Waterford goes top with big win over Kildare

Waterford moved to the top of Division 2 of this year’s National Ladies Football League with a comprehensive win over Kildare at the WIT Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Waterford welcomed Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan into the team for the first time this year and the experienced duo both played a major part in recording a fifteen point win for the home side.

While Waterford included Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan for the first time, they were without a number of first team regulars. Katie Hannon is out with an injury and Gráinne Kenneally is out because of her involvement with the Irish Army on UN Duty. Karen McGrath and Aileen Wall were amongst the subs while Michelle McGrath while listed was not considered for selection.

Kildare made the journey down the M9 having lost all of their three previous games in this year’s league which gave Waterford confidence of getting a second win under their belt in this year’s league and also hoped to add considerably to their score difference on the league table. The game also gave Pat O’Sullivan to blood some new talent which he has brought into the panel in the last year or two and they did not fail to impress.

Waterford defended the dressing room end of the main field in the first half of this game and got off to a good start when Lauren McGregor who has deputised for Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan on free taking duty, opened the scoring on three minutes when she put over a placed ball from the right hand side of the field.

Three minutes later from the opposite side of the field, Maria Delahunty put over another free to extend the home sides lead and a minute later following some good work by Mairead Wall and Michelle Ryan, Maria Delahunty again split the Kildare posts this time from play.

Kildare opened their account on nine minutes when Róisín Byrne put over a free, but the score failed to get the Lilly-whites going as Waterford again moved up a gear.

Róisín Tobin who is in fine form for Waterford this year extended Waterford’s lead on eleven minutes and a minute later Geraldine Power made it a four point lead.

By the midway point in the first half Waterford had further stretched their lead as Michelle Ryan and then Lauren McGregor from a free had the umpire reaching for the white flag.

Leading 0-7 to 0-1 as the game entered its second quarter Waterford went even further in front after the side worked the ball in well from the middle of the field towards the Kildare goal and once Maria Delahunty got procession of the ball she made no mistake from close range in rattling Aoife Molyneaux net.

Kildare enjoyed a bit of a purple patch in the minutes that followed as Roisin Byrne put over a brace of points four minutes apart and followed it up with a point from Ellen Dowling six minutes from time to leave Kildare trailing 1-7 to 0-4.

However, Waterford finished the half the stronger of the two sides as they were for much of this game as Maria Delahunty kicked a brace of points which gave Waterford a 1-9 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

Scores were hard won by in the opening minutes of the second half. Kildare were somewhat unlucky to have their numbers cut six minutes after the restart when Rachel Cribbin was issued a yellow card by referee Kevin Phelan which meant she had to watch the next ten minutes from the Kildare dug-out.

Michelle Ryan opened the scoring for Waterford only for Molly Price to cancel it out with a free on forty-three minutes. Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan followed up with points to give Waterford 1-12 to 0-5 lead with the game about to enter its final quarter.

With Waterford in control, the Waterford management team began to empty their bench and those that came on also played a part in this win.

Katie Murray got her name on the score sheet on forty six minutes and a minute later Aileen Wall smashed the ball past Aoife Molyneaux for a second Waterford goal, which came about after Waterford won the restart after Katie Murray’s score.

Roisin Byrne hit her sides last score of the game nine minutes from time.

While Waterford had this game won, they still pressed on for as many scores as they could in case Score Difference would be needed at the end of seven rounds of games, and they were rewarded when first Nicola Fennell split the posts just before she was replaced and moments later Eimear Fennell got her name on the score sheet helping Waterford to what was a much deserved win.

Next up for Waterford is a tricky trip to Ulster to play Cavan on March 19 while the day before Kildare have home advantage against Sligo.

Waterford: Jessica Fitzgerald; Mairead Wall, Caoimhe McGrath, Dearbhaile Ni hAodha; Rebecca Casey, Megan Dunford, Hannah Power; Emma Murray, Nicola Fennell; Maria Delahunty, Geraldine Power, Katie Murray; Roisin Tobin, Michelle Ryan, Lauren McGregor. Subs: Aileen Wall for Roisin Tobin (40), Hannah Landers for Lauren McGregor (47), Karen McGrath for Hannah Power (47), Eimear Fennell for Emma Murray (53), Chloe Fennell for Michelle Ryan (53), Aoife Murray for Maria Delahunty (57), Lauren Guiry for Nicola Fennell (57), Caragh McCarthy for Megan Dunford (59), Kate McGrath for Mairead Wall (59)

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 1-5 (0-3f), Aileen Wall 1-0, Michelle Ryan 0-3, Lauren McGregor 0-2, Roisin Tobin, Geraldine Power, Katie Murray, Nicola Fennell, Eimear Fennell 0-1 each.

Kildare: Aoife Molyneaux;  Tara Hallinan, Rose Mernagh, Rachel Cribbin; Shauna Kendrick, Rachel Corrigan, Trina Duggan; Roisin Byrne, Aisling Curley; Orlaith Kirwan, Molly Price, Eadaoin Connolly; Louise Scully, Ellen Dowling, Mikaela McKenna. Subs: Joanne Mulligan for Tara Hallinan (27), Grace Clifford for Eadaoin Connolly (HT), Aine Mulligan for Ellen Dowling (51), Chloe Foy for Grace Clifford (59), Aoife Wosser for Aoife Molyneaux (60).

Scorers: Roisin Byrne 0-4 (2f), Ellen Dowling, Molly Price 0-1 each.

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)

Waterford Fall Just Short Against Sligo

Waterford Senior Ladies Football Team suffered defeat in 2017 on Sunday afternoon when they lost out to Sligo at Cloonacool Community Park in Sligo.

