Gailltir Pushed All The Way By Saint Anne’s In Cracking County Final

 

Camogie in Waterford is improving year on year over the past number of years thanks to some brilliant work put in by a small number of people who are actively promoting the game. Some great games have been fought out in recent years, but few could rival this one for skill and drama and it will surly go down as one of the best finals played in the Déise County at any level or code. The only down side about the game was that the Covid-19 pandemic robbed so many people the chance to see the game played out between two excellent teams.

For anyone that does not know about the level at which Camogie is in the Déise County check out the Waterford Camogie County Board’s YouTube page and look up any of the streaming of the county finals they done this past weekend, and in particular this the show piece event this year when it comes to the game within the county and I am sure you will be suitably impressed.

From a very early stage it looked as if this game was going to go to the wire. Early in the game nothing separated these two sides. Saint Anne’s who were looking to win a first senior county title since 2012 looked to be in a good position at the end of the first quarter even having played against a strong wind, but the water break introduced into this year’s championships came at the wrong time for them and for the remainder of the half the Sky Blues proved to be the better of the two sides.

County Senior Camogie Manager Fergal O’Brien in his co-commentary said a number of times in the first half of this game that if Saint Anne’s  could keep in touch with Gailltir in the first half anything could happen in the second half.

Nine points separated the sides at the break and those that were keeping tuned to the game in whatever method they choose they surly were asking themselves had Saint Anne’s allowed too much of a gap between the sides to open.

Annie Fitzgerald and Niamh Rockett swapped early scores from placed balls before Emer Walsh and Niamh Rockett once more pointed by the ninth minute. Annie Fitzgerald got her second of the game moments before the impressive Tao Behan levelled matters for the third time on 12 minutes.

Gailltir appeared to have stolen a march on their opponents on 13 minutes. Ciara Jackman sent a huge delivery down the bank side of the field where she picked out Annie Fitzgerald who spotted Ciara O’Sullivan in space in front of goal and she dispatched Megan Foran in the Saint Anne’s Goal.

But Gailltir’s lead was a short lived one. Niamh Rockett was fouled under the centre area of the stand. Playing into the country end she picked out Becky Kavanagh who raced out towards the sideline. She picked and turned beating two Gailltir defenders before beating Ciara Jackman from a tight angle and moments later Sinead Cummins gave Saint Anne’s the lead for the first time.

Saint Anne’s however would only hit one more score in the opening half following the water break, that coming from a Niamh Rockett free on 22 minutes.

At the other end, Gailltir were very economical. Annie and Aoife Fitzgerald pointed before Niamh Rockett’s score. Ciara O’Sullivan, Annie Fitzgerald and Emer Walsh all pointed between the 23 and 28 minutes helping to open a three point lead for their side.

On 29 minutes Gailltir stretched that lead significantly. Another long Ciara Jackman delivery down the bank side of the field and picked out Anne Corcoran 45 metres from goal. She picked out Aoife Fitzgerald who turned Aleisha McDonald and blasted past Megan Foran.

Time remained and in added time at the end of the allotted 30 minutes Annie Fitzgerald, Ciara O’Sullivan and Emer Walsh landed points to give Gailltir a very impressive 2-11 to 1-5 lead at the break.

The wind never wins you games, but it can often be a help if you use it to your advantage and heading into the second half it was interesting to see what Gailltir could do with it. We soon found out.

Róisín Kirwan opened the second half scoring before Niamh Rockett landed a brace of scores from frees. Annie Fitzgerald pulled one back from a ’45 on 38 minutes but it would prove to be her sides last score till deep in stoppage time.

Two Niamh Rockett scores were followed by one from Becky Kavanagh, leaving just three between the sides. Another score from the hugely impressive Niamh Rockett followed before Becky Kavanagh left the minimum between the sides following good work by Sibheal Harney with four minutes remaining.

Niamh Rockett who was outstanding on the day levelled matters on 58 minutes and many were wondering if extra time would be played if needed or if the game would go to a replay. And on the hour mark the same player put Saint Anne’s back in front for only the second time. Had Saint Anne’s pulled off the greatest of escapes?

But this is not a good Gailltir side. It is an exceptional side. And in added time at the end of the hour they called on all their experience.

With four minutes to play at the end of the hour, two minutes into that after Annie Fitzgerald was fouled, the shout came from the side line for her cousin Aoife to come out and hit the free. From 45 metres against a strong wind her effort dropped around the house. A number of players attempted to pull on the ball but it looked as if it was Ciara O’Sullivan that got the crucial touch finishing to the net to put Gailltir back in front by two.

With the last real attack of the game Emma Hannon not long on the field send a huge delivery from the middle of the field in the direction of the dressing room corner of the field. Anne Corcoran picked out Annie Fitzgerald who went for the insurance score but her effort came off the post. Emer Walsh was quickest to react and doubled on the dropping sliotar over the Saint Anne’s crossbar to seal the win for Gailltir.

Gailltir: Ciara Jackman; Emily O’Mahony, Margo Heffernan, Sorcha Cantwell; Leah Sheridan, Clodagh Carroll, Hannah Flynn; Kate Lynch, Shauna Fitzgerald; Anne Corcoran, Ciara O’Sullivan, Una Jackman; Emer Walsh, Annie Fitzgerald, Aoife Fitzgerald.

Subs: Emma Hannon for Emily O’Mahony (58).

Scorers: Ciara O’Sullivan 2-2, Annie Fitzgerald 0-6 (4f, 2 ’45), Emer Walsh 0-4, Aoife Fitzgerald 1-1,

Saint Anne’s: Megan Foran; Sheena McGuckian, Labhaoise Dunbar, Aleisha McDonald; Roisin Dunphy, Sibeal Harney, Leah McGrath; Claire Whyte, Clare Murphy; Niamh Rockett, Ciara Sheahan, Tao Behan; Becky Kavanagh, Sinead Cummins, Roisin Kirwan.

Subs: Bronwyn Grace for Clare Murphy (39), Aoife Hahessy for Ciara Sheahan (65).

Scorers: Niamh Rockett 0-11 (8f), Becky Kavanagh 1-2, Tao Behan, Sinead Cummins, Roisin Kirwan 0-1 each.

Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford).