Waterford to Welcome All-Ireland Champions to Fraher Field

When it comes to Ladies Football in the last decade or so, one team has dominated.

There are few words that can describe the performances of Cork in recent years. The Rebellette’s as they have often been called have appeared in 12 of the last 13 National League Division One Finals, winning all but two of them, losing out in 2004 and 2012. Only in 2007 since 2004 have they failed to reach the final.

They have won 11 out of the last 12 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Finals, the only occasion in this time they did not win the Brendan Martin Cup was in 2010 when they were beaten in the quarter final stages of the competition against Tyrone in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals at Banagher. The Ulster side went on to reach the All-Ireland Final that same year but lost out to Dublin at G.A.A. Headquarters.

Since 2004 they have appeared in every Munster Senior Football Final, winning all but two of these finals, losing out to Kerry in 2013 and again two years later.

Cork has won the National League Division Two Final in 2003 and the Division Three Final four years earlier.

On the underage front Cork have also been dominant in recent years, winning seven of the last nine All-Ireland Finals that they have appeared in dating back to 2002, at under 16 level they have won six of the eight All-Ireland’s they have appeared in since 2004 and at under 14 level going back to 2000, the All-Ireland final has found a home on Lee-side on nine occasions, their only defeat coming two years ago.

They will come to Dungarvan this Sunday afternoon with the warmest of favourite tags around their necks and will look to add to their already impressive Roll of Honour in recent years.

But while they travelled to Dungarvan as the warmest of favourites, they will not be underestimating the home side.

They will only have to look what happened at the same venue last weekend at the same venue when the same two counties clashed in the Munster Senior (mens) Football Championship when Waterford pushed Cork all the way and in truth were somewhat unlucky not to have won a game that few if any gave Waterford a chance of winning.

Nobody in the Cork side will underestimate this Waterford side and they will not need any telling that the Waterford side that they face this weekend have already beaten Kerry at the same venue and on that occasion the side from the Kingdom travelled to Dungarvan as warm favourites.

They will also know that in the last number of years that a great deal of time and energy has gone into the promotion of Ladies Football in Waterford and that the man behind a lot of this work is the current Waterford manager Pat O’Sullivan as he has brought players through from the underage scene, winning All-Ireland finals along the way and blended them in with a group of experienced senior players , and under the Dungarvan man they have tasted success in the adult grades appearing and winning in National League Finals, Munster Intermediate Final and All-Ireland Intermediate Finals.

Cork come into this game on somewhat of a high after winning the National Division One League Final in early May when they beat Donegal 2-15 to 2-14 at Parnell Park.

The Ulster side had beating Cork in the group section of the league 3-16 to 0-12 in the final round of games, but as is often the case in this grade of football, the side the loses the first day often comes out on top the second day when they meet in close proximity, as they often are the side that learns most.

In their recent National League Final success, they fielded just seven of the side that won last year’s All-Ireland Final, but were still able to field what is a very strong starting fifteen.

On that day they were without team captain Ciara O’Sullivan who is captain of the side this year and were also without last year’s Player of the Year Brid Stack as both were injured on the day and if both are recovered for this weekend’s game, they will considerably strengthen the Cork side.

On that day it was Orla Finn that was their scorer in chief as the Kinsale Club player kicked a very impressive 1-10.

Cork that day had a tonic start as Orla Finn was found by Niamh Cotter and she made no mistake in slotting to the net with just nineteen seconds played.

If Waterford were to allow Cork to have the same start this weekend it could well prove to be a long afternoon at the Shandon Road ground as players like Orlagh Farmer, Eimear Scally, Niamh Cotter and Brid O’Sullivan amongst others are all quality players.

But we would be foolish to think that this game is just all about Cork and how good a side they are.

Waterford are a side that will get people to sit up and take notice.

They done this when they beat Armagh in the All-Ireland series last year and they have done so again this year in beating Kerry.

The league was something that did not go as well as many would have liked for most, as Waterford finished second from bottom in Division Two, winning just two games and drawing one of their seven games and finishing five points off the tally set to win a place in the semi-finals.

But it’s worth remembering since Pat Sullivan took over control of the Senior Side he has used the league to give all his panel as much playing time as is possible, and it’s worth noting that Grainne Kenneally missed the entire league and anyone that has seen her play will know of her value to any team and he was also without key players like Katie Hannon, Maria Enright and Michelle Ryan for different games at different points in the league.

Against Kerry last time out Waterford really impressed at Fraher Field.

Waterford were without Katie Hannon that day, but Jessica Fitzgerald proved an able deputy and if the Ballyduff Upper player who was judged to be the best goalkeeper in Division Two of the National League returns to the side for this game she will considerably strengthen the side.

Elsewhere it is hard to see where any changes can be made to strengthen the team barring there is positional changes.

That will mean that Kate McGrath, Caoimhe McGrath and Megan Dunford will continue in the full back line, with Dearbhaile Ní hAodha and the McGrath sisters Karen and Michelle just in front of them.

Last time out Mairead Wall and Emma Murray were in the middle of the field, with Katie Murray, Grainne Kenneally and Róisín Tobin in the half forward line. These three players are players of the highest caliber. Katie Murray is a rising star of the game, Grainne Kenneally is a player who puts in a massive hours work in any game she plays, be it in Ladies Football or Camogie while Róisín Tobin is having a fantastic year for Waterford and possibly her best since she became part of the panel and must consider herself very unlucky not to have been included in the team of the year in the recent National League.

The inside forward line the last day out is one that would strike fear in most sides as Maria Delahunty who is truly a magnificent player and as a good a kicker of a placed ball than any of the top men footballers such as Stephen Cluxton or Maurice Fitzgerald from recent years. Either side of her last time was the Ballymacarbry duo of Michelle Ryan and Aileen Wall, both of whom are players who know where the goal posts are and are also able to bring others into play.

When the two sides met last year in the first round of the round robin Munster Championship, Waterford pushed Cork all the way before losing out 1-10 to 0-7 at Fermoy.

Waterford this year are without players like Linda Wall and Sinead Ryan who are players that would find a place in any team, but as we saw against Kerry, there is enough strength in the side to replace them.

Cork will start this game with possibly a handful of players that started last years in Fermoy, with the players coming in strengthening the side in many areas even if they could be without players like Briege Corkery and Rena Buckley.

Make no mistake, any bookie that will quote odds on the game will have Cork odds on to win, but we all know that you right off any Waterford side at your pearl and Waterford side are no different. They will take heart from what happened at the same venue last Saturday evening when another Cork side travelled to Fraher Field.

Can Waterford win this game? You can bet your bottom dollar as they say, they can.

Katie’s Best Keeper

Ballyduff Upper Club Player Katie Hannon is the sole Waterford representative on this year’s Division Two Lidl Ladies Football Team of the Year in the National League.

Katie who has come back into the Waterford set up in the last couple of season’s and has made a huge impact.

Within weeks of her return to the Waterford set up she helped the county reach the Division Three League Final which Waterford were somewhat unlucky not to have won the game in controversial circumstances against Sligo at Parnell Park in Dublin.

Katie and Waterford however would make up for that defeat by capturing the Intermediate All-Ireland Final recording a very good win over Kildare at Croke Park.

Twelve months on from the defeat of Sligo in the National League Final of 2015, Katie and Waterford were back in the final at 2016 where they drew with Tipperary at Clane thanks to a late pressure kick converted by Maria Delahunty, and in the replay at Semple Stadium Katie and Waterford in a game that proved to be a curtain raiser for the National Hurling League replay between Waterford and Clare, where another pressure kick by Maria Delahunty helped Waterford collect a second major piece of silverware in eight months.

The eight sides that took part in Division Two of this year’s league all have at least one player picked in the best XV in the league.

While Waterford finished the league in seventh place, five points off the number needed to secure a semi-final spot, the county are somewhat unlucky not to have had more representatives in the best XV.