Waterford made the long journey to the North West on Saturday staying close to the venue to ensure that the side took to the field with no effects of the long journey in their system.

Pat Sullivan and his management team had to make changes to the side which beat Laois two weeks previous, as regular goalkeeper Katie Hannon was ruled out and was replaced by reserve goalkeeper, Clashmore’s Jess Fitzgerald.

Roisin Tobin who played in the draw with Clare but who missed the game with Laois was back in the team, replacing Lauren Guiry who played in her place in the win against Laois.

In their two games ahead of this game in the league, Waterford have played better in the first half then in the second, and so it proved once more in this game.

To some this might well prove to be a worry but this team will not need telling that this will come right as fitness levels get better and when players who are currently missing out on a place in the team from the start are back in contention.

For Waterford it’s the championship that is most important this year, as two sides are going to be relegated to the intermediate grade at the end of the championship for 2018 and therefore while they will want to keep their division two place in the league its more important that for fitness to be peaking in June, July and August than it is in January, February and March.

The impressive Ciara Gorman opened the scoring for Sligo from a free only for Geraldine Power to cancel it out.

The same two players scored one more to lock the scores at two points each on the score board, before Waterford took control of the game.

Lauren McGregor put over a brace of scores for Waterford to give them a double score lead. The Dungarvan player has taken over free taking duties in the absence of the injured Maria Delahunty and with Michelle and Sinead Ryan not in the team, and is proving to be another option should one be needed when the side is at full strength.

Roisin Tobin and Emma Murray helped extend Waterford’s lead to four before the home side were given a chance to come right back into the game as they were awarded a penalty on twenty one minutes after Stephanie O’Reilly was fouled, but Mary Ann Kennedy’s effort was saved by Jess Fitzgerald on her inter county debut.

Waterford continued to dominate and points from Nicola Fennell and Aileen Wall followed, but Sligo would finish the half strong as they hit points from Stephanie O’Reilly and Karen Maloney with an effort from Aileen Wall in between which gave Waterford a 0-9 to 0-4 lead at the break.

While Waterford hit the first score of the second half through Lauren McGregor, the home side in the second thirty minutes proved to be the stronger side.

Ciara O’Gorman and Karen Maloney kicked points to bring the home side to within four of Waterford.

There is an old saying that goals win game and so it proved in this game.

The home side hit two of them in a five minute spell, the first coming on thirty nine minutes through Ciara Gorman and the same player five minutes later struck again to give her side a 2-6 to 0-10 lead.

Ciara Gorman brought her tally to 2-4 for the day and to give her side a 2-7 to 0-10 lead with time ticking down, but Waterford would not throw in the towel just yet as Roisin Tobin hit her second of the game.

Waterford continued to try hard to get something from the game, but the scores that they needed and deserved did not come their way and the home side held out for a two point victory.

Waterford: Jess Fitzgerald; Mairéad Wall, Michelle McGrath, Kate McGrath; Dearbhaile Ní Aodha, Caoimhe McGrath, Megan Dunford;  Karen McGrath, Hannah Power; Emma Murray,  Nicola Fennell, Geraldine Power; Róisín Tobin, Aileen Wall, Lauren Mc Gregor.

Scorers: Lauren McGregor 0-3 (2f), Nicola Fennell, Geraldine Power, Roisin Tobin 0-2 each, Aileen Wall, Emma Murray 0-1 each.

Sligo: Noelle Gormley; Michelle McNamara, Gráinne O’ Loughlin, Jacqui Mulligan; Etna Flanagan, Elise Codd, Anne Marie Coleman; Bernice Byrne, Sarah Reynolds; Laura Anne Laffey, Stephanie O’Reilly, Rachel Monaghan; Karen Maloney, Ciara Gorman, Mary Ann O’Kennedy

Scorers: Ciara Gorman 2-4 (0-4f), Karen Maloney 0-2, Stephanie O’Reilly 0-1.

Referee: G McMahon (Mayo)

Tipp Top Division 1A After Two Round’s

There was no joy for Waterford at Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon as they went under to All-Ireland Champions Tipperary who had six points to spare at the end of seventy minutes in the second round of games in this year’s National Hurling League.  

Just as many in Waterford won’t get over excited about beating Kilkenny a week earlier playing them at Nowlan Park, few will get too excited about losing to the Munster and All-Ireland Champions at Walsh Park.

Both sides started without several players that provided they are injury or suspension free as well as not carrying a run of poor form will be in their championship sides come the summer.

We saw over the course of the seventy minutes that Tipperary will not give up their Munster and All-Ireland titles without a real fight this year as players that were brought in to replace some regulars, coped more than adequately whether the big guns are in the team or not, they have plenty of talent and when they did introduce some of the big guns as the game went on they showed the hunger to steer them to victory.

We also saw on Sunday that Stephen O’Keeffe might not automatically be the number one goalkeeper for Derek McGrath as for the second week running Ian O’Regan impressed when called upon.

The Mount Sion man saved a fifty-second minute penalty struck by John O’Dwyer after Tadhg de Búrca pulled down Stephen O’Brien as he made his way to the Waterford goal.

The one on one for penalties in hurling is something that was brought in in recent years to make it easier for the striker to rattle the net after a number of penalties were saved meaning players were having to go inside the twenty metre line to try and gain an advantage when it was three against one.

But as we have seen already in this year’s league, goalkeepers are winning the one on ones, which beggars the question is the problem more with the striking of the sliotar is the problem and if so, what sort of coaching is taking place when players can’t score from twenty metres.

