Lismore and Saint Anne’s do battle for County Senior Camogie Title

The curtain is expected to come down on those involved with Camogie at the highest level within the county on Saturday afternoon with the playing of this years County Senior Camogie Final at Fraher Field. (2pm)

Not surprisingly this year’s final is a repeat of that of the last few years with holders Lismore doing battle with Saint Annes.

The two clubs between them have shared the bulk of the titles won in the last decade, winning the last six between them split 4-2 in Lismore’s favour.

For many that are involved in this years final it has been a long year. For some the year will end after Saturday’s Final provided there is a winner of course, but for others the year will go on for another while as the prize for the winners on Saturday is not just the crown of County Senior Camogie Champions for 2015, but also the right to represent Waterford in this years Munster Club Championship.

When the sides met last year, Lismore came out on top winning 1-7 to 0-9.

As the score line in that game suggested, that game was one that went right to the wire, and with some luck the game could have resulted in a win for Saint Anne’s.

The game was a cagy affair throughout with no side wanting to give the other any sort of advantage. But while the game was cagey it was still a pretty enjoyable contest.

The biggest talking point from last years final was a point that looked to be from the stand eight minutes into the second half which was waved wide by the umpires at the road end of the ground.

Inter county star Niamh Rockett sent in a ball from the stand side of the field which looked as if it had slipped inside the right hand upright but despite protests from the Saint Anne’s player the decision of the umpire was accepted by the referee.

On the day it was noted at the time that there was no trying to influence the umpires that you see at times when it comes to tight calls which might have suggested that they thought the umpire would have reached for the white flag or else they all fully agreed with the official before any signal was made.

Despite Saint Anne’s making a lot of the early running that day they failed to show their dominance on the score board and were made pay for it somewhat when Lismore registered the first score of the day on seven minutes, a goal from Caithriona McGlone.

Lismore’s lead was then stretched to five when Aoife Hannon put over a brace of frees.

However the Saint Anne’s fightback soon began hitting the next six scores.

Karen Kelly got the ball rolling with a free and it was followed with efforts from Jennie Simpson and Zoe O’Donoghue.

Karen Kelly put over a brace of frees in a four minute spell before half time to draw the sides level before the same player hit her fourth of the game to give her side the lead for the first time, one that they were full value for.

However the sides would turn around locked 1-3 to 0-6 as Aoife Hannon showed that what Karen Kelly could do at one end of the field she could do at the other putting over her third free of the afternoon.

The chance by Niamh Rockett already mentioned above was the first chance of note in the second half. Had it being registered as a score we will now never know if the game would have had a different outcome.

The first score of the second half did not come till eleven minutes in when Caithriona McGlone gave Lismore the lead once more and she followed it up with another score three minutes later.

But Saint Anne’s refused to throw in the towel and continued to make a game of it for the then All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club champions.

Karen Kelly landed a brace of frees to level matters for the third time in the game with nine minutes remaining.

Lismore took the lead with seven minutes left when a Aoife Hannon attempt for goal was deflected over the crossbar by Ciara Phelan. Laura Buckley followed up with another point for Lismore but Karen Kelly pulled one back to leave the minimum between the sides with time ticking down.

Three minutes into added time Saint Anne’s won a free inside their own half of the field and opted to bring Karen Kelly back to attempt to shoot between the posts to level matters, which would have proven to be a fair result.

From between her own 45 and 65 mete lines the now former Inter county player stood over the ball and a hush fell amongst the 500 or so fans inside the ground. Giving the ball plenty of elevation, the Saint Anne’s player had no difficulty with the range but her accuracy was just out as the sliotar tailed to the left at the last minute of the left post as she looked on.

And while another two minutes was played after this, it proved to be the last chance that either side had of adding to their tally on the score board.

Last years final as can be seen was a closely fought affair and this years final is expected to be no different.

The side’s have clashed already once in the league section of the championship with the game ending in a 3-4 (Saint Anne’s) to 1-10 draw.

Last year in the region of 500 people say Lismore win. This year with Waterford winning an All-Ireland in the past three weeks its hoped that the attendance will surpass that figure by some distance as a number of players involved in Waterford’s win over Kildare will be involved in this game.

Lismore will have Waterford captain Caithriona McGlone, Nicola Morrissey and Shona Curran involved while for Saint Anne’s Claire Whyte, Charlotte Raher, Jennie Simpson, Niamh Rockett, Becky Kavanagh, Claire Murphy, Sibeal Harney and Saoirse Bonner will be involved.

Both sides will have some very experienced players in their panel to choose from.

In addition to their Inter County players, Lismore will be looking to the likes of Tanya Morrissey, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell, Aoife and Johanna Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Ellen Curran, Sharon Williams, Ruth Geoghegan, the experienced Jennifer Kingston and Grainne Kenneally who last weekend won a Ladies Football All-Ireland final for much of their inspiration.

Saint Anne’s will be looking to their inter county players to inspire them but also if selected will be looking to experienced players like Mairead Murphy, Pauline Cunningham, Zoe O’Donoghue and Karen Kelly for their leadership as well as to the likes of Labhaoise Dunbar, Bronwyn Grace and Catherine Kelly.

Twelve months ago when previewing the final, I sat on the fence when trying to decide who will win the final.

This year I am not going to do so.

In the last while my record of predicting has got some bit better, and it will be interesting to see will it remain good this weekend.

Lismore go into the game having gathered a great deal of experience in the past few years.

They have won the last two finals, adding two Munster Intermediate Club titles to their senior club county titles and have appeared in the last All-Ireland Finals winning the final in March 2014 beating Ballyhale Shamrocks after a replay at Clonmel.

Saint Anne’s last won the title in 2012 beating Lismore in the final at Ardmore. However since then many of the side that will feature in this weekend’s final were part of the team that won the County League title in May 2014.

So who is going to win?

I can’t but think to myself that Lismore this year may not be as strong as they were in the last few years. They have brought in some in some good young players but are they are good as the experienced heads that are not expected to be involved this weekend.

For me its Saint Anne’s this weekend, but if Lismore do make it three in a row of titles, I would not be surprised.

In the other games to be played this weekend at Fraher Field, Brickeys play Dungarvan or An Rinn in an under 13 B Final at 3-30pm while an hour later the County Minor Final will be between De La Salle and Cappoquin. Again like in the senior game there will be players involved who won All-Ireland medals with Waterford. For Cappoquin, Aisling Power will be involved while for De La Salle Brianna O’Regan and Beth Carton will be wearing the white and red shirt. The city side will go into the game as favourites but you write any side from the Cornerstone Town off at your pearl.