Lismore and Piltown - Ready to do battle

If you care to take a look back to twelve months ago this week and to what I wrote on here, you will notice that I said that ‘Sunday’ in a preview of the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club Finals was going to be a big day for Lismore.

If you are from Piltown in County Kilkenny, or from Lismore or even a supporter of either sides Camogie team then this Sunday is a big weekend. For Lismore the weekend is going to be a bigger one than for Piltown.

The South Kilkenny outfit are attempting to win an All-Ireland Club final for the first time and their will be some pressure on them for it to happen.

For the West Waterford Club the pressure is even bigger as they are attempting to retain the title they won 50 weeks ago, and will be attempting to win at GAA Headquarters on Jones Road in Dublin 3 for the first time, having won the title last year at the Sports Field in Clonmel after a replay against another Kilkenny side – Ballyhale Shamrocks.

The Path to this Sunday’s final has been a long and interesting one for both sides, with some scares for both along the way.

Piltown make the journey to Croke Park this Sunday with an unbeaten record in the last year.

The past twelve months have proven to be a year to remember for many.

The South Kilkenny Club win the All-Kilkenny Camogie League, they won the Kilkenny Intermediate League. The Kilkenny County Intermediate Championship was won, the side going one step further than they did twelve months ago when they lost to Ballyhale Shamrocks, and the Leinster Intermediate Championship was also won against Laois side Camross, the side beaten in the final twelve months previously, along the way Birr from Offaly and Myshall from Carlow were beaten and last time out they were well tested by Ulster champions Clonduff.

For Lismore, the past year for this group of players, the past year has also proven to be an exciting time.

Twelve months ago this week, Aoife Hannon landed a pressure point to earn her side a share of the spoils in All-Ireland Final. Two weeks later in the replay at Clonmel, Catriona McGlone was the name on everyone’s lips as she hit a hat-trick in Clonmel to help her side win a First Adult All-Ireland in the year the club was celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the clubs formation.

Players from the club who will be involved this weekend helped Waterford win All-Ireland under 16 and Minor All-Ireland ‘B’ championships.

Lismore retained their County Senior Championship won twelve months previously, beating Saint Anne’s at Fraher Field in what was an entertaining game, but the Cathedral Town girls will be the first to admit that they were lucky on the day, but in saying that, winners at times need luck, and at times lots of it.

They went on to beat Borrisoleigh from Tipperary playing on their own sod in the Munster semi final and in the final beat what was a fancied Sarsfields side from Cork in Fermoy. Last time out, Lismore beat another fancied side Oranmore Maree from Galway at Charleville in the All-Ireland semi final.

The only slip up for Lismore over the past two years since Seamus Prendergast took over as the sides manager was in the League Final at Lemybrien when they narrowly lost to great rivals Saint Anne’s and its fair to say that the side will not want any more slip ups.

Both sides are expected to line out along familiar lines this weekend, but maybe one or two tough calls to be made by both sides.

For the challengers, Aoife Norris is expected to start between the posts. Katelynn Phelan will be in the right corner back position, even if Carol McCarthy played their in the semi final win, Elaine Kenny in front of the posts and Jennifer Norris is the left corner.

In four of Piltown’s last five championship games Debbie Phelan has played at right half back. Last time out Mairead Power who played Ladies Football with Comeragh Rangers played but Debbie Phelan would be expected to get the nod to start this game. Karen Duggan who is understood to have family links with Lismore will be at centre back and Kelly Ann Doyle will be at left half back.

Team captain Laura Norris will be in the middle of the field. Who will partner her will be interesting. Alice Talbot was her partner in three of the last four games and would be expected to be given the nod again here.

Nicole Culleton and Chloe Holden will battle it out for the number ten shirt, Nicolle Culleton would be the once expected to start there. Edel Long could well be at centre forward and former WIT Ashbourne Cup winning captain Katie Power would be expected to start with number 12 on her back.

In the full forward line Chloe Holden and Georgina Culleton would be expected to start in the corner forward positions with the dangerous Chloe Blackmore at full forward but to see the latter two change positions would not be a major surprise.

Should Mairead Power and Carol McCarthy fail to get a place in the team from the start, it would not be a surprise to see them come into the game at some stage if needed as would be the case with Lorraine Long who started the games with Saint Bridget’s in the Kilkenny County Final and the game with Birr but has not started since.

Nicola Phelan who hit a goal in the win over Clonduff would also be expecting to win a place in the team at some stage this time out.