Ian O’Regan was not at fault either when it came to the only goal of the game, as he had saved brilliantly from Noel McGrath but he was powerless to keep younger brother John’s effort from the rebound out after he doubled on a ball above head high with the Mount Sion man trying to regain his footing after making the initial save.

Waterford will be disappointed that they did not raise a green flag or two of their own over the course of the seventy minutes.

Shane Bennett saw a chance from the bank side of the field as he attacked the city end goal zip just wide of the far post on eighteen minutes.

The same player drew a great save from Darragh Mooney seven minutes from time and when the ball fell to older brother Stephen on the rebound he was found guilty of wasting time picking the ball rather than strike along the ground, but in defence of the Ballysaggart man he possibly took the right option as the height of the grass was not contusive to ground hurling.

The first half of this game proved to be a very even affair with the sides level on ten occasions.

John McGrath opened the scoring with a free in the first minute, only for the score to be cancelled out two minutes later when Tom Devine put over from play.

McGrath edged the visitors back in front when he pointed again from a free on five minutes only for Pauric Mahony to cancel it out a minute later with the first of his scores from a free.

The same player gave Waterford the lead for the first time when he pointed on eight minutes only for John McGrath to level matters once more on ten minutes, this time from play.

With the wind at his back Pauric Mahony hit a massive free from his own sixty-five metre line to put Waterford back in front after twelve minutes, the first of two scores that the Ballygunner Club man would hit from this range.

Niall O’Meara and Mikey Kearney were next to trade scores as the ball went from end to end, before Brendan Maher and Gavin O’Brien with one of the scores of the games gave Waterford a 0-6 to 0-5 lead with nineteen minutes on the clock.

John McGrath and Pauric Mahony swapped scores from frees before Jason Forde levelled matters for the seventh time with ten minutes of the half remaining.

A minute later Pauric Mahony put over another massive long range free to give Waterford the lead once more, after which Stephen O’Brien, Mahony this time from play and John McGrath raised white flags to level the game nine points each with three minutes of the half remaining.

John O’Dwyer and Pauric Mahony swapped scores from frees in the final minute of normal time in the first half and with the last attack of the half Jason Forde gave the visitors the lead as the sides made their way to the dressing rooms.

Playing against the wind, Waterford needed a good start after the restart and the first goal was always going to be crucial.

Stephen O’Brien opened up a two point lead in the first minute of the second half but it was soon brought back down to one with a good score from Austin Gleeson.

Kieran Bergin with the aid of the post put Tipperary two up once more on forty minutes, after which John O’Dwyer landed a brace of points for the Premier County to put them 0-15 to 0-11 in front after forty six minutes.

Pauric Mahony made it a three point game as the third quarter was about to reach its conclusion which was followed with points from John O’Dwyer and Pauric Mahony both from frees.

The only goal of the game came on fifty seven minutes which put Tipperary 1-16 to 0-13 in front which all but secured the points on offer for Michael Ryan’s side and keep them as the only unbeaten side in Division 1A.

Brian O’Halloran pointed with six minutes left after which John O’Dwyer showed that he could do what Pauric Mahony could do as he pointed from just outside his own forty-five metre line from a free to put his side 1-17 to 0-14 in front.

With results going they are in Division 1A this year every score could well be important at the end of five rounds of games, and in the time that remained, both sides hit one more score each.

The impressive John McGrath was first to score for Tipperary and at the very end Brian O’Halloran got his second from play for the home side.

Next up for Waterford is an away game with Dublin at Croke Park while Tipperary has a home game against Clare.

Waterford: Ian O’Regan; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg de Búrca, Shane McNulty; Gavin O’Brien, Kevin Moran; Tom Devine, Mikey Kearney, Pauric Mahony; Shane Bennett, Jake Dillon, Austin Gleeson. Subs: Darragh Lyons for Shane McNulty (43), Stephen Bennett for Jake Dillon (48), Colin Dunford for Gavin O’Brien (48), Maurice Shanahan for Mikey Kearney, (62), Brian O’Halloran for Colin Dunford (63)

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-9 (0-8f), Brian O’Halloran 0-2, Austin Gleeson, Gavin O’Brien, Mikey Kearney, Tom Devine 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Darragh Mooney; Donagh Maher, James Barry, Joe O’Dwyer; Seamus Kennedy, Tomás Hamill, Padraic Maher; Brendan Maher, Kieran Bergin; Dan McCormack, Jason Forde, Steven O’Brien; Aidan McCormack, John McGrath, Niall O’Meara. Subs: John O’Dwyer for Aidan McCormack (28), Noel McGrath for Jason Forde (51), Michael Breen for Kieran Bergin (55), Seamus Callanan for Stephen O’Brien (59), Michael Cahill for Joe O’Dwyer (65)

Scorers: John McGrath 1-6 (0-3f), John O’Dwyer 0-5 (0-4f), Steven O’Brien, Jason Forde 0-2 each, Brendan Maher, Kieran Bergin, Niall O’Meara 0-1 each

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)

Waterford Begin Camogie League At Home to Wexford

We may have just past the midway point in February but for the Waterford Senior Camogie team, a new season begins on Sunday afternoon when they take on Wexford in the opening round of games in this year’s National Camogie League.

With Waterford playing Tipperary in the National Hurling League at Walsh Park on the same afternoon, it would have been nice if this game was a curtain raiser to the sides that clashed in last year’s Munster Senior Hurling Final but it was not to be and this game will now go ahead at the nearby WIT Arena at Carriganore with the game having a 3-30pm start.