In the side’s campaign, while all players in the panel were given a run, maybe as a result cutting down on the time they played overall in the league, players like Michelle Ryan, Maria Delahunty, Aileen and Mairead Wall, Lauren McGregor and Róisín Tobin along with Katie Hannon were all very impressive.

Westmeath who won this year’s Division Two final beating Cavan after a replay finished the league with three players in the best XV, as Rachel Dillon was named as the best right corner back, Laura Brennan was named the best left half back while Maud Annie Foley was selected in the Number Nine shirt.

Runners up Cavan however had the most representatives with four places on the best XV with Sinead Greene named as the best right half back, Donna English in the number eight shirt, while it was no surprise to see Aisling Sheridan and Aisling Donovan picked in the corner forward positions.

Clare also have three representatives on the team of the year with Laurie Ryan picked at full back, Ailish Considine at right half forward and Niamh O’Dea at full forward.

Elsewhere there is one place each for Kildare, Tyrone, Sligo and Laois.

Kildare’s Aisling Curley was picked at left full back, Neamh Woods of Tyrone at Centre Back, Stephanie O’Reilly from Sligo is named at centre forward and Erone Fitzpatrick from Laois fills the number twelve shirt.

Brave Déise Fall Just Short Against Rebels

Yes, the score board at Fraher Field is correct, and yes the result is that at full time in the Munster Senior Football Championship game.

Cork may be no longer the side that they once were when it comes to football, but they are still ranked well above Waterford and would be expected by most to reach the last eight at least in this year’s All-Ireland Football Championship, so hopefully those that take pleasure out of knocking Waterford Football will realise once and for all, when given a fair chance, football in Waterford is much better than most will give it credit for.

Cork travelled to Fraher Field this afternoon the most fancied of sides, but they needed to points in stoppage time when they had only fourteen men on the field to ensure that “The Biggest Shock in Gaelic Football in Many Years” did not happen this evening.

Waterford pushed Cork from the throw in right to the final whistle and if they can repeat this display in the qualifiers, should Waterford get a home fixture not many teams will fancy coming to Fraher Field.

Heading into stoppage time of which there was seven minutes there was a distinct possibility that the two sides would have to head to Pairc Ui Rinn for a replay, but late points from Com O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan even if Donie Breathnach pulled one back for the home side, ensured that the visiting side advanced to a Munster Semi Final against Tipperary and keep the counties chances of a Munster Final against Kerry being the first game to be played at the new Pairc Ui Chaoimh in early July.

At the break the visitors were a goal in front, but the home side came out the stronger of the two sides for the second half and kicked 1-2 before Cork added to their first half total.

Waterford started the game brightly as Donie Breathnach from a free opened the scoring on five minutes, only for John O’Rourke to equalise. A point from Tommy Prendergast quickly followed and some were wondering even at this early stage how close Waterford would be to Cork at the end of seventy minutes.

Cork hit the first goal of the game on eighteen minutes when Colm O’Neill found Paul Kerrigan and from close range the Nemo Rangers man made not mistake in finding the net using his fist to the ball.

Michael Curry pulled a point back for Waterford before John O’Rourke hit his second of the game, after which Aidan Trihy a late change for Waterford before the game scored followed with another John O’Rourke score to keep the visitors in front by two.

The final score of the opening half went in the way of the visitors, Paul Kerrigan putting the size Five over Stephen Enright’s crossbar, giving his side a 1-4 to 0-4 lead as the sides headed to the dressing rooms with Cork having played into the breeze.

Waterford have not beaten Cork in the Munster Championship since 1960 and early in the second half it looked maybe that that long run without a win over their neighbours might come to an end.

Kilrossanty club man Joey Veale sent in a free around the Cork danger zone and thankfully from a Waterford perspective Gavin Crotty was in the right place to finish to the net to level matters on the score board.

Paul Whyte edged Waterford in front and when Donie Breathnach landed another point the headline makers in the local and national papers were surly dreaming up some creative headlines for their publications.