Lismore too are expected to field a familiar looking line up.

Tanya Morrissey will start between the posts.

Sarah Prendergast will be at full back, Marie Russell will be in the left corner. The management team of Seamus Prendergast, Geraldine Barry, Jim Russell and Austin Curran will have to make a very big call as to whether they will keep Niamh Molumphy who played in the win over Oranmore Maree in the right corner or put Sarah Coughlan back in the left corner back position.

Shauna Kiernan will be at centre back, Sarah Fenton will be at number seven and Aoife Houlihan who is cleared to play in this game after her very controversial sending off two minutes into the second half against Oranmore Maree could well start at number five, but will she?

Duel Inter County stars Shona Curran and Grainne Kenneally could well be starting with eight and nine on their backs, but to see Grainne Kenneally do a direct swap with Aoife Houlihan leaving her to shadow Katie Power is a possibility.

In attack, five of the six forwards could possibly be named at this stage. Ruth Geoghegan, Catriona McGlone, Sharon Williams, Nicola Morrissey and Aoife Hannon would all be expected to start but in what position is anybody’s guess.

Catriona McGlone, the goal scoring machine with the past year could well start at full forward. Ruth Geoghegan who caused Ballyhale Shamrocks last year with plenty of space available to use could well start at wing forward. Aoife Hannon could well be the centre forward and Sharon Williams playing in her first final could be on the opposite wing.

Nicola Morrissey could well start in the corner but to see her swap with Ruth Geoghegan is a possibility.

This all leaves one place up for grabs with Johanna Houlihan, last year goalkeeper Aisling O’Brien and one of the oldest and most experienced players in the panel Laura Buckley all vying for the last place in the team. Who the selectors will go for is anybody’s guess, for what it’s worth, I have a hunch it could be one of the two older of the three.

So who will win on Sunday?

I wish I had a Crystal ball and a wad of spare cash. It truly is anyone’s guess. One thing we do know is that the ribbons on the Agnes O’Farrelly Cup will be Black and Amber. We also know that the Cup will head in the direction of the Naas Road after the game (that is if there is a winner) but after the Naas turn off will it be taking a turn down the M9 or will it continue on further before turning down the M8.

Lismore will know that they will have to keep a very close eye on Katie Power if they are to win. In the Kilkenny County final she put 3-8 past Saint Bridget’s. In the Leinster Championship she put 0-6 past Birr, 0-10 past Myshall and 1-5 against Camross. Last time out against Clonduff the star wing forward was kept quite as she put just one point on the score board.

However the danger in putting two much focus on keeping Katie Power quite it could leave others to put in a player of the match performance. Last time out it was Chloe Blackmore that stole the show, hitting 2-3 of her sides 3-5 scored on the day.

Others that could well hit the crucial scores on Sunday should Katie Power be kept relatively quiet are Edel Long, Chloe Holden, Laura Norris and Nicole Culleton.

The bookies may make Lismore favourites in the run up to Sunday’s All-Ireland, but favourites do not always win.

However, Lismore have a lot going for them.

They did not win last years final at Croke Park and they will want to say in the years to come that they won at least one All-Ireland Final at GAA Headquarters, which is an ambition of every player at every level.

Last time out, they showed great hunger in the way they played in the second half in particular against Oranmore Maree when playing with a player disadvantage, and more over in the closing minutes when the Galway side began to mount a lot of pressure in the closing minutes of the game.

Playing at Croke Park can be a daunting experience for many players. Many have in the past frozen on the big day. Playing there is much different to any other ground, and on Sunday it will be even much more difficult as their will be large areas of the massive stadium that they will not hear a familiar voice shout words of encouragement when the pressure is most on.

Both sides have had great years up to now. One team is going to be disappointed on Sunday if they do not have to do it all over again, most possibly at Clonmel in a few weeks time.

With so many of the Lismore players expected to play at some stage on Sunday, having played at Croke Park in the past, their experience in playing inside the stadium will have to count for something if the hunger that Piltown will show can be matched.

If there is to be a winner on Sunday, it could well prove to be Lismore, but it won’t easily happen.