To have the two games played together would have been a good way of promoting the game of Camogie and maybe winning over some new fans, but hopefully many that will be in Walsh Park will make the short journey along the Cleyboy Road to the Carriganore venue to see the Camogie Team in action, even if they miss the first few minutes of the Camogie game should they stay to the very end of the hurling game.

Waterford are under new management this year as Ray O’Brien have taken over from Don McMahon and he has retained many of the players that were involved last year.

The Saint Anne’s pair of Jennie Simpson and Charlotte Raher has called time on an outstanding Inter County career having serving the county well over the past decade or so, but into the panel in their place come a number of players that have impressed of late.

Wexford appeared in last year’s Senior All-Ireland Semi Final and they will make the journey to Waterford bringing with them a great deal of the panel that brought them to that stage of the competition and will have players of some class like Karen Atkinson, Áine Lacey, Emma Walsh, Linda Bolger, Una Sinnott, Stacey Kehoe and Mags Darcy with them and they will be confident that they can begin the campaign with a win.

Waterford last year won just one game each in the League and the Championship and will be looking to do better this year. Last year was a learning curve having come up to Division one in the league after winning the Division Two final in 2015 and winning the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship that same year.

The side will have learned a lot from last year and with many of the younger players a year older and with more experienced they have to field that they are more than equipped to improve on last year and to even push for one of the places available in the knockout stages of the competition.

The Waterford management team have a strong panel available to them for this weekend’s game and while there is some top names missing, there is no doubt that they will be looking to what they have for this weekend and should this happen Waterford will be a match for most sides.

Wexford will go into the game as the warmest of favourites, but this is a Waterford will feel that they can win.

Waterford Panel for Game against Wexford: Tracey Kiely, Lorraine Bray, Jenny McCarthy, Laura Murray (Cappoquin), Áine and Mairead Power (Piltown), Emma Hannon-Roche, Annie Glavey, Ciara Jackman, Kate Lynch (Gailltir), Claire Whyte, Niamh Rockett, Becky Kavanagh, Sibeal Harney (Saint Anne’s), Aoife Landers, Fiona Morrissey (An Rinn), Shona Kirwan, Catriona McGlone, Marie Russell (Lismore), Iona Heffernan, Niamh Ahearne (Ferrybank), Kate McMahon, Sadie Mai Rowe (Butlerstown), Beth Carton, Brianna O’Regan, Ciara Twomey, Niamh Murphy (De La Salle), Valerie O’Brien (Roanmore), Kaeisha Tobin (Dungarvan).

Waterford Take Maximum Points at Nowlan Park

In a week that was dominated by boundary extensions and land grabs between Waterford and Kilkenny, when the two counties clashed in the first round of games in this year’s National Hurling League Campaign at Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon, it was Waterford that emerged as victors with a minimum to spare.

In front of just under 8,800 spectators as the game progressed it looked as if the hosts despite trailing for all but a minute of this game would get something from the game as they hit the last three scores of the game to move to within one of Waterford but Derek McGrath’s side held out for a much deserved victory.

And even after Kieran Joyce hit his side’s seventeenth point of the game, the Danesfort Club man had one last chance to get something from this game for his side but his effort went just wide of Ian O’Regan’s upright.

Waterford however could argue that they could have won the game by an even bigger margin, but they say Kilkenny net-minder Eoin Murphy save spectacularly from Shane Bennett as early as the fourth minute when the Ballysaggart man looked odds on to rattle the Kilkenny net.

Patrick Curran hit the only goal of the game for Waterford on thirteen minutes when following some good work by Tom Devine the Dungarvan Club man beat Eoin Murphy.

TJ Reid who finished as top scorer with Kilkenny on ten points opened the scoring on six minutes when he put over a free, only for it to be cancelled out a minute later by Conor Gleeson.

Pauric Mahony gave Waterford the lead on nine minutes when he put over a free and he repeated the act a minute later to give Waterford a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

TJ Reid pulled one back for Waterford on eleven minutes from a free but it was followed up with Patrick Curran’s goal to give the visitors a four point cushion.

Richie Hogan and Patrick Curran both from play traded scores on fifteen minutes to keep Waterford in control.

Kilkenny then enjoyed a bit of a purple patch as they hit three of the next four scores. TJ Reid and Man of the Match Jamie Barron swapped scores before Reid pointed twice in the nineteenth minute to leave just two between the sides.

Pauric Mahony with a brace of frees put some daylight between the sides which was followed with an exchange of scores between TJ Reid and Pauric Mahony from placed balls.

Pat Lyng and Mahony were next to exchange scores with the game now inside the final five minutes of the half. Liam Blanchfield fired one over for Kilkenny with three minutes to go, only for Pauric Mahony to follow up with a brace.

The final score of the half fell to Kilkenny as Ollie Walsh, a Grandson of the Kilkenny great with the same name pointed to leave his side trailing 1-11 to 0-10 at the interval.

Kilkenny were first out for the second half and were left to wait at a cold Nowlan Park for the restart as Derek McGrath took every available second to talk to his side ahead of the start of the second half and it looked as if it was going to work as Pauric Mahony and Jamie Barron put over the first two points of the second half.

But Kilkenny enjoyed another purple patch over the next ten minutes Walter Walsh, a half time substitute for Sean Morrissey pointed followed by three from TJ Reid left just two between the sides with the game heading into its final quarter.

Pauric Mahony and Jamie Barron hit the next two points to put day light between the sides once more, but points from a TJ Reid ’65, Eoin Murphy with a long range free and Kieran Joyce made it squeaky bum time for Waterford with the game in added time.

Waterford however were able to hold out without conceding any further scores and will now going into next Sunday’s home game against All-Ireland Champion’s Tipperary at Walsh Park very confident.