Cork drew level with efforts from Donnacha O’Connor and then James Loughrey leaving the Rebel Support inside Fraher Field hoping that their side could go and press on using their greater experience in the closing minutes of this battle.

Donie Breathnach edged Waterford in front once more only for Donnacha O’Connor to level matters once more.

The An Rinn Club Man who was outstanding for Waterford over the course of the seventy minutes gave Waterford a 1-8 to 1-7 lead but the visitors followed up with efforts from Paul Kerrigan and Donnacha O’Connor to give them the smallest of advantages on the score board.

The visitors would finish the game with 13 men after Alan O’Connor was ordered off by the County Clare Referee after he fouled Brian Looby who had to leave the field following the foul in the closing minutes and they had had James Loughrey black carded late on by which time they had emptied their bench.

Mark Collins put Cork two in front after which Paul Whyte and Donie Breathnach landed scores to tie the sides 1-10 a piece on the score board.

Injury time scores from Colm O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan looked as if it had given Cork a safe passage to the Semi Finals, but Donie Breathnach with his sixth score of the game left just one between the sides.

But time ran out for Waterford. Had they got something from this game, nobody would have said they did not deserve it.

This result will have got some to sit up and take notice that football in Waterford is nowhere near as poor as some would suggest. Tom McGlinchey’s men deserved to get something from this game for the effort they put in.

Down the years Waterford has not got some favourable draws when it come to the qualifiers. Hopefully when the draws for this year’s qualifiers take place that it will be kind to Waterford and at give Tom McGlinchey’s side a home draw.

Cork: Ken O’Halloran; Kevin Crowley, Michael Shields, Jamie O Sullivan; Tomas Clancy, James Loughrey, Stephen Cronin; Aidan Walsh, Ruairi Deane; Kevin O’Driscoll, Mark Collins, John O Rourke; Colm O Neill, Peter Kelleher, Paul Kerrigan. Subs: Alan O’Connor for Aidan Walsh (11), Donnacha O’Connor for Kevin O’Driscoll (45), Ian Maguire for Ruairi Deane (49), Sean Powter for Stephen Cronin (53), Gary Murphy for Peter Kelleher (63), Barry O’Driscoll for John O’Rourke (65).

Scorers: Paul Kerrigan 1-3, John O’Rourke 0-3, Donnacha O’Connor 0-3, Colm O’Neill (0-1f), Mark Collins, James Loughrey 0-1 each.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Brian Looby, Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Thomas O’Gorman; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Stephen Prendergast, James McGrath; Tommy Prendergast, Michael Curry; Fearghal Ó Cuirrín, Paul Whyte, Aidan Trihy; Donie Breathnach, Joey Veale, Gavin Crotty. Subs: Conor Murray for Ferghal Ó Cuirrín (44), Michael O’Halloran for Joe Veale (49), Lorcan Ó Corraoin for Brian Looby (65), Dylan Guiry for Aidan Trihy (69).

Scorers: Donie Breathnach 0-6 (0-5f), Gavin Crotty 1-0, Paul White 0-2, Tommy Prendergast 0-1, Michael Curry 0-1, Aidan Trihy 0-1.

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)

Beth’s The Best

Beth Carton is already a big name when it comes to Camogie and it was confirmed very much so on Friday evening when she was crowned the Division One Player of the League in this year’s National Camogie League at a function held at G.A.A. Headquarters in Croke Park.

The De La Salle youngster has made a big name for herself in the last number of years, first off on the underage scene where she helped Waterford win Under 16 and Minor All-Ireland Final titles, before showing what she can do on the adult scene helping Waterford win a Division Two League Final and an Intermediate All-Ireland Final in 2015 in her first year playing at that level.

Since then playing in the Division One section of the National League and in the Senior Championship she has continued to very much impress.

She was part of a Waterford side that played in a tough division one group that included recent All-Ireland Final winners Wexford, Cork and Kilkenny where along with the rest of the side she impressed those that made it their business to go and support the team.