Roll of Honours

Lismore Camogie Club

All-Ireland Intermediate Club Champions; 2014

County Senior Champions; 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 2001, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014

Munster Intermediate Club Champions; 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014,

County Senior League Champions; 2012, 2013,

County Junior Champions; 1979, 1990, 2006, 2009, 2012,

County Minor Champions; 1982, 1983, 1993, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,

County Minor ‘B’ Champions; 2014

County Under 16 Champions; 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010,

County Under 16’B’ Champions; 2014,

County Under 14 Champions; 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,

County Feile Champions; 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,

All Ireland Féile Champions; 1989 (Division 4), 2006 (Division 4)  

County Under 12 Champions; 1987, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2012,

County Under 12 ‘B’ League Champions; 2014

 

Piltown Camogie Club

Leinster Intermediate Club Champions: 2014

County Intermediate Club Champions; 2014

County Intermediate League Champions: 2013, 2014

All County Intermediate League Champions; 2014

County Junior Champions; 2008

County Under 21 Champions; 2012

County Minor ‘B’ Champions; 2006, 2012,

County Minor ‘C’ Champions; 2011,

County Under 16 ‘A’ Champions; 2012,

County Under 16 ‘B’ Champions; 2005, 2011,

County Under 16 ‘C’ Champions; 1996

County Under 16 ‘A’ League Champions; 2013

County Under 14 ‘A’ Champions; 2010

County Under 14 ‘B’ Champions; 2009,

County Under 14 ‘C’ Champions; 1987, 1994, 2002,

County Féile Champions; 2012,

County Under 12 ‘A’ League Champions; 2002, 2008

County Under 12 ‘B’ League Champions; 2011, 2012, 2013,

 

Tournament, Blitz, Community Games and Competitions below under 12 – not included.

Waterford Ladies keep winning start in tact

Waterford Intermediate Ladies Football team have moved a step closer to securing a place in the knockout stages of this years Tesco Homegrown National Football League semi finals on Sunday afternoon last when they comprehensively beat a previously unbeaten Sligo side at Fraher Field.

While it is always very dangerous to try and preempt results it’s looking like at results over the first three rounds of games that Waterford could well collect a maximum nine points in their next three points against Tipperary (away), Roscommon (home) and Longford (home).

Leitrim are also unbeaten after the first three round of games and it looks that they too could collect maximum points in their next three games, against Longford (away) Sligo (home) and Wexford (home).

If this was to happen the clash between Leitrim and Waterford in the seventh and final round of games would be a top of the table clash to see who tops the group and get what would be perceived the easier of the semi finals.

Heading into this game, both sides made changes to the side that won their respective round two games.

The Ballyduff Upper pair of Grainne Kenneally and Hannah Landers missed out for Waterford and was replaced by Aileen Wall and Aoife Murray. Positional changes saw Maria Delahunty move from corner forward to centre forward and Michelle Ryan swapped corners.

For Sligo Aoife Boyle, Eilise Codd and Sarah Reynolds missed out from the win over Wexford with Ann-Marie Coleman, Aisling O’Gara and Grainne Carty coming it, with the management team also opting to make positional changes to the team.

A tight game was expected between the two sides. When they clashed in Sligo eleven months ago, it was the home side that ran out winners on a 1-15 to 1-9 score line and from their respective wins over Wexford in this year’s league it was Sligo that had the more comfortable win, proving that goals do win games, while Waterford had just the minimum to spare.

The opening half of the game did suggest that a close game could be in store. For much of the opening 30 minute both times swapped scores, but once again the importance of goals proved crucial as Sinead Ryan’s twelfth minute goal proved to be the crucial score of the half.

It was the goal scorer’s older sister Michelle that opened the scoring in this game as she pointed after four minutes. Stephanie O’Reilly has been standing out for Sligo in this years league and it was she who equalised three minutes later.

Sinead Ryan was next to score for Waterford, another point but it was cancelled out with an effort from Katie Walsh who has been making an impact in this years league.

Waterford went three up on twelve minutes when two of the most experienced players in the side Michelle Ryan and Linda Wall linked up with Sinead Ryan and the youngest of the three Ryan sisters involved in the panel this year made no mistake.

Waterford could have wrapped up the game in the next two minutes, but Noelle Gormley in the Sligo goal made two excellent saves to deny Waterford goals.

Waterford did manage to stretch their lead to five however before the end of the opening quarter as Maria Delahunty and Aoife Murray both split the posts to give Waterford a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

The remainder of the half proved to be a very even affair.

Stephanie O’Reilly pulled a point back for Sligo only for Maria Delahunty to cancel it out a minute later.