Waterford: Ian O’Regan; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg de Búrca, Stephen Daniels; Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran; Michael Walsh, Mikey Kearney, Pauric Mahony; Shane Bennett, Tom Devine, Patrick Curran. Subs: Austin Gleeson for Mikey Kearney (53), Brian O’Halloran for Shane Bennett (55), Jake Dillon for Tom Devine (63), Gavin O’Brien for Patrick Curran (69), Shane McNulty for Stephen Daniels (71)

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-10 (9fs, 1 65’); Patrick Curran 1-1; Jamie Barron 0-3; Conor Gleeson 0-1.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Joey Holden, Padraig Walsh, Conor O’Shea; Kieran Joyce, Paul Murphy, Cillian Buckley; Ollie Walsh, Conor Fogarty; Pat Lyng, TJ Reid, Sean Morrissey; Jonjo Farrell, Liam Blanchfield, Richie Hogan. Subs: Walter Walsh for Sean Morrissey (H-T), Paddy Deegan for Ollie Walsh (52), Richie Leahy for Pat Lyng (56), Shane Prendergast for Cillian Buckley (61), Conor Martin for Liam Blanchfield (74).

Scorers: TJ Reid 0-10 (6fs, 2 65s); Kieran Joyce, Eoin Murphy (f), Ollie Walsh, Pat Lyng, Liam Blanchfield, Richie Hogan, Walter Walsh 0-1 each.

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)

Déise Ladies Secure First League Win

Waterford recorded a first win in this year’s Lidl sponsored Division Two National Ladies Football League on Sunday afternoon and in doing so move to second place in the league table, behind Tyrone the only side to have won their two opening games in this year’s league.

Just as was the case last week against Clare in the opening round of fixtures, Waterford were quickest out of the traps despite conceding a point within thirty seconds of the throw in.

This win coupled with results going the way of Waterford puts Pat Sullivan’s charges in a good place, but they know that there is still a long way to go, and the next game against away to Sligo in two weeks’ time becomes a must win game.

Rachel Williams opened the scoring for Laois within thirty seconds of the game starting, but after this score it was Waterford that were the side that were most on top, kicking the next five scores without response to go eight points up by the midway point in the first half.

Lauren McGregor pulled the sides level on three minutes when she put over a free, after which Aileen Wall took a well taken goal following a goal mouth scramble. The same player pointed on ten minutes and from a poor kick-out after Aileen’s goal, Waterford attacked the Laois goal once more and Geraldine Power laid the ball off to Lauren McGregor who finished to the net for another Waterford goal. And on fourteen minutes Aileen Wall put Waterford 2-3 to 0-1 in front.

This score proved to be a wake-up for the visitors as they hit the next two scores, first from a Clare Conlon free and then a Meaghan Dunne effort from play.

Lauren McGregor broke the Laois flow of scores with a point from play but it was quickly followed with a Claire Conlon effort from a placed ball.

The visitors were trying hard to breach the Waterford defence with no success for some while, but perseverance paid off on twenty two minutes when Laura Neary made no mistake in beating Katie Hannon when she got did manage to get inside the Waterford full back line to leave just three between the sides.

The remainder of the half proved to be an even contest.

Lauren McGregor put over a free six minutes short of the half hour mark but Meaghan Dunne cancelled it out a minute later.

Caoimhe Simms and Lauren McGregor swapped scores from play before Claire Conlon from a free and Nicola Fennell from play swapped scores to give Waterford a 2-7 to 1-7 lead at the break.

In added time at the end of the first half, Waterford had Dearbhaile Ni hAodha sinbinned meaning that she would miss the majority of the opening ten minutes of the second half and with a player advantage for the second half, Laois made full use of it, kicking two early scores through Noirin Kirwan, a half time sub and Ciara Burke another player brought into the game at the break, landed early scores to leave the minimum between the sides with eight minutes of the second half played.

Waterford looked to be in trouble and that the visitors would go on and get something from the game, but Pat Sullivan made some astute substitutes sending on Katie Murray, Chloe Fennell and Hannah Landers and with Waterford back up to their full complement of players it helped reduce the early dominance that Laois were having after the restart.

There was a long period without both sides adding any further scores, but when the next scores did come, they went in the way of the home side as Lauren McGregor landed two frees in the fifty sixth and fifty seventh minutes to put Waterford three points in front once more.

The last minutes of this game saw both sides do what they had to, to get something from the game and as a result, both sides finished the game with just thirteen players each on the field of play.

Áine Haberlain and Anna Healy were first to be sinbinned by the Co. Wicklow Referee on the day, and they were followed to the line by Emma Murray and Caoimhe McGrath.

Laois pressed hard to try and get something from this game late on in the game and did manage one last score, a pointed free by Mo Nerney on the hour mark but it proved to be but a mere consolation score for the visitors.

Waterford: Katie Hannon; Kate McGrath, Michelle McGrath, Megan Dunford; Mairead Wall, Karen McGrath, Dearbhaile Ní hAodha; Caoimhe McGrath, Hannah Power; Lauren Guiry, Nicola Fennell, Emma Murray; Aileen Wall, Geraldine Power, Lauren McGregor. Subs: Katie Murray for Lauren Guiry (HT), Chloe Fennell for Geraldine Power (43), Hannah Landers for Hannah Power (54).

Scorers: Lauren McGregor 1-6 (0-4f), Aileen Wall 1-2, Nicola Fennell 0-1.