During the League she hit a very impressive 1-45 which was broken down as 1-8 against Wexford, 0-9 against Dublin, 0-7 against Cork, 0-13 against All-Ireland Champions Kilkenny and rounded off the league with 0-8 against Tipperary.

To win the award as the best player in Division One in this year’s League, Beth had to fight off stiff opposition from Anne Dalton, Denise Gaule and Miriam Walsh all from Kilkenny as well as Limerick’s star player Niamh Mulcahy.

The three Player of the League awards in the three different divisions were selected by opposition managers.

This is the fourth major award that the De La Salle Club player has won this year.

In February she won the monthly award for the Park Hotel Sports Star of the Month Award and for good measure she also win the WLR.fm Granville Hotel Award for her performances with Waterford and for helping University of Limerick win the Ashbourne Cup.

February also saw the De La Salle and Waterford player win the Women’s Gaelic Players Association Player of the Month Award for Camogie fending off stiff opposition from Clare’s Chloe Morey and Ciara Story from Wexford.

It’s The Christmas Eve of the Munster Hurling Championship

As I begin to hit the buttons on my laptop we are just over 24 hours away from something that we all look forward to each year, the start of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.

This year’s championship could well be one to remember as it could well prove to be the last as we know it. From next year it is purposed that the competition will take a new look as each of the five teams taking part would be given four games to play at a minimum in a round robin league style competition, with each team guaranteed two home and two away games, with the top two teams in the league qualifying for the Munster Final.

Do we need such a competition? Do we want another league for our players to play in? The players might want games, but what about the supporters. It’s already expensive enough for most people to attend games, and if we are to present supporters with more games to attend, will it mean that for some games that supporters especially of the away teams will vote with their feet and keep their wallets in their pockets and decide to stay away from games.

The question has to be asked, why do our competitions now a days have to be played league style.

We already have a Munster League as a run up to the National League and now there is talks of a Munster League style Championship and even an All-Ireland super eights something similar that is to take place in football.

I and I know many others when we hear of new competitions or new look competition it is all down to money, and there is little or no consideration given to player burn out that arises every so often.

And if such a competition was to come in where would it leave the Club Championships.

Remember in Waterford, the Championship is run on a league style basis. Would clubs be expected to play without their inter county players in the league section of the competition and if they do, does it mean that they have to call up players from their intermediate or junior team and where would that leave these teams for clubs and the players not called up if there is an objection to players being allowed to play senior and then going back to play Intermediate or Junior.

The championships in Waterford could go knockout of course but where does that leave the players not part of the inter county set up. Do we deprive them of games all summer long, or of somewhat meaningful games anyway, as it could be argued that the county leagues are there for them, but how many of us supporters can hand on heart tell another person when league or Sargent Cup games take place.

Let’s hope that before there is any further tinkering of the championships we already have that the ordinary club player is thought of and that we never loose sign of the fact the strength of the G.A.A. is built on the foundations of the clubs up and down the county and the country.

With just over twenty four hours to go to the start of this year’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship the question on everyone’s lips is who can take the title off Tipperary.

Cork will be the first side to try, but will they succeed.

With the last few years the rebels have not shown themselves to be the side that they once were.

They are no longer winning underage titles and colleges titles like they once were, but they have won the Munster under 17 competition this year and they will argue that if they can build on that victory then they can return to where they once were.

Success at underage level does not always mean success at adult level and underage success on a given year does not mean it will follow at adult level as you need to have under 16, minor and under 21 teams performing well over a number of years and bringing players forward to stand any real chance of achieving big things in the adult grades.

Cork’s in the last few years up front have players as good as they have in any other county but it is in defence that they seem to have problems. Can they solve that this year and beat Tipperary on Sunday. It’s hard to know really. Getting the likes of Diarmuid O’Sullivan involved in the management side will be a help as he will have spent a great deal of times working with the backs in training it’s fair to assume, but no matter how good a player was if he gets involved in the coaching or management side of things when his player career comes to an end, if he does not have the materials he needs at his disposal, no matter what he tries to do could well prove useless.