The impressive Katie Walsh pointed for Sligo seven minutes from the break but Sinead Ryan put over her second point of the game to go with her goal to restore Waterford’s five point cushion.

Both side was happy at that however, and both went for scores before the break.

Grainne Carty was first to register a point for the visitors but Maria Delahunty who has been in terrific form this year closed the first half scoring with her second of the game to give Waterford a 1-7 to 0-5 lead at the break.

If the first half was close, you could not say it about the second half, as Waterford were well and truly in control.

Aileen Wall opened the second half scoring inside 30 seconds of the resumption and from the kick out, Waterford won the ball and worked it back in quickly to Aoife Murray who dispatched it to the Sligo net.

Coming from a well known Rathgormack footballing family, Aoife Murray has the same instincts as those that have come before her, and showed it her by adding the next two scores, the first a point three minutes into the half, the next her second goal of the game four minutes later.

Another player that comes from a famous football background is Sinead Ryan. Supporters of the game will know about her with some time and she showed why she is often rated so high by kicking her second goal of the game on thirty-eight minutes, Waterford’s fourth in total to give Waterford a 4-9 to 0-5 advantage on the score board.

Maria Delahunty, Sinead Ryan and Eimear Fennell all kicked points for Waterford before Sinead Ryan brought her tally for the afternoon to 2-4 with her side’s penultimate score of the game.

Bernice Byrne hit the visitors only score of the second half towards the end of the game, but it was not for the want of trying.

Lauren McGregor hit Waterford’s fifth goal of the game when she rounded the keeper, but the visitors never gave up.

Stephanie O’Reilly drew a good save from sub keeper Clodagh Walsh late in the game and the same player before the end of the game would hit the posts twice.

Next up for Waterford is an away game against Tipperary next Sunday in Ardfinnan, for Sligo, they too are on the road, travelling to play Roscommon in Kiltoom.

Waterford: Katie Hannon; Megan Dunford, Karen McGrath, Emma Murray; Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power, Caoimhe McGrath; Mary Kate Morrissey, Mairead Wall; Linda Wall, Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall; Michelle Ryan, Sinéad Ryan, Aoife Murray. Subs used; Nicola Fennell, Mary Foley, Eimear Fennell, Clodagh Walsh, Kate McGrath, Ciara Hurley, Shauna Dunphy, Nora Dunphy, Emer Scanlan, Margaret Revins, Lauren McGregor, and Aoife Dunne.

Scorers: Sinead Ryan 2-4, Aoife Murray 2-2, Maria Delahunty 0-4, Lauren McGregor 1-0, Aileen Wall, Michelle Ryan, Eimer Fennell 0-1.

Sligo: Noelle Gormley; Ann Marie Coleman, Orla McGowan, Tara Doddy; Aisling O’Gara, Aisling Egan, Jacquai Mulligan; Sinead McTiernan, Bernice Byrne; Grainne Carty, Sarah Reynolds, Katie Walsh; Laura Ann Laffrey, Elaine O’Reilly, Stephanie O’Reilly. Subs Used: Lisa Casey, Ruth Goodwin, Colley Casey, Karen Maloney, Ciara Gorman.

Scorers: Stephanie O’Reilly, Katie Walsh 0-2 each, Grainne Carty, Bernice Byrne 0-1 each.

Referee. Jonathan Murphy

Waterford prove too strong for Laois

Waterford’s Senior Hurlers moved to the top of Division 1B of this years Allianz National Hurling League on Saturday evening after they comprehensively beat Laois at Fraher Field on a 3-21 to 0-12 score line.

At the end of a tight opening half, there was confusion around the ground as to what  the correct half time score was, as the scoreboard showed Waterford to be leading 0-10 to 0-8, but on the all important referee’s note book Waterford held a three point lead. The confusion came in the closing minutes of the half when an effort from distance by Austin Gleeson was waved wide, and no white flag was waved despite indications from the Cork referee that the Mount Sion man’s effort had gone inside the upright.

The final score might suggest that Waterford were well on top in what was a game where the majority of scores came from frees, but this was not the case.

Laois were first out of the traps and in the first half the sides were locked together on seven occasions. And in the second half where Waterford did prove to be better of the two sides, it has to be remembered that the visitors finished the game with fourteen men after Cha’ O’Dwyer was sent off on 48 minutes after he collected a second yellow card, a point in the game where the home side had only increased their half time advantage by two points.