Laois: Ciamh Dollard; Amy Potts, Jenny McEvoy, Martha Kirwan; Áine Haberlain, Mags McEvoy, Anna Healy; Maggie Murphy, Eva Galvin; Erone Fitzpatrick, Clare Conlon, Caoimhe Simms; Ciara Burke, Meaghan Dunne, Rachel Williams. Subs: Laura Neary for Maggie Murphy (15), Noirin Kirwan for Claire Conlon (HT), Ciara Burke for Rachel Williams (HT), Mo Neary for Noirin Kirwan (50).

Scorers: Claire Conlon 0-3 (3f), Laura Neary 1-0, Meaghan Dunne 0-2, Rachel Williams, Caoimhe Simms, Noirin Kirwan, Ciara Burke, Mo Neary (f) 0-1 each.

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow).

Many in the stands for this game were very frustrated by what they called a whistle happy referee. However, they were given something to smile about on forty seven minutes, when the referee’s whistle stopped working and he had to come to the Waterford mentors in front of the stand and to borrow a whistle from them to allow him to continue with the game.

Waterford’s best Ladies Football XV over Thirty Years

The past ten years or so have seen a tremendous growth in the game of Camogie in Waterford, in which time many honours have come to the county.

Last September, I listed here my best fifteen players to wear the Waterford jersey in that time.

For those that might have now seen the posting, the team I picked as Waterford’s best in that time was – Aisling O’Brien (Lismore); Emma Hannon (Gailltir), Jennie Simpson (Saint Anne’s), Kate Marie Hearne (Butlerstown); Grainne Kenneally (Lismore), Trish Jackman (Gailltir), Charlotte Raher (Saint Anne’s); Mairead Murphy (Saint Anne’s), Lorraine Bray (Cappoquin); Nicola Morrissey (Lismore), Áine Lyng (Gailltir), Beth Carton (De La Salle); Shona Curran (Lismore), Karen Kelly (Saint Anne’s) and Niamh Rockett (Saint Anne’s).

At the time I said I would do likewise with Ladies Football and pick my best team over the past number of years.

Because in Ladies Football, Waterford have enjoyed so much success over a longer period, I have decided to go back further in time to pick my best fifteen players.

And because the game has changed so much in the last number of years, it would be difficult to choose between players from different eras, so have decided to pick two different teams, one from 1986 when Waterford won the Junior All-Ireland final for the first and only time, beating Wexford in the final, the first to be played at Croke Park and in which Marie Crotty became the first lady footballers to score in an All-Ireland Final at the venue, and end the picking of that team twenty years later, and to then pick another team from where I left off tight up to the current day.

As I sat down to pick the two teams, I thought to myself that the task could be simple enough, but the more I thought about it, the names of different players that have served the county well came flooding back and a lengthy list was drawn up for both teams.

Usually when such a list is drawn up, the question for those tasked with picking a team would be who will I include? For me however, the question I was asking myself was not who would I include, but who will I leave out, such was the number of options open, for a lot of positions.

Two or three players were always going to be certainties to be included, but when it came to some players such was their versatility, the question was asked where would they be best fitted in.

First up is the team from 1986 to the middle of the last century.

In goal, Annalisa Crotty (Ballymacarbry) is the choice. Annalisa is a player that was around for much of the glory days of Ladies Football in Waterford and was around for a while after others became the top guns in the game. She could well be picked in a number of positions, but have having won All-Ireland’s and All-Stars in goal, she is picked as the number one.

Another player that was around for all of the Glory days and for a few years afterwards was Oliva Condon (Na Déise). Olivia played in a number of positions in these years but was picked twice as an All-Star winner at corner back so get the nod to fill the number two position. Martina O’Ryan (Ballymacarbry) is another player with five All-Ireland medals and like Oliva played in a number of positions, but on this team is picked at full back. In the other corner is a player that was part of the 1986 All-Ireland Junior winning team and was also part of the senior set up in the early 90’s, June Whyte (Kilrossanty).

The half back line is made up of Ann Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry) in the right half back position. Ann is another player that was key to the side in the 80’s winning the first of her three All-Stars in 1987 and was still around for the early days of the glory days of the senior team in the 90’s. Noreen Walsh (Ballymacarbry) is selected at centre back. Noreen is a player that can play in a number of positions, but is selected here as the centre back. She is one of five players to lift the Brendan Martin Cup in the Hogan Stand in the 90’s. Who to wear the number seven shirt was a fairly easy choice. In the 90’s and into the 00’s Julie Anne Torpey (Kill/Saint Anne’s) was a model of consistency in the number seven shirt for Waterford in which time she won four All-Stars between 1995 and 2002.

In the middle of the field, Mary O’Donnell (Ardmoe) was a fairly obvious choice. She came into contention for a place in the team as the run of the great team in the 90’s was coming to an end, but she impressed after coming in and did so for many years after the glory days ended. She won four All-Stars between 2000 and 2006. Alongside her is Bernie Ryan (Ballymacarbry), a player that was key to the 1986 All-Ireland Junior Final win and who captained the senior side to All-Ireland Final glory in 1992.

And so to the attack where a number of players came into contention for a place on the team.

Fiona Crotty (Ballymacarbry) is picked at right half forward. She played much of the time in the corner for Waterford but was a player that could play in any of the forward positions. Alongside her at full forward is her older sister Marie (Ballymacarbry), who as pointed out was part of the Waterford Junior winning side in 1986 and who captained the side to the All-Ireland Senior Final in 1991. Along the way she won five All-Star awards. On the other wing is Caithriona Casey (Ballymacarbry). Catriona was another player that was absolute vital to Waterford over a number of years. She is another player to win four All-Stars, three of which were in the number 12 position.

