The Road To Croke Park

All Ireland Senior Hurling Finals come but once a year and for many the assume the title is won and lost by what happens at Croke Park over seventy plus minutes on the First Sunday of September.

But in reality, the work begins almost a year earlier and for Waterford the work began nearly twelve months ago when the players and management got back together after a short break from the inter county set up after Waterford exited the 2016 championship.

Waterford’s first outing of 2017 was when they lost out to Limerick in the first round of a new Munster Hurling League on an 0-24 to 1-14 score line.

I for one must confess after seeing that game in the heel of the hunt felt that the inter county scene for Waterford in 2017 would be a short one, but while Derek McGrath’s side won just one game in the competition, a 4-21 to 0-15 win over Kerry at Fraher Field at the end of January, I and many others should be saying after the defeat to Limerick that the winners of these competitions are hardly remembered within the winning county let alone outside of it by the middle of the year, and that there was bigger games on the horizon.

The National League was a very mixed one for Waterford.

The Déise County had appeared in the previous two finals and many were expecting Waterford to at least make it three league finals in a row, as it would be nice to go into the championship in the summer having gone as far as possible in the league.

The league began well for Waterford as they beat Kilkenny for the second year in a row on a 1-15 to 0-17 score line. This was followed up with a defeat to All-Ireland Champions Tipperary, before winning away to Dublin and losing to Cork in what was a very disappointing performance and rounded off the league with a win away to Clare.

These results put Waterford into a quarter final against Galway at Salthill, a game Waterford lost 2-22 to 2-19 and a game the least said about the easiest mended.

Out of the league on April 2, Waterford had not a competitive game again till June 18 when Cork provided the opposition in the Munster Semi Final.

Again another disappointing result was recorded for Waterford and some were asking questions. Was the long layoff without a competitive game to blame. You can play all the tournament or challenge games you like but nothing beats playing in competitive games. Was it the way the team line out on the today was not correct?

Whatever the reason for the 0-23 to 1-15 defeat to Cork on June 18, since then nobody can question what has happened on the field of play, even if there is a sizable amount of people (myself included) that would rather see six backs and six forwards on the field of play.

Away to Offaly was always going to be a no win situation. Win small and more questions would be asked. Win big and it was only Offaly.

There can be no doubting that the highlight of the year to now is beating Kilkenny after extra time.

Not since 1959 had Waterford beaten the Cats in championship hurling and while Kilkenny in 2017 might not be the Kilkenny that we saw from the late 90’s right through to 2015, good teams do not become bad teams over night.

Minnows may not be the correct word to use, maybe more sides outside of the top traditional hurling sides (Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork) is more correct to get one over the Cats, knocking them out of the championship is bound to give them confidence and so it was with Waterford.

The All-Ireland quarter final against Davy Fitzgerald’s Wexford was never going to be a classic, and in the end despite losing Tadgh de Búrca to a controversial red card, the better team won, advancing to a third successive All-Ireland semi final.

With Kilkenny out of the way, whoever Waterford got in the semi final draw they would enter the game full of confidence and advance to this weekend’s game.

While eleven points separated the sides at the end of the seventy minutes, this in fact possibly gave somewhat a false reading to the difference between the sides.

I for one have no doubt that the better side on the day won, but if the same two sides starting with the same XV were to play again in the morning the outcome would be the same, a win for Waterford but the margin of victory would be smaller, as the sending off of Damien Cahalane did have a big bearing on the game as it allowed Waterford to cut off the supply of telling passes from Anthony Nash when the game restarted at the Cork end of the ground after the ball went dead.

Competitive Results in 2017

 

8 January     Munster League     Waterford    1-14   Limerick      0-24

18 January    Munster League     Waterford    1-19   Cork            0-25

22 January    Munster League     Waterford    3-13   Clare            2-19

28 January    Munster League     Waterford    4-21   Kerry           0-15

 

12 February National League    Waterford    1-15   Kilkenny      0-17

19 February National League    Waterford    0-15   Tipperary     1-18

4 March       National League    Waterford    2-19   Dublin         1-17

12 March     National League    Waterford    1-13   Cork            1-21

26 March     National League    Waterford    2-21   Clare            1-22

2 April         National League    Waterford    2-19   Galway        2-22

                   (Quarter Final)

 

18 June        Munster Semi Final         Waterford    1-15   Cork            0-23

1 July           Qualifier Round 1           Waterford    1-35   Offaly          0-14

8 July           Qualifier Round 2           Waterford    4-23   Kilkenny       2-22   AET

23 July         All Ireland Quarter Final Waterford    1-23   Wexford      1-19

13 August    All Ireland Semi Final      Waterford    4-19   Cork            0-20

Four Déise Players Watched From A Young Age That Deserve To Win Celtic Crosses

If you are a certain age, people might often ask you where were you when Kennedy died, speaking of the day that former president of the United States of America, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was shot in Dallas in November 1963. And the same question is sometimes asked of when different events throughout the world took place that people still remember.