Not surprisingly, Pauric Mahony again finished top scorer, hitting 1-14 of his sides tally, nine points of which came from frees, while seven other players chipped in for the home side with scores of a smaller tally to get their names on the score sheet as well.

For Laois however, they heavily relied on Zane Keenan for their scores, hitting nine of his sides twelve points, all of which came from placed balls, something that will have be worked upon if the side are to win a place in the quarter finals of the league, with three games still to play.

The visitors cause was also not helped when Stephen ‘Picky’ Maher had to leave the field after a half an hour with what looked to be a serious shoulder injury which could rule him out of this week’s Fitzgibbon Cup game for Carlow IT.

Zane Keenan opened the scoring here after two minutes, but it was soon cancelled out with an effort from Pauric Mahony and the same player gave Waterford the lead for the first time on five minutes when he put over a free.

Willie Hyland pulled a point back for Laois before Brian O’Halloran and Ross King traded scores to tie the scoring at 0-3 each after ten minutes.

Zane Keenan edged Laois back in front on 13 minutes with an effort from a placed ball, after which Pauric Mahony kept the scoreboard operator busy with a brace of points on 18 and 20 minutes to give Waterford a 0-5 to 0-4 lead.

Zane Keenan and Michael Walsh traded scores by the twenty-third minute to keep Waterford one in front, which were followed with efforts from the respective top scorers for each side with twenty-seven minutes played.

Paddy Purcell levelled matters for the sixth time on twenty eight minutes and shortly afterwards confusion descended on Fraher Field when Austin Gleeson’s effort looked as if it had cut inside the upright but the umpire waved it wide. TV pictures would later clearly show that the ball did go inside the uprights.

Zane Keenan levelled matters on thirty one minutes with another free for the visitors, but Waterford would finish stronger as they hit the last three scores of the half, Pauric Mahony hitting a brace with Austin Gleeson striking in between to give Waterford a 0-11 to 0-8 lead at the break.

If the first half was a tight affair, the second proved to be all one way traffic, as Waterford pressed on playing the lass twenty two plus minutes of the game with a man advantage, to record what was an important win.

While the win was welcome, and the margin of it was also important as score difference could well play a roll as to who moves up to division 1A next year, the real pleasing part was Waterford in the second half hit three goals, as we as supporters are often critical for not hitting the net as often as they should.

The second half started as the first did with a point from Zane Keenan, to draw Laois to within two of Waterford.

However, Pauric Mahony hit three in a row between the thirty-eight and forty-sixth minutes to open a five point advantage for Waterford.

Laois had their numbers cut two minutes later when Cha O’Dwyer was sent off harshly in the eyes of some, but correctly by the referee in line with rules introduced last year when it comes to tattles using the hurley or hand up around the neck or head areas.

It was after this that Waterford opened up and went on to win the game comfortably.

Shane Bennett put over a point on fifty-one minutes to open a six point lead for Waterford and when the same player a minute later finished off an inch perfect pass from Jake Dillon to the Laois net for the games first goal.

Pauric Mahony hit the next four scores of the game to increase Waterford’s lead, one of which were Waterford’s second goal of the game on fifty-eight minutes, following some good work by Shane O’Sullivan and Michael Walsh in the build up.

Zane Keenan pulled a point back for Laois on sixty-two minutes, but it was only a matter of seconds before Waterford were back in control, scoring a third goal on sixty three minutes, this time Tommy Connors was the finished less than fifteen seconds after coming on as a sub for Pauric Mahony.

Zane Keenan with a brace of frees pulled two points back for Waterford, but it was goals they needed and with time running down, even if Stephen O’Keeffe would be beaten, it was merely going to put a gloss on the score board.

Waterford landed the last two scores of the game through subs Shane O’Sullivan and Donie Breathnach to give the home side an eighteen point win.

Next up for Waterford is an away game against Offaly on March 8, the same day Laois are away to Antrim.

Waterford - S O'Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; Phillip Mahony, A Gleeson, T Bourke; K Moran, J Barron; M Kearney, Pauric Mahony, M Walsh; S Bennett, T Devine, B O'Halloran. Subs: J Dillon for Kearney (half-time), S O'Sullivan for Devine (45), P Prendergast for Fives (49), D Breathnach for Bennett (59), T Connors for Pauric Mahony (64).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 1-14 (9f), S Bennett 1-1, T Connors 1-0, A Gleeson 0-2, B O'Halloran, M Walsh, S O'Sullivan and D Breathnach 0-1 each.

