Comeragh Rangers won the ‘B’ final beating Ballysaggart in the final.

In the 11 a side leagues Ballymacarbry were victorious against Comeragh Rangers in Touraneena in the ‘A’ Final, while Comeragh Rangers ‘B’ won the ‘B’ final against Old Parish.

2014 proved to be a memorable year for Comeragh Rangers. They won the Minor ‘A’ Championship beating a combination side from Dungarvan and Abbeyside in the final.

In the ‘B’ Championship there was a win for Stradbally over Ballymacarbry, Old Parish won the ‘C’ final against Ballyduff Upper and Na Déise won the ‘D’ final against new club Gaultier.

In under 16 Stradbally won the ‘A’ Cup competition against Dungarvan while Tramore win the ‘A’ Plate final against Old Parish. The ‘B’ Cup competition was won by Ballysaggart who beat Roanmore in the final. The ‘B’ Plate final was won by Ballymacarbry against Kilrossanty/Brickeys.

The ‘C’ Championship was won by Saint Anne’s who beat Ballyduff Upper while in a local derby clash in the ‘D’ final it was Clashmore that came out on top against Saint Oliver’s.

In the Under 15 championships there was wins for Dungarvan, Ballymacarbry and Abbeyside respectfully over Stradbally, Gaultier and Clashmore in the ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ finals.

In Under 14 Dungarvan were crowned champions after they beat Comeragh Rangers in the final. Ballymacarbry won the ‘B’ Championship against Stradbally. Ballyduff Upper won the ‘B’ Plate Final against Roanmore. Gaultier in their first year together as a club won the ‘C’ Championship against Old Parish while Saint Oliver’s won the ‘D’ competition against Shamrocks.

In under 13 competitions Ballyduff Upper, Gaultier, Abbeyside and Saint Oliver’s won the ‘A to D’ championships beating Stradbally, Ballymacarbry, Ballysaggart and Kilmacthomas respectfully in the finals.

There was winner’s galore in the under 12 competitions.

Stradbally won the ‘A’ competition beating OId Parish in the final. Na Déise won the plate final against Dungarvan.

Ballymacarbry win the ‘B’ final against Ballyduff Upper while Gaultier won the plate final against Roanmore.

The ‘C’ final was won by Ballysaggart who beat Saint Anne’s in the final. The plate final was won by Saint Oliver’s who had a win over Tramore.

Clashmore were victors over Kilrossanty/Brickeys in the ‘D’ Final. The plate final was won by Kilmacthomas against Abbeyside.

Comeragh Rangers won the ‘E’ final beating Saint Patrick’s in the final with Shamrocks beating Ballyduff Lower in the plate final.

At provincial level there was also some good results for some of Waterford’s clubs.

In the Munster Senior Plate competitions Comeragh Rangers were crowned champions. In the semi final they beat a fancied Donoughmore from Cork on a 3-7 to 2-7 score line, while in the final they had a 4-14 to 0-9 win over West Clare Gaels.

In the Munster ‘B’ Senior Final, Banner Ladies from Clare had a 4-11 to 2-12 win over Ballymacarbry to record their third provincial title in a row.

In the Munster Intermediate 7’s Clashmore emerged as winners in Mallow.

It was the fifth year in a row that a new name was engraved on the cup, as the West Waterford Club followed on from Cappawhite, Listowel Emmetts, Comeragh Rangers and Carraigown.

Clashmore played Kilmihil from Clare in the final and ran out winners 4-6 to 2-10 after and exciting final. Earlier in the day Clashmore beat St Val’s 3-10 to 2-6, Old Mill 1-14 to 0-3 and Kilmihil 1-9 to 1-4 in the group stages of the competition.

In the group stages of the senior championship, Ballymacarbry who were looking to win fifth final in a row, emerged from their group along with Saint Val’s while in the other group Banner Ladies and Comeragh Rangers advanced to the semi finals.

In the semi final’s Banner Ladies proved too strong for Saint Val’s winning 4-8 to 1-6 while Ballymacarbry beat Comeragh Rangers 4-12 to 3-5.

In the final the Clare side held a 2-3 to 1-3 advantage at the break. While Ballymacarbry won the second half, there was still two points between the sides at the end of the game in favour of Banner Ladies.

 

Competition	Winners		Runners Up
Senior	Ballymacarbry		Comeragh Rangers
Intermediate	Stradbally		Ballyduff Upper
Junior A	Saint Patricks		Na Déise
Junior B	Comeragh Rangers		Ballysaggart
11-a-side league Div. 1	Ballymacarbry		Comeragh Rangers
11-a-side league Div. 2	Comeragh Rangers 'B'		Old Parish
Minor A	Comeragh Rangers		Dungarvan/Abbeyside
Minor B	Stradbally		Ballymacarbry
Minor C	Old Parish		Ballyduff Upper
Minor D	Na Déise		Gaultier
Under 16 A	Stradbally		Dungarvan/Abbeyside
Under 16 A 'Plate'	Tramore		Old Parish
Under 16 B	Ballysaggart		Roanmore
Under 16 B 'Plate	Ballymacarbry		Kilrossanty/Brickeys
Under 16 C	St. Annes		Ballyduff Upper
Under 16 D	Clashmore		Saint Oliver's
Under 15 A	Dungarvan		Stradbally
Under 15 B	Ballymacarbry		Gaultier
Under 15 C	Abbeyside		Clashmore
Under 14 A	Dungarvan		Comeragh Rangers
Under 14 B	Ballymacarbry		Stradbally
Under 14 B Plate	Ballyduff Upper		Roanmore
Under 14 C	Gaultier		Old Parish
Under 14 D	Saint Oliver’s		Shamrocks
Under 13 A	Ballyduff Upper		Stradbally
Under 13 B	Gaultier		Ballymacarbry
Under 13 C	Abbeyside		Ballysaggart
Under 13 D	Saint Oliver’s		Kilmacthomas
Under 12 A	Stradbally		Old Parish
Under 12 A Plate	Na Déise		Dungarvan
Under 12 B	Ballymacarbry		Ballyduff Upper
Under 12 B Plate	Gaultier		Roanmore
Under 12 C	Ballysaggart		Saint Anne's
Under 12 C Plate	Saint Oliver’s		Tramore
Under 12 D	Clashmore		Kilrossanty/Brickeys
Under 12 D Plate	Kilmacthomas		Abbeyside
Under 12 E	Comeragh Rangers		Saint Patrick's
Under 12 E Plate	Shamrocks		Ballyduff Lower