If I was to ask where were you when you first saw some of the present Waterford Senior Hurling team first play, I have a feeling that for many it might be in a Minor or Under 21 Inter County game, or even in a National League game.

Many would hand on heart cannot say that they saw such a player in such a championship game within the county, because let’s be honest, here in Waterford we don’t get the attendances at games which they deserve, especially when you consider that there is tens of thousands of hurling fans in Waterford right now.

And even if there is a larger number than i would envisage that could claim they saw such a player lining out for their club in whatever game, i am fairly sure that the number of us who saw some of the counties present stars playing in an underage game would be very small.

This put me thinking recently of some of the younger members and maybe some of the unsung heroes of the Waterford Senior Hurling panel and when I first saw them playing for the first time.

One player that has made a huge impact coming off the bench for Waterford this year is Clashmore-Kinsalebeg Club player Brian O’Halloran.

The first time i saw him playing not was in the white and blue of Waterford, or even the Green and Red of Clashmore-Kinsalebeg, but in the Black and Green of Kinsalebeg National School, when under the guidance of its then principal Brendan Griffin an excellent seven or nine a side team were put together for the West Waterford Primary School’s competitions, with a very young Brian O’Halloran its stand out player in the middle of the field.

From a very young age he showed tremendous promise and was part of the Clashmore-Kinsalebeg under 12 and 14 teams from an equally as young an age. For his club the first time i saw him playing was a lightening fast wing forward and was possibly an even better footballer than he was as in hurling.

Maurice Shanahan was a ten year old back in the Millennium year when i first saw him playing in the rain at the annual Ballyduff Upper Under ten Tournament which was always an enjoyable event to visit each year, and try and pick out some of the best players on show.

In 2000, Maurice and Lismore reached the final and played against Dungarvan in the final. I have long forgotten who won the game, winning after all at this level is not the important thing, it’s the taking part and enjoying the games, but these two sides at the time had a great rivalry going between them and that day, young Maurice Shanahan really stood out for the side in Yellow and Black.

On the same day I was to spot another of this year’s panel for the first time. Cois Bhride and Naomh Brid reached the ‘B’ Final which was also played in the wet. Everything in Ballyduff for these tournaments would be organized down to the smallest detail, but they could never guarantee the weather, but they always tried.

Playing in the middle of the field for Cois Bhride was Thomas Ryan. I remember enquiring the first day of the two day tournament who the brilliant player they had was and can remember getting told he was a brother to Rachel Ryan. Rachel at the time was very involved with the club and played an important role in the merging of the Tallow and Shamrock’s Underage Clubs into one, and was known to those at the time that had an interest in underage hurling.

When my own club Naomh Brid reached the final and I was giving a helping hand to former Saint Mary’s and Waterford Hurler Declan Fitzpatrick to lay out the team, we knew to stand a chance of winning, Thomas Ryan had to be stopped some way, and it was agreed to sacrifice some scores for our side by placing Declan’s son Sean on him and to get him to follow him where ever he went and hope that others could then get the scores that Sean had got in earlier games.

Again, just as the case of the ‘A’ Final between Lismore and Dungarvan, I can’t remember who won the game, but do remember that it went to extra time on the day to find a winner.

But the player that made the biggest impact when i first saw him playing was Dungarvan’s Patrick Curran.

I had known his father Pat for some time. I could remember him from lining out for Cappoquin in the 80’s and indeed for Waterford and remember him as a very good hurler.

I knew he had three older sons, Cormac, Colm and Cathal and all were very promising hurlers with the Dungarvan Club, but had heard nothing of Patrick.

I was involved in Western Bórd na nÓg at the time, and it had a new Chairman at County Level in Pat Grant, the current Western Adult Board chairman.

One of the first things he did as chairman was to introduce county finals at under 12 level. Up to this there was only finals at from under 14 level up.

The county finals the first year were to be held in the West of the County and because Fraher Field was not available it was decided to have the games at the Dungarvan Club Grounds, a venue that was deemed central to all six clubs in the three divisions.

Dungarvan reached the ‘A’ Final. Their opponents I cannot remember, but can remember that the home club won the final with Patrick Curran, then about eight years old playing a vital role in the game.

As i did with the other three players mentioned, I enquired after the game from Pat Curran as to who he was. Since finding out who he was I have followed his progress down the years.

Hurling is in DNA. As already pointed out his father was a star player for Cappoquin and Waterford. He was one of two Pat Curran’s to play for the county around the mid 80’s and is not to be mixed up with ‘Packo’ a member of the Stradbally club and a goalkeeper of some ability.

Patrick’s mother was also able to use a Hurley and before moving to the Déise County she was a Camogie player of some note, lining out between the posts for Cavan.

Should Waterford end a long stint without the Liam McCarthy Cup coming to Waterford on Sunday afternoon, it will mean that the young Dungarvan Club man has won almost everything there is to win within the game.

Minor and under 21 All-Ireland Medals have been won by the Old Boro Club man. So too has a Munster Under 21 medal. One medal however that he cannot win will be a Munster Minor Medal. Waterford went on to beat Galway in 2013 after they had lost to Limerick in the Munster Final, a game that Waterford should have won.

And while a Munster Senior Medal also has to be won, at 21 years of age, you can’t but feel that one or more will come his way in the coming years.

Four years ago he hit 1-7 in the Minor All-Ireland Final and last year he hit 1-9 in the Under 21 final. Going on what we have seen this year, the Old Boro man is unlikely to start against Galway, but if he does get a chance to shine at Croke Park, if he was to score and it was to help Waterford to win, then surly he would be happy with just the one score.

The Dungarvan man is currently studying to be a primary school teacher at St. Pat’s in Dublin has also won honours on the Colleges Scene.

In 2009, a young Patrick Curran helped Dungarvan CBS win the Rice Cup beating Kilkenny CBS in the final at Clonmel on a 3-9 to 2-6 score line with Curran hitting 1-7.  

Three years later he was part of the Coláiste na Déise side that beat Nenagh CBS in the Dr. Harty Cup Final on a 2-14 to 1-10 score line with Curran hitting 1-9.

Twelve months later Dungarvan Colleges won the final beating Our Lady’s of Templemore 2-21 to 1-11 with Patrick scoring 0-8 and he added a Croke Cup medal to his collection beating Kilkenny CBS 1-12 to 1-7 in Thurles with Patrick Curran hitting 0-9 and Dungarvan CBS on their own in the same year played in the ‘B’ Championship in which the Old Boro outfit beat Tulla in the Munster final for Corn Phadraig in which Patrick hit 1-15 of his sides tally in a 1-22 to 1-15 win and in the All-Ireland Final that same year Dungarvan CBS beat St. Mary’s from Belfast 3-18 to 1-5 with Curran hitting 1-6.

Having watched these four players from a young age and following their progress since first seeing them, I for one would be more than delighted to see them win a Celtic Cross at G.A.A. Headquarters this Sunday.

Waterford Defeat Cork To Reach Seventh All-Ireland Final

It is what the G.A.A. World is crying out for a long time, an All-Ireland Final that does not involved Kilkenny, Cork or Tipperary and Waterford made it happen when they easily accounted for Cork in the second of this year’s All-Ireland semi-finals at Croke Park today.

Waterford started this game without Tadgh de Búrca having lost his third appeal to his sending off against Wexford in the previous round, and finished the game with 14 players after Conor Gleeson was sent off late on in the game, but it should also be pointed out that the Rebels finished the game with even a man less as they lost both Damien Cahalane and Patrick Horgan to Red Cards in the second half.

For fifty one minutes of this game it was anybody’s game to win and it looked like as if something special was needed to win the game, but Cork played the final quarter of the game with a numerical advantage after first Cahalane was sent off after collecting his second yellow of the game, the first coming in the first half for a pull across Austin Gleeson and the second for a high tattle on Conor Gleeson.

It’s often that when a side has their numbers cut that they up their game and often pull off a big win, but Waterford in the final quarter really pushed Cork and fully deserved the eleven point winning margin.