Laois - E Rowland; J A Delaney; C Healy, B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, D Palmer; Z Keenan, P Purcell; C Dwyer, J Campion, W Hyland; S Maher, T Fitzgerald, R King. Subs - C Stapleton for Maher (inj, 26), PJ Scully for Campion, B Conroy for King (both half-time), C Dunne for Stapleton (52), J Purcell for Fitzgerald (64).

Scorers: Z Keenan 0-9 (9f), P Purcell, W Hyland and R King 0-1 each.

Referee - D Kirwan (Cork)

Waterford Minor and Intermediate teams look for wins this weekend

It’s a big weekend for Camogie in Waterford.

In the last two weekends, two of the counties inter county sides were in action in the Munster Championship. The Minor’s two weeks ago lost to Cork at Fraher Field and last weekend in Ballybrown, defeat again was Waterford’s lot against Limerick in the under 16 championship.

However, this weekend the ‘real’ serious stuff starts. The county minors are in action against Offaly in the All-Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship on Saturday afternoon at Belmont while the counties Intermediate side take on Tipperary in the first round of the Daily Star National League at Carriganore on Sunday afternoon.

The minors under the guidance of Joey Carton, Don McMahon and Maurice Kelleher head to play Offaly after spending the last number of weeks and months preparing for the game.

They will have left no stone unturned in a bid to be ready for this game.

They had a good showing from their charges two weeks ago in the Munster Championship against Cork, even if defeat was their lot on the day.

They can take something from the fact that two years ago the side played the rebels in the Under 16 B Final and on that day again defeat was their lot. It must be remembered that on that day it was Cork’s second team that Waterford played on two weeks ago it was Cork’s strongest side after Waterford opted to move up a grade for this year.

Offaly two years ago played in the ‘A’ grade in the All-Ireland under 16 championship and along the way they played Cork’s ‘A’ side and only lost on the day by two points, so going on that game and the recent game in Fraher Field Waterford will be expecting a tough battle at Belmont.

The Midlanders have some very good players which they can call upon for this game including the likes of Gillian Kirwan, Mairead Jennings, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Sarah Harding, Róisín Egan and Sarah Walsh.

Some great work is been done in Waterford in the last few years, and it is great to see this paying off now with Waterford taking part in an ‘A’ grade competition.

The team for Saturday is unlikely to show many changes to the team that played Cork recently.

That will mean that outstanding prospects like Brianna O’Regan will continue in goals, Róisín Cahillane will be at full back, in front of her Courtney Healy, Iona Heffernan and Saoirse Bonner.

In the middle of the field Megan Dunford and Caoimhe McGrath could well get the nod to start there again while in attack Dawn Power, Kate McMahon, Molly Curran, Niamh Ahearne, Beth Carton and Aisling Power will all be in contention once more for a place in the team from the start.

Waterford will know the step up from ‘B’ grade camogie at under 16 to ‘A’ grade in minor is a big one, but one that they are capable of negotiating.

On Sunday it’s the turn of the Intermediates to have their first competitive outing of the year when they play Tipperary at the WIT Campus in Carriganore.

Waterford this year is under new management this year. Sean Fleming who has worked with the different underage teams and as development officer on the County Board of the past four or five years has taken over from Niall O’Donnell as manager.  

He will have working with him former Waterford senior hurling selector Brother Phil Ryan and Chris Dempsey who is regarded as one of the up and coming coaches within the game.

The new management team will be short a number of regulars over the years for this game.

Karen Kelly, Mairead Murphy and Pauline Cunningham after giving many years of outstanding and unselfish service to the county have decided to retire and the three will be a big loss to the panel in 2015.

Also missing will be the Lismore players in the panel as they prepare for their All-Ireland Final with Piltown next weekend, while there are doubts also about the availability of Jenny McCarthy and Niamh Rockett.

Tipperary will send a strong team to the venue on the outskirts of Waterford city for this game, but Waterford will be somewhat thankful with so many missing for the game it is a second string side from the Premier County that they are playing. If they were playing a first string selection from any county, the task would be much tougher.

Although Waterford will be short for this game, new manager Sean Fleming will be able to call upon a strong panel of players.

Players from Saint Anne’s, Gailltir, Cappoquin and An Rinn may well make up the bulk of the panel for this weekend, but some players from the newer clubs that have been formed in the city and county over the past number of years could also get a run out here, many of whom have come from successful under 16 and minor teams over the past two or three years.