Tipperary as we all know were well beaten in the recent National League Final and that will have hurt a lot of people in the Premier County. They like anyone else don’t like to lose to a neighbouring county.

But remember Tipperary are not just the reigning Munster Champions, they are also the All-Ireland Champions, and in the main no bad team win’s an All-Ireland and this Tipperary side have not become a bad team over night.

Make no mistake about it, Tipperary as hard as it is for someone living two miles from the county boundary to admit are going to be around for a time to come.

Kilkenny might not be as good as they once were and all involved with Tipperary know that. And they will want to show that they can take over from Kilkenny for a while as the number one side in the country. But one thing that most hurling supporters will know is that Tipperary while they can win Munster titles on a frequent basis, they find it very hard to put back to back titles together, so on the even bigger picture will give the other leading sides hope that this September could well be their time to shine in Croke Park. But again, not too many sides were given that chance to do so in recent times apart from Tipperary and Kilkenny.

Clare will be looking to show what they can do this year. Apart from Tipperary and Kilkenny they are the most recent winners of the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Many at this point make them the third ranked team in the province and because of the way the draws worked out for this year, they have a chance of making the provincial decider and therefore move up the ranking somewhat.

But first they have to overcome the challenge of Limerick and it has to be remembered that the Banner Men have not really impacted at this level since they won the All-Ireland Final back in 2013.

They won the League last year and were involved in a relegation play off this year which will have some wondering will 2017 on the championship scene be another to forget for the Banner Men.

They have some big name players in the likes of Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin, Shane O’Donnell and Brendan Bugler but have they enough players behind them that can step up to the mark. They have not won a Munster Final since 1998 and while they have talent in their ranks it’s hard to see them break that long spell without a Munster Title this year.

Limerick are a side that is hard to work out.

They are prove that success at underage level does not mean success will follow at adult level. The Treaty men have tasted plenty of success down the years, similar in a way to Galway at Minor and Under 21 levels and even at colleges levels but can’t seem to bring the talent they have forward to the next level.

Many would have felt that they could have come out of Division 1B in the National League this year, but once again failed to do so. While playing in Division 1B of the league has not stopped sides from winning the league in recent years as the last three winners have come from that league, when it comes to the championship and preparing for it, you really have to be playing in the top division of the league where you are guaranteed five strong games, something you are not always guaranteed in division 1B as at least two games could well prove to a mere walk in the park at times for the better sides in the division.

Just as Clare have the players to beat Limerick in the championship, Limerick have some fine players who can beat Clare, but can they go on then and win the next day.

And so to Waterford.

Derek McGrath’s side you feel have to win something this year. Minor and Under 21 Championships are won in recent years, but now supporters will want to see more won at a higher level.

The county has not won a Munster Final since 2010. That’s nothing when you consider that the Déise County went from 1963 to 2002 without winning one in the past, but many of the current Waterford supports are brought up with success and would like now to see more.

Winning the league would have set Waterford up nicely going into the championship. Had Waterford beaten Galway and gone on to win the league it would mean that the side were playing competitive hurling together for a longer period. Yes the side are playing in challenge games like last week’s game with Limerick and this evening’s with Offaly, but you cannot beat a good competitive game to keep you on your toes.

Waterford right now are number two in Munster behind Tipperary and are best equipped to challenge them for the crown in Munster this year.

Tight throughout the side Waterford has plenty of talent, with players like Austin Gleeson, Tadhg De Búrca, Kevin Moran, Michael Walsh and Stephen Bennett.

It’s no secret that I for one am not a fan of the sweeper system deployed by the Waterford management side in recent years. If Waterford were to man on man with the winners of tomorrow’s game between Tipperary and Cork, they stand a good chance of winning a place in the provincial decider and once there you never know what might happen.

So who will win this year’s Munster Hurling Crown.