Waterford won the toss and Kevin Moran opted to defend the Hill 16 end goal in the first half, but it was Cork that hit the first goal of the game when Patrick Horgan put over a free after Shane Kingston was fouled. Waterford however were quickly on level term for the first time in this game after Pauric Mahony put over a lovely score following a good run by the Ballygunner man.

Horgan pointed once more for the Munster Champions soon after the Ballygunner man scored, but within sixty seconds Waterford took the lead when poor defending by the Cork defence saw Michael Walsh drill the sliotar low past Anthony Nash.

Shane Kingston and Kevin Moran who was hugely impressive for Waterford swapped scores, but Horgan again replied for Cork to leave them trailing 1-2 to 0-4.

Kevin Moran got his second of the game to give Waterford a two point lead, but points from Alan Cadogan and Patrick Horgan soon levelled matters on the scoreboard once more.

The De La Salle man edged Waterford one in front but Horgan soon equalised once more for the Rebels.

Horgan put over his sixth score of the game to give Cork an 0-8 to 1-4 but Pauric Mahony quickly levelled matters once more after the referee called back play to award the Déise County a free when having allowed advantage which amounted to nothing for Waterford. The Ballygunner man put over free after Cahalane gave away a free which lead to his first booking, after which Jamie Barron put over a good score for Waterford with four minutes of the first half remaining.

Horgan pulled a point back for Rebels just as the thirty fifth minute ticked over, but both sides were unlucky not to add to their first half totals before they retired to the dressing rooms under the Hogan Stand as Conor Lehane first put the sliotar inches wide of Stephen O’Keeffe’s upright and then an effort from Kevin Moran required hawk eye to tell the officials if the attempt from under the Hogan Stand went between or to the right of Anthony Nash’s upright.

Just over 70,000 wondered if the second half would prove to be as close as the first half proved to be, but its possibly fair to say that few could foresee how the game would end out.  

Patrick Horgan as he did in the first half got the first score of the second half when he put over a long range free to level matters for the fifth time, but the ever reliable Pauric Mahony put over another free to give Waterford a 1-8 to 0-10 lead.

Horgan nailed another free for Cork before Mark Coleman who has had a great year for Cork fed Conor Lehane who edged Cork in front once more, but another brilliant effort from Kevin Moran soon had the sides level once more.

Waterford were attempting to score from distance but accuracy was letting them down at times, but at the other end when Patrick Horgan was presented with chances he was striking like treading a needle and he gave Cork the lead once more.

A super score from Darragh Fives was followed with a point from Darragh Fitzgibbon from a sideline cut which kept the Munster Champions in front, and so it remained when Seamus Harnedy and Pauric Mahony swapped scores with twenty minutes left.

Cork were reduced to fourteen a minute later when Cahalane picked up a second yellow card for a high challenge on Conor Gleeson, after which Pauric Mahony from a free and then Austin Gleeson found the range to give Waterford a 1-13 to 0-15 lead. Cadogan pointed for the side with fourteen players with sixteen minutes left, but it was from here on it that Waterford began to pull away, even if Horgan did give them the lead once more from a free ad then from play before Waterford began to hit some crucial scores.

Jamie Barron who won an All-Star last year and who must be well in contention for another this year rattled the Rebels net when he got on the end of a brilliant Austin Gleeson past and his club mate from Fourmilewater Conor Gleeson followed up with a point from play which gave Waterford a 2-14 to 0-18 lead.

Pauric Mahony put over another long range free which surely had many Waterford supporters reaching for their phone and their list of contacts who might be able to source very valuable All-Ireland tickets for the first Sunday in September.

Conor Lehane pointed for the Cork after which Brian O’Halloran and Luke O’Halloran both of whom had come on as subs for their respective sides landed scores.

Maurice Shanahan and Pauric Mahony helped extend Waterford’s lead to seven with time almost up. Both side soon afterward saw their numbers cut when Conor Gleeson and Patrick Horgan were issued with red cards.

Austin Gleeson added a point in added time and two minutes into the four added minutes, Jamie Barron pounced for his second goal of the game.

And so Waterford are through to a seventh All-Ireland hurling final, one which will truly be a novel one, one that will have the neutrals split down the middle as to which side they would like to see take home the Liam McCarthy Cup.