While Waterford will be somewhat depleted, the players that will come in and get their chance on the day will see this as a chance to put in a good performance and stake a place for themselves in the team for the remainder of the year.

This is a game where Waterford will be hoping to win the full two points on offer to the winner in the league table. The winning margin will not be all that important.

Waterford Ladies look for third win in National Football League

Waterford Intermediate Ladies Footballers put their unbeaten start to this year’s Tesco Homegrown National Football League on the line on Sunday morning when they take on another unbeaten side after two series of games – Sligo at Fraher Field. The game has an 11-45am throw in.

When the sides met at the Sligo IT grounds in March of 2014, the home side beaten a Waterford side that had been unbeaten up to that stage, one of two defeats the Déise ladies suffered in the league section of the competition, and will be looking for revenge this year on a ground that is much more familiar to them than they had played at in the Yates County.

Waterford have done well so far to record a narrow win in their first game against Wexford at the same ground and again last time out in Fraher Field when they comprehensively beat a Fermanagh side that beat Waterford in the quarter finals of last year’s TG4 Intermediate Championship and who went on to contest the All-Ireland Final against Fermanagh where they were well beaten.

Waterford this year, are under a new Management team and they will no doubt instilling into their charges in the run up to this game that Sligo will provide a serious test to Waterford.

The Yates County Side has been very impressive so far in the lead.

They began beating Longford 1-16 to 0-7 and last time out they had another excellent result, beating Wexford 4-8 to 0-5.

The will bring with them to the Old Boro, a team that is full of talented football. Noelle Gormley will be their most famous player and will line out between the posts where she has excelled all year.

However they are by no means a one player team.

Katie Walsh made her debut in the win over Longford for Sligo and put in an impressive hours work and followed it up with another outstanding display against Wexford.

Stephanie O’Reilly has impressed a lot playing at centre forward as had Sinead McTiernan in the middle of the field alongside Bernie Byrne. Elsie Codd (pictured below) at centre back and Sarah Reynolds at wing forward have all impressed to date in their two games and last time out after missing out on the game with Longford, Emma Hansberry was very impressive in the full forward line against Wexford.

Waterford when they take to the field against Sligo are likely to show a number of changes to the side that played the same opposition last March.

The players filling numbers one to four are all likely to show changes from twelve months ago. Katie Hannon has replaced Aimee Jordan between the posts this year. Nora Dunphy and Mary Foley who filled the corner back positions last year have been replaced by Megan Dunford and Emma Hannon this year, while Karen McGrath who has played in many different positions for Waterford in the last number of years looks set to stay at full back for this game.

The outstanding centre of the field pairing of Michelle McGrath and Elaine Power (pictured above) have moved to positions in the half back line this year and could line out alongside Caoimhe McGrath.

Last time out Mary Kate Morrissey and Mairead Wall lined out in the centre of the field and could well retain their places in this game.

In attack, Waterford manager Pat Sullivan has a host of options open to him.

Team captain Linda Wall and Michelle Ryan look set to remain in the side from last years win.

Grainne Kennelly lined out at centre forward in the win over Fermanagh and impressed hitting two points, could well be excused for this weekends game as she has a big game next weekend, when she will be expected to play a major roll for Lismore against Piltown in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final at GAA Head quarters on March 2. Mairead Power who came on as a sub in the win over Fermanagh could well be excused for the same reason, as she will be lining out with Piltown in that same game.

Hannah Landers would be expected to again line out in attack or even in the middle of the field as would Sinead Ryan who is a valuable addition to the team this year after a spell away from the inter county scene. Maria Delahunty is also impressing this year and she too would be expected to start.

All this means that there could be one place up for grabs from the side that played Fermanagh. Aileen Wall, Shauna Dunphy, Liz Devine, Ciara Hurley, Margaret Revins, Aoife Dunne and Lauren McGregor are the players that would be expected to challenge strongest if as expected Grainne Kenneally may be left out with the camogie game a week later in mind.

Something has to given by about 1pm on Sunday afternoon at Fraher Field. At least one of the unbeaten sides in the third division of the National ladies football league will have to loose points.

It has to be taken that the visitors will travel down the evening before the game. To be down for an 11-45am throw staying at home the night before would be a big ask. Sometimes when players travel to big games, they like to sleep in their own beds the night before, so as to be rested properly for the game.

With this in mind, Waterford get the nod to collect a third lot of three points in this game, but it could be close.