The head is telling me Tipperary, the heart says Waterford. As a Waterford supporter, I hope it’s the heart that is right.

Six Sides Do Battle For League Titles at Walsh Park

The second biggest day on the club scene in Waterford Camogie is upon us.

This Saturday evening Walsh Park will host a triple bill of games as the County Adult League Finals take place at the Keane’s Road venue.

Almost six weeks ago five division one teams, four division two teams and six in division three including Modeligo taking part for the first time all set out in a series of games over the next number of weeks to see which two in each division would reach this weekend’s finals.

To some it might sound like a broken record coming from me, but great credit must go to the County Camogie Board under the guidance of De La Salle’s Ita Murphy for the hard work they are putting in promoting the game of camogie and it is great to see them get benefits from all their hard work.

The game in the county has grown in the last few years and it would be great to see the game grow further in the years ahead. And as the game grows it would be great to see the numbers attending games increase, as those that play camogie and indeed Ladies Football are putting in the same effort and sometimes an even bigger effort than what those involved in men’s games are putting in and they fully deserve every ounce of support they can get and even more.

It would be nice to think that the six sides involved in this weekend’s finals would bring a good support to Walsh Park. Those that do make their way to the County Ground, regardless of how large or otherwise the attendance will almost guaranteed one thing, three truly enjoyable games if we are to go by the results of games served up in the league section of the competition.

The Division three final sees Dungarvan take on Tramore.

Dungarvan won the league section of the group winning all five of their games, or more correctly winning four and receiving a walkover from Modeligo in the fourth round of games, winning some games with some bit to spare at the end of the hour.

Tramore for their part reached this year’s winning four of their five games, their only loss being a 2-10 to 1-3 defeat in the first round of games to this Saturday’s opponent’s Dungarvan.

In their other games they had wins over Clonea, Portlaw and Tallow by margins between one and four points and recording a comprehensive victory over Modeligo in round three.

Division two was another interesting competition.

An Rinn topped the group with maximum points with wins over Gailltir’s second string team and this weekend’s opponents Ferrybank and getting a walk over last time out against Butlerstown who have in the recent past tasted success on days that An Rinn and Ferrybank will experience this weekend.

Ferrybank for their part qualified with two wins from three games recording a four point win over Butlerstown in round one and last time out they had a very good win over Gailltir, who must get great praise for fielding two teams in the competition and therefore getting and keeping as many as possible interested in the game in the area as is possible.

The Division one final will see Lismore and Gailltir do battle.

There can be no doubting that the two best sides right now in the county are involved in the final.

Both sides had four games to play and both finished the campaign recently with six points from a maximum of eight.

Gailltir began with a narrow win over De La Salle who are playing in the top grade only three years after fielding in the adult grades of competition for the first time. Next up they had a big win over Saint Anne’s, then had a win over Cappoquin before losing out in their last game to this weekend’s opponents.

Lismore began their league with a four point loss to near neighbours Cappoquin, but since then its wins all the way recording good wins over Gailltir, Saint Anne’s and De La Salle in their last game recently.

In all games played to date there has been plenty of goals and it would be nice to think that in all three finals that the attacking players will be once again on top and in doing so will help keep those that part with their cash at the turn styles well entertained.

The Division Three final between Dungarvan and Tramore promises to be an entertaining encounter.

On both sides there are some very good players to pick from.

On the Tramore team there is a number of players that have featured on different Inter County teams in recent years like Ciara Griffin, Abbie Dunphy, Tara Power, Saoirse English, Niamh Walsh as well as Shannon Acheson and Muireann Cuddihy.

Dungarvan too have some big name players who have worn the white and blue of Waterford down the years in the likes of Clodagh Curran, Kaiesha Tobin, Ann Marie Tutty, Taylor Murray, Aisling Baumann, Michaela Moran and Kayleigh Veale.

When the sides met in the league section Dungarvan won with ten points to spare, but that does not mean that they will win this time around.

When sides meet twice in close proximity it is often the side that lose out the first day is the side that learns the most.