WATERFORD: Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Darragh Fives; Kieran Bennett, Conor Gleeson, Philip Mahony; Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran; Michael Walsh, Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony; Shane Bennett, Jake Dillon. Subs: M. Shanahan for Jake Dillon (46); Brian O’Halloran for Shane Bennett (56); Thomas Ryan for Michael Walsh (59), Colin Dunford for Pauric Mahony (68); Patrick Curran for J. Barron (70+1).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-8 (6fs), Jamie Barron 2-1, Austin Gleeson 1-2, Kevin Moran 0-4, Michael Walsh 1-0, Darragh Fives, Brian O’Halloran, Conor Gleeson, and Maurice Shanahan 0-1 each.

CORK: Anthony Nash; Colm Spillane, Damien Cahalane; Mark Ellis; Christopher Joyce, Stephen  McDonnell, Mark Coleman; Bill Cooper, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Shane Kingston, Conor  Lehane, Luke Meade; Patrick Horgan, Alan Cadogan, Seamus Harnedy. Subs: Michael Cahalane for Luke Meade (h-t); Daniel Kearney for Bill Cooper, Luke O’Farrell for Alan Cadogan (66);

Scorers: Patrick Horgan 0-12 (7fs), Alan Cadogan and Conor Lehane 0-2 each, Shane Kingston, Luke O’Farrell, Seamus Harnedy, Darragh Fitzgibbon (sideline) 0-1 each.

REFEREE: James Owens (Wexford).

Dublin Prove To Strong For Waterford Women In Nowlan Park

Waterford are out of this year’s TG4 Senior Ladies Football Championship after a 2-15 to 1-7 defeat against a very fancied Dublin side at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny today, but when all involved with the Waterford set up sit down in the days, weeks or months to come and review the 2017 Inter county year they can do so with some pride.

Ok, Waterford did not having the best of National Leagues, finishing seventh of eight teams in Division two, but remember Waterford played in a Division higher this year than they did last year, and were at different times over the league were without different players for different reasons, but this allowed manager Pat Sullivan who has done a tremendous job with this group of players in the last three seasons, give an opportunity to players who may not always be an automatic first choice player to start games to get game time and once more they did not let him down, as players like Jessica Fitzgerald who when needed in the Munster Championship fitted into the set up and showed no sign of nerves playing in some big games.

          The Munster Championship was also a success for Waterford as the side recorded wins over both Kerry and All-Ireland Champions Cork at Fraher Field, before going under to Kerry in the Munster Final at Mallow, a game Waterford could well have won another day, as Kerry came from behind to kick three very late points to win the game.

Waterford regrouped well after that game and they performed excellently in the first round of the All-Ireland Championship to come from behind late on in the game against Cavan at Clane with Aileen Wall, a player no stranger to kicking big scores kicking a very late goal to seal a two point win for Waterford.

To beat Dublin was always going to be a big task, but Waterford had things gone right for them, particularly in the opening half when a number of shots that Waterford hit at the Dublin goals either fell short or just wide of the uprights, the result might have been different, or at least closer than the eleven points between the sides at the end of the game.

Waterford’s chances were not helped either with the fact that they came up against a side who had Sinead Ahearne who kicked 1-9 and Nicole Owens who scored 1-4 in fine form on the day, and if the pair were to play as well as they did today in the upcoming semi final against Kerry, then the Sky Blues will feel that they stand an excellent chance of reaching this year’s All-Ireland Final at the end of September.

Waterford finished this game with thirteen players after Grainne Kenneally was sent off on a straight red card mid way through the second half for a kick on Lauren Magee off the ball after it was cleared which was spotted by the lineswoman who brought it to the attention of the referee, while Megan Dunford was also to finish the game on the sideline after she was sin binned by the referee with just a minute to play for what he was appearing to indicate a third personal foul in the game.

The winners opened the scoring in this game with a Sinead Ahearne free in the first minute and a minute later Nicole Owens doubled the Dublin lead. And when Sinead Ahearne put over another point on seven minutes, Waterford appeared to be in trouble.

But this is a never give up Waterford side and Pat Sullivan’s side hit back with the next four scores in a six minute spell.

Aoife Murray opened Waterford’s account on eleven minutes and seconds later Eimear Fennell made it a one point game. Katie Murray became the second of the three Murray sisters to get her name on the score sheet on fifteen minutes and two minutes later Michelle Ryan who had a fantastic year for Waterford in 2017 edged Waterford in front.

