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