But in saying that, the Old Boro Club are impressive in reaching the final and get the nod to win.

The Division two final at 5pm also promises to be an entertaining game between An Rinn and Ferrybank.

Again both sides have a number of quality players to choose from within their ranks.

The city from the city will have players like Iona Heffernan, Niamh Ahearne and Grainne Heffernan in their ranks all of whom have played for the county this year plus the likes of Amy Boden, Aisling Heffernan, Aisling Oates and Valerie O’Brien.

An Rinn also have players that were involved in different inter county teams in the likes of Fiona Morrissey, Aoife Landers, Fiona Ní Bhrian, Siobhan Murray, Áine Crotty, Sarah Morrissey and Cadhla McGrath.

When the sides met recently An Rinn won 6-10 to 5-6. We can expect another very tight battle this time around, with An Rinn expected to win again once more.

The Division One final between Lismore and Gailltir has all the makings of being a fine game.

The girls from the Barony last year broke the dominance of Lismore and Saint Anne’s within the county when they won a first county final in eight years.

They went on to win the Munster Intermediate Final and were somewhat unlucky not to have advanced to the All-Ireland final earlier this year.

Both sides have a high number of quality players, both young and experienced that won’t need any introductions to each other.

Lismore seem to have a stronger look to them than last year and will be looking this year to once again to be the number one club at this level within the county later in the year and will see winning here as stealing a march on the other for when the championship starts later on this year.

The Cathedral Town side will be looking to the likes of Shauna Kiernan, Catriona McGlone, Marie Russell, Grainne Kenneally, Tanya Morrissey, Shauna Prendergast, Aoife and Johanna Houlihan, Shona and Ellen Curran, Nicola Morrissey, Sharon Williams, Ruth Geoghegan and Laura Buckley whose father the winner’s trophy is in honour, for much of their guidance in this game.

If the Cathedral Town Club has some big hitters, so do have the Barony Ladies. They will be looking to have Sinead Cunningham, Shauna Fitzgerald, Áine Lyng, Emma Hannon-Roche, Clara Hogan, Ciara Jackman, Annie Glavey, Kate Lynch, Aileen Cummins, Sally O’Grady, Eilis Cullinane, Emer Walsh as well as Roisin and Aisling Flood.

So who will win this one which has a 7pm start?

When the sides met in the league section of the competition it was Lismore that ran out winners on a 3-11 to 1-7 score line.

They will fancy their chances of winning this game and keep their proud history in this competition alive.

Trish Jackman has not played for the county this year as she is out of the country studying and it remains to be seen if she will be involved in this game. If she does, then her side will have a very big chance of winning this competition for the first time, but if she is missing it will swing the pendulum in favour of Lismore.

Path’s To the Final

Division Three

Dungarvan	2	10	Tramore	1	3
Dungarvan	3	13	Portlaw	2	1
Dungarvan	1	22	Tallow	2	2
Dungarvan	Received	Walkover	Modeligo
Dungarvan	3	9	Clonea	1	5
Tramore	1	3	Dungarvan	2	10
Tramore	1	8	Clonea	0	10
Tramore	2	17	Modeligo	1	1
Tramore	3	7	Portlaw	3	3
Tramore	3	8	Tallow	3	5

Division Two

An Rinn	3	10	Gailltir ‘B’	2	7
An Rinn	6	10	Ferrybank	5	6
An Rinn	Received	Walkover	Butlerstown
Ferrybank	4	9	Butlerstown	4	5
Ferrybank	5	5	An Rinn	6	10
Ferrybank	3	15	Gailltir ‘B’	0	6

Division One

Lismore	2	9	Cappoquin	1	16
Lismore	3	11	Gailltir	1	7
Lismore	4	14	St Anne’s	4	6
Lismore	4	12	De La Salle	1	8
Gailltir	0	16	De La Salle	1	11
Gailltir	4	12	St Anne’s	1	7
Gailltir	4	7	Cappoquin	2	7
Gailltir	1	7	Lismore	3	11