But this was to be Waterford’s last score of the opening half and in the last eleven minutes of the half Dublin tagged on 1-5 to their tally on the scoreboard.

Sinead Ahearne kicked a hat-trick of frees between the eighteenth and twenty sixth minutes after which Noelle Healy gave the side from the Capital a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage.

The game’s first goal came three minutes from the break which started with a Carla Rowe free kick in the middle of the field and when the ball was worked in quick around the Waterford goal in a movement that involved Niamh McEvoy, Sinead Ahearne and Noelle Healy with the latter picking out Nicole Owens unmarked on the right had side of the Waterford goal she fisted the ball across to her and she in turn used her fists to flick the ball past Katie Hannon.

Sinead Ahearne kicked the last score of the first half from a free which gave her side a 1-8 to 0-4 advantage on the scoreboard as the sides headed to the dressing rooms.

The second half with Dublin losing Leah Caffrey to a sin binning and from the resulting free Maria Delahunty kicked her first score of the afternoon.

But with a player advantage Waterford found it very hard to make it tell as Nicolle Owens kicked the next score which was followed with three in a row from the boot of Sinead Ahearne, one of which was from a placed ball.

Just after Grainne Kenneally was sent off, Dublin goalkeeper Ciara Trant kicked straight into the hands of Michelle Ryan who picked out Róisín Tobin, one of several Waterford players who have made a big impact this year hit across Ciara Trant who was racing back into her goalmouth to dry and cover the near post for the Abbeyside player who made no mistake in finding the back of the Dublin net.

But Dublin soon began to make their numerical advantage count. Nicolle Owens pointed with nine minutes to play, which was followed by Noelle Healy’s second score of the game.

With four minutes remaining Dublin struck a second goal. The move started deep in their own half of the field from a Leah Caffrey free kick against the sideline and the sky blues quickly worked the ball up field to Sinead Ahearne who rattled the Waterford net with the help of the underside of the Waterford crossbar.

Maria Delahunty got her second score of the afternoon with a minute of normal time to play with was followed with an effort from Nicolle Owens who was a much deserved Player of the Match. The last score of the afternoon came from a Maria Delahunty free.

All involved with Waterford will be disappointed with this defeat, but in time when they sit down and look back on the year just ended, they can do so with pride, knowing that progress has been made this year. The county are moving in the right direction, and success has already come for the will know that there is enough material in this team and coming up through the ranks to build on what was achieved this year and Waterford are not far off becoming a major force in the game in the years ahead once more.

WATERFORD: Katie Hannon; Megan Dunford, Caoimhe McGrath, Kate McGrath; Dearbhaile Ni hAodha, Karen McGrath, Aoife Murray; Mairead Wall, Emma Murray; Róisín Tobin, Grainne Kenneally, Kate Murray; Eimear Fennell, Maria Delahunty, Michelle Ryan. Subs: Aileen Wall for Eimear Fennell (26), Michelle McGrath for Dearbhaile Ni hAodha (26), Rebecca Casey for Kate McGrath (41), Lauren McGregor for Aoife Murray (50), Geraldine Power for Mairead Wall (51).

Scorers: Róisín Tobin 1-0, Maria Delahunty 0-3 (3f), Katie Murray, Michelle Ryan, Eimear Fennell and Aoife Murray 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: Ciara Trant; Martha Byrne, Sinead Finnegan, Rachel Ruddy; Olwen Carey, Niamh Collins, Leah Caffrey; Lauren Magee, Niamh McEvoy; Carla Rowe, Lyndsey Davey, Nicolle Owens; Sinead Aherne, Aoife Kane, Noelle Healy. Subs: Deirdre Murphy for Aoife Kane (37), Hannah O’Neill for Lyndsey Davey (42), Molly Lamb for Noelle Healy (50), Fiona Hudson for Niamh Collins (52), Siobhan Woods for Niamh McEvoy (53).

Scorers: Sinead Aherne 1-9 (0-6f), Nicole Owens 1-4, Noelle Healy 0-2.

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry)

Dublin Edge It In Carlow

Waterford and Dublin clash in the quarter final stages of this year’s TG4 Senior Ladies Football Championship on Saturday afternoon at Nowlan Park.

It may be a surprise for many to learn that it is not the first time the two counties have clashed in the Senior Championship.