Geraldine O’Ryan (Ballymacarbry) is a twin sister to Martina and like Martina she was hugely vital to Waterford. Martina played a lot of her football in defence or around the middle of the field, but Geraldine was mostly a forward. She was part of the senior panels that won five All-Irelands between 1991 and 1998 and also was the winner of five All-Stars between 1992 and 1999. The full forward position is another that was easy enough to pick as it was very hard to look beyond Áine Wall (Ballymacarbry) who caused any defence that she played against problems. She won many honours in the game at club and county level and is the holder of a record eight All-Star award’s for a Waterford player between 1989 and 1998. And so to the number 15 shirt and the player picked in this position is another very versatile player who can and has played in both defence and attack. The final player picked in Waterford best team in my view from 1986 covering the next twenty years or so is Rebecca Hallahan (Ballymacarbry), a player that came into the panel as the great teams days were coming to a close, but she did well enough while she was involved to win two All-Star’s. for any quiz buffs out there, it might be useful for you to know that she is the last female in Waterford to win an All-Star.

And what of the best fifteen in more recent days.

Katie Hannon (Ballyduff Upper) came into the set up in 2015 after a number of years away from the set up. Like Annalisa Crotty on the team named earlier, Katie might feel more comfortable playing out the field but has settled into goal like a duck to water, and has won League and All-Ireland medals there.

In front of her, is three players that have given the county great service. Nora Dunphy (Comeragh Rangers) and Linda Wall (Ballymacarbry) are picked in the corner back positions. Both have now retired from the inter county set up but before they did, they helped Waterford win seven Intermediate Football Finals and also helped Waterford reach three All-Ireland finals and a number of league finals. Between them Gráinne Enright (Abbeyside) is selected in the number three shirt. Grainne was part and parcel of the Waterford set up for a number of years, helping her side win four Munster Intermediate All-Ireland finals in a row.

The half back line is as strong as the full back line chosen.

Mairead Wall (Ballymacarbry) is another player to help Waterford win seven Intermediate Munster Finals in a row and also helped Waterford reach three All-Ireland finals and a few league finals. Alongside her is a player whose career is taking off and already has achieved so much. Megan Dunford (Abbeyside) is a player that has a big future in the game and one to keep an eye very much on in the years ahead. On the other wing is Karen McGrath (Ballymacarbry) another player that has achieved so much already in the game and a player that has the potential to win a lot more.

The centre field pairing was simple enough to pick. Both Michelle McGrath (Ballymacarbry) and Elaine Power (Tramore) are players that were a formidable centre field pairing for Waterford for a number of years, before both switched to positions in the Waterford defence.

Michelle Ryan (Ballymacarbry) is one of the longest serving inter county players in the country. Many that have an interest in the game and who were in Croke Park in the glory days will remember her and her sister Louise as mascots for the senior team when their father Michael was in charge of the team. At centre forward Maria Delahunty (Abbeyside) is selected. Since coming back into the set up after Pat Sullivan took over the team she has made a massive impact and has kicked some very impressive scores for Waterford. In the number twelve shirt is a player that was impossible to leave out. Aileen Wall (Ballymacarbry) is the third of three sisters that have played for their club and county in the past number of years and who have achieved so much. Aileen has plenty of time on her side yet and has the ability to go on and become one of the all-time greats of the game.

Seeing players that play both hurling and football on the inter county scene is as rare as hens teeth in the last number of years, but thankfully we do see women play both Camogie and Ladies Football. One player that has worn the white and blue of Waterford in both codes in the last number of years is Grainne Kenneally (Ballyduff Upper). Grainne is a fearless player who is always willing to do what it takes to win and is a player that can play any place. She is a player that would be very hard to leave out of this selection. At full forward is Sinead Ryan (Ballymacarbry). Sinead like Maria Delahunty returned to the Waterford set up after Pat Sullivan took over as manager and since returning she has made a huge impact playing on the edge of the square. And so to the final position and the player picked in the number 15 shirt is another player that can play in a number of positions. Mary Foley (Abbeyside) if memory serves me right played on six of the seven Waterford sides that won Munster Intermediate Finals between 2009 and 2015, missing out in 2012. She played a part in helping Waterford reach a number of League and All-Ireland finals, and is one of a few players to retire from the Inter County game after Waterford won the 2015 Intermediate All-Ireland Final.

The question might be asked how many of the first team would stake a place on the modern team and vice versa. Maybe sometime in the near future someone might try and pick an overall Waterford All-Star Ladies Football Team.

Waterford Ladies Seek First Win in National Football League

Waterford have home advantage at the WIT Arena at Carriganore on Sunday afternoon against Laois in the second round of games in this year’s Lidl sponsored National Ladies Football Division Two League Campaign.

This game no doubt will bring back many memories to some that travelled to Croke Park in 1991 and again in 1992 for when the two counties clashed in the Senior All-Ireland Final in both yeas, where victory when on both occasions when to Michael Ryan’s side, winning the first and second of their five All-Ireland titles in eight years, and saw many of those involved adding senior medals to the Junior medal that they won when they beat Wexford at the same venue in 1986, the first time a Ladies football All-Ireland final was played at G.A.A. Head-quarters.

Both sides last weekend got something from their respective opening round of games.

Laois at Annanough had a 2-11 to 2-9 against the 2016 All-Ireland Intermediate Champions Kildare, while Waterford at Carron had a 2-6 to 1-9 draw over the 2016 All-Ireland Intermediate Runners up Clare.

In Laois’ game Kildare looked as if they were going to get something from the game, but two injury time points from teenager Emma Lawlor saw the home side claim a hard fought win.

They will know however that they were extremely lucky to get something from as at one stage in the second half they found themselves playing with twelve players as a result of the sin bin rule used in ladies football, something in the view of yours truly that should be brought into the men’s game in the way it is used in Ladies Football. However, Kildare failed to capitalise on the fact that Laois were playing with a disadvantage, and in truth, it could be argued that Laois played their best football while they were at a disadvantage numerically.

Laois played that game without a number of their senior players but they showed great battling qualities, taking the lead for the first time in the game on 53 minutes.

They will travel to the WIT Arena confident that they can get something from this weekend’s game after the way they battled to beat Kildare, and with the likes of Jenny and Mags McEvoy, Megan Dunne, Emma Lawlor, Clare Conlon, Erone Fitzpatrick, Noirin Kirwan, Mo Nerney and Caoimhe Simms in their panel they have the players to get a favourable result.

Waterford last weekend made the long journey to Carron to play Clare and they too showed tremendous ability.

Waterford were without a number of players that played so well for Waterford in recent years, but still had a strong enough panel out on the day to get something from the game.

Played with a strong wind blowing, Waterford had first use of it and turned around with a 1-6 to 0-4 lead on the score board, the Waterford goal coming from Lauren McGregor, who would also hit a second goal in the second half, a score which was to be Waterford’s only one in the half, which might give an indication as to how strong the wind was on the day.

Waterford manager Pat Sullivan should be given tremendous praise for what he has done for Waterford in the last few years. He inherited an experienced outfit to which he added some of the players that he has worked with on the underage scene for a few years before taking over the senior side, and he has not been afraid to add some of the best young players which he has worked with in recent years to the group, and they have not let him down.

Waterford last year in their first year back in the senior grade after winning the All-Ireland Intermediate title in 2015 showed that they are more than able to hold their own in the grade, putting it up to Cork and Kerry in the Munster Championship and then beating a fancied Armagh side in the qualifiers.

Moving out of Division Three is something that will help Waterford even further. This year in the league, while Waterford would love to finish in the top four, which is not beyond the ability of the panel, to retain their division two place must be the primary objective to the side in this year’s league.

As pointed out, this is something that the side are very capable of.

With the likes of Katie Hannon in goal, Mairead Wall, Michelle McGrath, Caoimhe McGrath and Megan Dunford in defence, Karen McGrath and Hannah Power in the middle of the field and Emma Murray, Aileen Wall, Lauren McGregor and Lauren Guiry in attack as we saw last week against Clare, Waterford have a strong outfit.

And if Waterford are able to add some of their more experienced players to the starting team this weekend and in the games in the coming weekends, then Waterford will be a match for most if not all sides in this division.

After losing two points last weekend against Clare (remember there is three points for a win in the league in both Ladies Football and Camogie), it’s important that Waterford get a win in this game and move up the table. Can they do this? I think they can.

Tricky League Opener for Waterford

This year Allianz National Football League gets underway on Sunday afternoon for Tom McGlinchey’s Waterford Senior Football Team as they take on London in what will be a tricky assignment at Ardmore.

I say ‘tricky’ because the sides have met each other over the past few years, and on each occasion, the exiles have really put it up to Waterford and on more than one occasion they have got a favourable result.

Many have knocked Waterford football in the last few years, and there is a sizable amount of people that would stop all football, especially at inter county level being played in the county, but in truth, the standard overall is not as bad as some would suggest, with Waterford only needing a break.

A few years back, while John Owens was in charge of the County Senior Football Team it looked as if Waterford were going to get that break, when they won the Division four league final against Limerick in Croke Park, and while they lost out on that occasion, they were still promoted and the following year playing in division three, with two games still to play they had a very good chance of retaining their place in division three for the following season, but results went against Waterford and they were relegated as a result and have played in the bottom division since.

Last year in the league it looked once more that Waterford were going to get that break once more, but again results went against Waterford as they lost three of their game by a single score.

Waterford’s aim this year when it comes to football is to once more get out of this division and I for one think that we saw more than enough last year that Waterford under Tom McGlinchey are more than capable of challenging for the two promotion spots in this division.

What team London will bring to Ardmore we don’t know, but if they manage to bring as many of the players that have served them well in recent years, the likes of Dave McGreevy, Marty Carroll, Ciaran and Colin Dunne, James Moran, Liam Gavagan and Mark Gottche they will once more provide stiff opposition for Waterford.

No members of the Stradbally Club are named in the starting team released by Tom McGlinchey, which is a pity, as the club contains some fine players who would considerably add to Waterford.

None the less, Waterford have named a strong team.

Stephen Enright will guard the net, and will have Brian Looby, Thomas O’Gorman and Tadhg Ó hUallacháin in front of him.

Waterford will have a strong half back line with Stephen Prendergast in the middle with James McGrath and Ray Ó Ceallaigh playing either side of him.

Waterford played Clare and Limerick in the McGrath Cup, losing both narrowly, but in those two games Tommy Prendergast and Michael Curry built up enough of an understanding between them to retain their places for this game.

Paul Whyte is the team captain this year and is set to start at centre forward and will have Michael O’Halloran and Conor Murry either side of him in what could well prove to be a dangerous line for many sides in this division.

The inside forward line for Waterford could also prove dangerous for most sides, with Joey Veale flanked by Patrick Hurney and Donie Breathnach, but we can expect some movement from the forward line named.

There is an old Irish Saying which translated is “A Good Start is half the work”. Waterford going on results in recent year will know that they could have got an easier first game, but playing the game on home soil should be a plus.

Waterford has it in them to get a result in this game but it won’t be easy.