Erin’s Own Crowned Champions

Ladies Football for a long number of years is strong in Waterford and nobody will deny that Ballymacarbry have set the bar for all other sides not just locally by nationally over a long number of years. Teams come and teams go, but Ballymacarbry are always there.

But while Ballymacarbry are the most successful club within the county there are a number of clubs who play in all grades of the game who on any given day is hardly a kick of the ball between them. 

This can be proven with the fact that the Junior Champions of the past two years, Erin’s Own and Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers contested the County Intermediate Football Final at Kilmacthomas last Sunday.

Normally in any competition when a team moves up a grade for a number of years all is expected of them is that they retain their place in that grade for the following year. Sadly many don’t and they move back down a grade and sometimes two grades as soon as they come back up, finding the step up too much for them, or maybe believing after they moved up they have the hard work done and don’t try and bring their game to the next level.

The fact that both of these two sides contested a county final so soon after moving up a grade speaks volumes for both clubs and the work that they are doing to promote the game.

It is also easy to see why these two clubs contested this year’s final when you look at the talent that they have in their respective set ups.

Players like Niamh Rockett and Claire Whyte with the Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers Club and Brianna O’Regan and Beth Carton are household names when it comes to Camogie not just in Waterford but all around the country. They are fantastic Camogie players as are a number of other on the two sides. But it might surprise some to learn that they are also fantastic footballers. Waterford clubs have a great knack of producing duel fine duel players. Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh is as we all know a brilliant hurler but he is possibly an even better footballer. Players like Jamie Barron and Conor Gleeson are the same.

This was a game where the old adage that goals wins games once more proved through.

The Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers combination got off to a good start in this game kicking the first two scores of this game, the first an excellent score by Áine O’Neill on five minutes, then Kate McGrath added a second a minute later.

When the city side ran at their opponents they always looked as if they were going to cause problems. On seven minutes Beth Carton as she moved closer to Emma Power’s goal was fouled resulting in a penalty. Becky Conroy was given responsibility of kicking one on one from 12 metres and she made no mistake kicking into the N25 end of the ground.

While Niamh Rockett levelled matters on nine minutes following some good work again by Beth Carton two minutes later this city side kicked a second goal this time by Jessica Devereux who was found by Beth.

Ellen Kirwan pointed for the western outfit on 13 minutes and Sheena McGuckian followed up with another score to leave just a single score between the sides at the first half water break.

After the restart the sides needed a little time to find the flow of the game once more. Kate McGrath levelled matters for the second time on 21 minutes when Niamh Rockett found her with a quickly taken free. While Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers were kicking points at one end, the concession of goals at the other end was a problem for them.

And on 23 minutes another goal went in. This time Abbey Flynn a very versatile young sports star who has excelled to date in football, Camogie and basketball saw her effort blocked but when the ball came back to her she made no mistake in putting her side back in front by three.

Supporters at the other end of the ground had to wait to stoppage time at the end of the thirty for the next score and as often happen two came in very quick succession. Jessica Devereux split the posts first firstly for Erin’s Own to put the city side in front by four, but within seconds and just before the half time whistle Kate McGrath made it a three (3-1 to 0-7) point game.

Abbey Flynn made it a four point game once more at the start of the second half and almost straight away it looked as if Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers would cut that lead down to one as Claire Whyte, Kate McGrath and Niamh Rockett launched an attack on the Erin’s Own goal but the final effort was put out for a ’45 which resulted in nothing for the West Waterford club.

At the other end Jessica Devereux from a free edged Erin’s Own five points in front on 35 minutes and a minute later again following some good work by Beth Carton who saw her effort blocked but from the rebound Abbey Flynn flicked to the net for a fourth Erin’s Own goal giving the side in yellow and blue a 4-3 to 0-7 lead.

Points from Kate McGrath, and Niamh Rockett followed for Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers with Becky Conroy scoring in between for the city side with over a quarter of the hour still to play.

On 44 minutes former inter county player Liz Devine was fouled inside the large box and referee Brian Cuddihy awarded a second penalty kick in this game, both at the same end of the ground. Niamh Rockett was tasked with kicking from 12 metres and she made no mistake, blasting past Lucy Hogan sending the ball through the bottom of the net.

Eleven minutes from time Becky Conroy hit the crossbar with her effort for a score, but the rebound came straight back to Aoibhe Waring and this time she made no mistake putting her side 5-4 to 1-10 in front.

Niamh Rockett pulled a point back for Kilrossanty/Brickey Rangers and from the resulting restart the western club intercepted and played the ball to Kate McGrath who shot to the net making it a three point (5-5 to 2-11) game and setting up a grandstand finish.

Scores were hard won in the closing minutes of the game. Both sides landed a single score each as both sides defended with all their might as the attacking players launched attack after attack.

Erin’s Own so move up a grade for next year’s championships and judging what we saw in this game, they won’t be out of place.

ERIN’S OWN: Lucy Hogan; Orlaith Kidney, Brianna O’Regan, Megan Waring; Eva Daniels, Colette Hogan, Abby Flynn; Rachael Daniels, Sadie Mai Rowe; Charlotte O’Loughlin, Beth Carton, Aoibhe Waring; Kate Hickey, Becky Conroy, Jessica Devereux.

Subs: Robyn Morrissey for Orlaith Kidney.

Scorers: Becky Conroy 2-1 (1-0 pen), Jessica Devereux 1-3, Abby Flynn 1-2, Aoibhe Waring 1-0,

KILROSSANTY BRICKEYS: Emma Power; Emily Murphy, Sarah Keohan, Claire Whyte; Aoife O’ Neill, Róisie Ní Mhuiri, Ava Healy; Emily Murphy; Alice Hahessy, Áine O’Neill; Dairine Ní Sheanlaoich, Kate McGrath, Niamh Rockett; Ellen Kirwan, Sheena McGuckian, Liz Devine.

Subs: Aoibhin Connaughton for Sarah Keohan,

Scorers: Niamh Rockett 1-5, Kate McGrath 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-2 f), Áine O’Neill, Ellen Kirwan, Sheena McGuckian 0-1 each.

Referee: Brian Cuddihy (Naomh Pól)

Apologies for any mistakes in this report. As with all reports from last weekend it was done from the live streaming of the game.