Waterford Edge Closer To Finish Line

Waterford Senior Camogie team are within touching distance of the finish line in their bid to reach the knockout stages of this year’s All-Ireland Championship after they recorded a brilliant 2-11 to 0-15 win over Limerick at a scorched Walsh Park on Saturday last.

Beth Carton once more made all the headlines when it comes to scoring in this game as she finished with 1-10 behind her name on the score sheet, but the De La Salle Club sharp shooter will be possibly be the first to admit that this was more about a team performance than it was an individual performance.

The De La Salle player was at the peak of her game in this game and the side needed each and every one of her scores as the home side were pushed all the way to finish by a Limerick side that knew anything other than a win in this game would mean that their interest in this year’s championship was as good as over.

When the two sides met in the league earlier this year at Ballyagran, the sides shared the spoils, a result that ended Waterford’s interest in this year’s competition and from both would have seen in that game they knew they were in for a tough battle in this one.

However in the previous meeting between the two sides Waterford were not picking from a full strength sides as Lismore’s interest in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship had only come to an end and some of their players were taking a short break from the game, recharging the batteries after a tough campaign, meaning that Donal O’Rourke that day was not picking from a full strength squad.

There might be some that will argue that the draw for this year’s championship was kind to Waterford and really it would be hard to argue against such people.

Getting a bye in round one and playing the two strongest sides in the group in the second and third rounds of games, Waterford were pitted with the third strongest side in the third round of games, but Donal O’Rourke and his group of players and mentors would always have felt that they could get something from this game, and more over so playing on home soil with a home support shouting them on over the course of the game.

Two first half goals in a four minute spell just short of the end of the first quarter proved vital for Waterford.

The home side’s first goal came on ten minutes. Annie Fitzgerald one of a number of young players who has not looked out of place playing at this level was twice blocked down as she attempted to get her name on the score sheet but she proved perseverance counts and at the third time of asking fed Beth Carton who finished to the net.

The Gailltir player was also involved in the second goal. Fellow Gailltir Club player Áine Lyng picked out Annie Fitzgerald who found Beth Carton. Noticing that Kaiesha Tobin was better placed, the De La Salle club player picked who finished pasted Laura O’Neill in the Limerick goal.

Moments later Beth Carton put over her third free of the afternoon which gave Waterford a 2-4 to 0-3 lead.

 It was the visitors however that finished the half the stronger of the two sides as they hit three Niamh Mulcahy points and one each from Dearbhla Egan and Karen O’Leary which meant at the short whistle they were only three points behind (2-5 to 0-8) at the break.

Aisling Scanlon and Beth Carton started the second half exchanging scores for their respective sides.

Beth Carton’s second point from play was a beauty hit over her shoulder after she was picked out by Niamh Rockett, but the De La Salle player missed the chance to extend her sides lead when she saw a free go side of the uprights.

Indiscipline in Waterford defence was keeping Limerick in this game as Niamh Mulcahy was not making too many mistakes from placed balls. Over the course of the game she nailed eight frees, the same tally as Beth Carton at the other end of the field.

Waterford missed another chance to extend their lead when Niamh Rockett a player who is playing out of her skin this year saw an effort go just wide when Waterford were leading 2-8 to 0-11. Up at the other end of the field Caoimhe Costelloe made no mistake in making it a two point game.

Carton and Mulcahy swapped scores before Waterford were dealt a potential blow when Sibeal Harney was sent to the stand on a second yellow card by referee Liz Dempsey for a foul which looked as if it was in her favour.

The Saint Anne’s Club player in going to the stand became the third Waterford player to be sent off in this year’s championship. Going to National School in the 1980’s we always said faith would tell when an opposing player was given what could be described a soft free, meaning it would be missed and so it proved here as Niamh Mulcahy put her placed ball, and if ever justice was done it was Waterford who got the next score of the game, again courtesy of Beth Carton.

Limerick mounted pressure on the Waterford defence with their numerical advantage, but with the first attack of note the visitors created Sarah Carey shot wide.

Niamh Mulcahy and Rebecca Delee fired over points to make it a single score game with time ticking down.

Deep in stoppage time Kaiesha Tobin drew a foul from Limerick full back Muireann Creamer who already had being booked which left referee Liz Dempsey with no option but to issue her with a second yellow card which was followed with a red to even up the numbers on the field.

Beth Carton held her nerve as she stood over the free and she made no mistake in putting it between the uprights, giving Waterford a two point lead and when the full time whistle soon followed there was nothing but joy to be seen on the faces of the Waterford team and mentors.

Waterford now plays Clare in the last game in the Round Robin section of the competition this Sunday at Cusack Park in Ennis.

Donal O’Rourke’s side need only to avoid defeat to secure their place into the knockout stages of the competition for the very first time, while the home side will need to win if they are to advance. A win for Clare would mean that both Waterford and Clare would end on four points each but the Banner Ladies would win on the head to head rule.

Waterford: Ciara Jackman; Kate Lynch, Sibeal Harney, Iona Heffernan; Shauna Kiernan, Aine Lyng, Claire Whyte; Lorraine Bray, Aoife Landers; Annie Fitzgerald, Niamh Rockett, Deirdre Fahy; Kaiesha Tobin, Beth Carton, Caithriona McGlone.

Subs: Fiona Morrissey for Aoife Landers, Jenny McCarthy for Claire Whyte, Aisling Power for Caithriona McGlone, Orla Hickey for Annie Fitzgerald, Clara Griffin for Fiona Morrissey.

Scorers: Beth Carton 1-10 (8fs), Kaiesha Tobin 1-0, Niamh Rockett 0-1.

Limerick: Laura O’Neill; Megan O’Mara, Muireann Creamer, Mairead Ryan; Neamh Curtin, Sarah Carey, Caoimhe Costelloe; Karen O’Leary, Rebecca Delee; Aisling Scanlon, Niamh Mulcahy, Deborah Murphy; Caoimhe Lyons, Dearbhla Egan, Kate Hennessy.

Sub: Laura Stack for Kate Hennessy.

Scorers: Niamh Mulcahy 0-10 (8fs), Caoimhe Costelloe, Karen O’Leary, Rebecca Delee, Aisling Scanlon, Dearbhla Egan 0-1 each.

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)