Ten years ago the two counties met on July 28 at Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow in a game that the side from the Capital won on a 3-9 to 3-8 score line.

Back then Waterford were very much a side in transition. Most of the side that helped the county win so much in the 90’s had left the inter county scene, but some of the younger players in the 90’s were still involved, and many of the players that helped the county win seven Munster Intermediate titles in a row after Waterford were relegated from the senior ranks a year after losing out to Dublin had not entered the scene.

Dublin after beating Waterford in 2007 would exit the championship at the quarter final stages of the competition, losing out to a Cork side that would dominate the game in the next decade and who would later that year go on to win their first All-Ireland Senior Final, beating Mayo on a 2-11 to 2-6 score line.

On the day Dublin had to withstand a late Waterford rally to ensure the win.

Many of the Waterford support in Carlow on the day would not have been happy after the game as a number of important referring decisions when against the side. A dangerous tattle on Rebecca Hallahan failed to have the perpetrator sin binned and another challenge of Niamh Briggs also failed to produce another card.

Despite the lack of sin binning’s in Waterford’s favour, no one could argue that for three quarters of the game the side in white did not play to their potential.

Louise Kelly and Mary Nevin from a free opened the scoring for Dublin before Michelle Ryan opened Waterford’s account on twelve minutes. Dublin however responded with a brace of scores from Karen Hopkins and another Mary Nevin free to give them a 0-5 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Fiona O’Reilly and Sinead Ahearn swapped scores, but unfortunately for a Waterford perspective, the latter score was to result in a green flag waved by the umpires.

And when Karen Hopkins added a second goal for the Dublin ladies on twenty four minutes things were not looking good for Waterford.

A dreadful tattle on Rebecca Hallinan followed which was went unpunished but it did raise the performance of the Waterford side somewhat.

Niamh Briggs pointed for Waterford and when she was pulled down moments later a penalty was awarded but there was no sin binning. Cliodhna Ó Connor saved the penalty and while Niamh Briggs and Rebecca Hallahan would kick late points for the Déise Ladies, it was not enough to send them to the dressing rooms trailing 2-6 to 0-5 at the at the interval.

Waterford began the second half brightly with a Mary O’Rourke effort going just over the crossbar but missed a number of score able chances after this.

Dublin on the other hand with the chances they had registered scores. Ann Marie Murphy and Sinead Aherne pointed and at the mid way point in the second half Ann Marie Murphy struck a third Dublin goal which gave then an eleven point lead.

Mairead Wall and Mary Nevin swapped scores before Waterford got very much on top. Rebecca Hallahan hit the crossbar before Mary O’Rourke goaled on fifty minutes. Aoife Murphy hit a second Waterford goal six minutes later and when Niamh Briggs shot a third Waterford goal two minutes later, it looked as if the Leinster side were in serious trouble, and more over so moments later when Aoife Murphy pointed to leave just one between the sides, but time ran out for Waterford, who were left to rue their performance in the first three quarters of the game as well as some referring decisions.

Waterford: Aimee Jordan; Grainne Kenneally, Rebecca Hallahan, Eibhlis Cooney; Lorraine Whelan, Mary O’Donnell, Michelle McGrath; Cliona O’Keeffe, Fiona O’Reilly; Karen Kelly, Michelle Ryan, Linda Wall’ Mairead Wall, Mary O’Rourke, Niamh Briggs. Subs Used: Evelyn O’Rourke, Aoife Murphy, Marian Ryan, Niamh McGrath.

Scorers: Niamh Briggs 1-2, Aoife Murphy 1-1, Mary O’Rourke 1-1 each, Rebecca Hallahan, Fiona O’Reilly, Michelle Ryan, Mairead Wall 0-1 each.

Dublin: Cliodhna O’Connor; Karen McGlynn, Denise Masterson, Maria Kavanagh; Natalia Hyland, Siobhan McGrath, Orla Colreavy; Fiona Corcoran, Sinead Finnegan; Karen Hopkins, Mary Nevin, Amy McGuinness; Sinead Aherne, Louise Kelly, Anne Marie Murphy.

Scorers: Karen Hopkins 1-2, Sinead Aherne, Ann Marie Murphy 1-1 each, Mary Nevin 0-4, Louise Kelly 0-1.

 

If there is mistakes in the names of players, I appologise as there was a number of wrong names in reports of the game I found.