Brianna’s hoping for a better result in her second Croke Park visit.

Waterford won a first Under 16 ‘B’ All-Ireland Camogie title in 2003 when a side captained by Lismore’s Laura Buckley comprehensively beat Armagh 6-11 to 1-4 at Portlaoise.

Since then Waterford have appeared in five other finals, loosing to Derry 3-14 to 2-2 in 2007 after a replay was required after a 2-7 to 3-4 draw.

Two years later, Waterford were again back in a final, but again defeat was to be Waterford’s lot as they narrowly lost out to Wexford on a 2-11 to 1-12 score line.

And to show that Waterford are moving in the right direction when it comes to Camogie, Waterford appeared in the last two finals, loosing to Cork in 2013 but won the last two finals, the latter as late as last weekend, beating Derry and Dublin in the finals in the respective years.

In two of these three finals Brianna O’Regan, one of Waterford’s rising stars played a major roll for the side in White and Blue as she lined out in goal against Cork in 2013 at Mallow and against Derry twelve months later at Leixlip and for good measure she also lined out with the County minors last year as they too won the championship decider again beating Derry.

After Sean Fleming was appointed as Intermediate team manager for 2015, having worked with many of the promising players coming though the underage scene in Waterford in recent years, it was no surprise that the brilliant De La Salle teenager got called up to the Waterford panel for the year ahead.

Throughout the year she has provided back up for the experienced Deirdre Brennan in the Waterford set up.

The De La Salle club player who can be instantly recognised by many Camogie supporters around the country despite still having another season to play in the minor grade and not yet being a regular in starting line up was the number one choice for the number one shirt for the Waterford minors this year who played in the ‘A’ grade for the first time admits that being back up goalkeeper to the intermediate at times can be a little frustrating as she sees many of the subs get a run out on a regular basis but she also admits that the experience she is gaining just being involved at such a young age will stand to her in the future.

Brianna is not the only member of last years under 16 and minor teams that received the phone call that every young player looks forward to at the start of the year.

Fellow De La Salle club player Beth Carton also has made a huge impact this year playing in the half forward line hitting many important scores for her side.

But many others from last years victorious under 16 and minor teams last year have made the step up including Saoirse Bonner, Siebel Harney, Aisling Power, Kate McMahon, Iona Heffernan, Lorraine Bray (who is involved with a few years now), Molly Curran, Orla Flynn and Dawn Power.  

The De La Salle shot stopper however has been watching those coming behind her and after seeing Waterford retain the Under 16 ‘B’ All-Ireland last weekend when they beat Dublin 2-8 to 1-7 at Nenagh, she feels that there is others coming along that could well form part of the Waterford set up in recent years, including fellow De La Salle players Taylor Healy and Aisling Madigan, Gailltir’s Shauna Fitzgerald, Dungarvan’s Kaiesha Tobin who in recent weeks won Under 16 Ladies Football and Camogie All-Ireland Final medals and for good measure was judged to be the Player of the Game in both games, and she also lists Laura Murray from Cappoquin as those that should have an eye kept on in the coming years.

The Cappoquin player who was influential in getting her club to the final of the County Senior Camogie League Final earlier this year in the clubs first year playing senior, but despite an excellent performance in that game at Tallow was powerless in stopping her side going under to neighbours Lismore, was ruled out of this years under 16 championship because of Injury.

Brianna, like the rest of the panel has put in a massive commitment this year and it is paying off. She was part of the Waterford side that beat Laois in the League Final back in May at Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow and now looking to add a Intermediate All-Ireland Medal to her already impressive collection of medals.

When she runs onto Croke Park on September 13 with the rest of the Waterford players it will be her second time to run onto the field having done so in the past with her club side De La Salle in a Féile Division 2 Final in 2012.

On that occasion, Brianna’s visit to Croke Park was to end in disappointment as her side which included the likes of Taylor Healy, Abbey Flynn, Beth Carton, Colette Hogan, Aisling Madigan, Chloe Dempsey, Niamh Murphy, Katie Ryan, Courtney Healy and Caoimhe Drohan lost out to Clare side Inagh/Kilnamona on a 5-5 to 2-3 score line.

The De La Salle youngster no doubt will be hoping for a better outcome this time around and having beating All-Ireland opponents Kildare twice already this year in the League Semi final (1-15 to 1-7) and again in the last game of the group stages of the groups stages of the Championship (4-11 to 1-10) who’s to say that there wont be a better outcome this time around this time for Brianna.