Laura Buckley’s point separates the sides at Fraher Field.

Lismore are on course to repeat much of what they achieved during 2013 and the early part of 2014 after they overcame the challenge of Saint Anne’s to win the County Senior Camogie Final for the fourth time in six years on Sunday afternoon at Fraher Field

The sides are no strangers to each other having met so often in the last number of years and with both sides providing the bulk of the players which form the county intermediate team.

With both teams so well known to each other and so evenly balanced, the game was going to pan out in one of two ways. One way the game would be fought out in a classic way, where scores came thick and fast, as they did twelve months ago when Lismore won 2-15 to 0-15 at Lemybrien, or else it was going to be a cagey affair with both defences on top, and every score won by both sides would be hard earned.

The game panned out the latter way, but in saying that, over the course of the hour plus eight or nine minutes that were added, what the players served up was pretty enjoyable.

The biggest talking point in this game happened eight minutes into the second half. Inter county player Niamh Rockett sent in a ball from the stand side of the field towards the road goal. From the centre of the stand it looked as if the ball had slipped inside the right hand upright, but despite the protests of the Saint Anne’s player the Umpires decision made stood.

The job of a match official is not an easy one. Officials receive a lot of abuse from the stand or the sideline but till you are in the position of the officials you don’t fully understand why some calls are made the way they are.

I have refereed enough under 12 and school league games in my life, or should I stay stood on the field with a whistle and even at this level of competition it can be difficult.

I have also stood behind goalposts as an umpire and never went out to do anyone in my decisions, but have found that if you are not standing in the correct position as the ball comes in towards the goals, you can easily get a call wrong. I have to hold up my hand and admit I have got more than one or two wrong in my time.

Maybe the umpires on Sunday afternoon at Fraher Field were slightly out in the best positions to stand at. The umpire with the white flag at first glance appeared to think the ball went between the posts, but the umpire on the other side, the side the ball came in from was adamant the ball had gone wide.

There was not a lot of consultation between the officials, but maybe the fact there was not many Lismore players trying to influence their call might have told what they though.

Saint Anne’s made a lot of the early running in this game but failed to show their dominance on the score sheet.

The first score of the game came on seven minutes, when Lismore’s hat-trick hero for their All-Ireland Final replay win over Ballyhale Shamrocks last March – Catriona McGlone finished to the net for the games only goal.

Lismore followed up with a brace of Aoife Hannon points from frees which gave them a give point advantage with just eleven minutes played.

Those expecting Lismore to push on and win the game comfortable after setting up such an early lead would be left looking foolish as Saint Anne’s came storming back into the game hitting the next six scores in the game.

Karen Kelly put over a free on sixteen minutes which was followed with scores from Jennie Simpson and Zoe O’Donoghue to leave just two between the sides with twenty-one minutes on the clock.

Karen Kelly put over a brace of frees on twenty-five and twenty-nine minutes to level matters and a minute later Saint Anne’s were in the lead for the first and only time when Karen Kelly put over her fourth point of the game, this one from play.

However before the half time whistle was blown, Aoife Hannon from a free put over a third of the game to sent the sides to the dressing rooms locked at 1-3 to 0-6 at the interval.

Neither of the two sides in the early exchanges of the second half wanted to make a mistake that would hand the advantage to the other side, the end result proving to be a cagey start to the half.

Niamh Rockett had the first major chance of the second half but her shot from the right wing was deemed to have gone to the right side of uprights as she looked.

The first score of the second half did not arrive till the eleventh minute of the half, a Catriona McGlone point which gave the lead back to Lismore. The same player three minutes later extended Lismore’s lead to two and it was now looked as if Lismore’s experience in playing in a number of big games in the past twelve months would begin to show.

Saint Anne’s have a good team and the measure of a good team is how you bounce back after falling behind.

The mid county side did so with a Karen Kelly free on fifty minutes and when the same player put over another free a minute later the sides were level for the third time in the game and it looked as though a replay could be on the cards between the two to find a winner.

Two further minutes elapsed before the next score arrived, a crucial one that went in Lismore’s favour from the stick of Aoife Hannon, but she could be said to be very unlucky not to have had her side even further in front as her shot which appeared to be destined for the rood of the Saint Anne’s net was met with the hurley of Ciara Phelan in the Saint Anne’s goal who deflected the ball just over the crossbar.

With six minutes to play, Lismore added to their tally on the score board when Laura Buckley hit possibly the most crucial score she will ever hit in a black and amber shirt.

The game was not over yet and on the hour mark Karen Kelly hit her seventh score of the game to leave just one point between the sides once again.

What time that remained was known only to referee Ger Browne. Three minutes into added time, Saint Anne’s won a free between their own sixty five metre line and the centre of the field, and dead straight in from of the Lismore goal.

Often in such circumstances one of the half backs would be invited to strike the ball and to lob it in around the oppositions goal and then hope for the best, but when you have a free taker like Karen Kelly in your side, the best option may be to brink her back to take free, something that happened here.

The attendance of over five hundred (estimated) inside the ground were asking themselves could she find the range and have the accuracy to send the ball over the cross bar and if she did, then the full time whistle would be expected to be blown almost straight away.

Had the game finished in a draw, few if any could have complained. Should it be fixed for the same venue and people heard about the standard served up by both teams, the capacity for the replay could well be doubled.

As a hush fell on Fraher Field, the Saint Anne’s player had no problem in finding the range, even when the ball hit the netting behind the goal it still had plenty of elevation, but the accuracy was just a little out, going wide of the left hand post at the road end of the ground.

The full time whistle was expected after the restart, but it failed to happen. Another two minutes were added. In this time neither side failed to register any further scores.

Lismore won 1-7 to 0-9 and will not go on to represent Waterford in the Munster Intermediate Club Championship in the coming weeks.

Can they repeat what they achieved in late 2013 and early 2014? I for one believe they can, but for it to happen they may have up their performance a little on what they served up in this game.  

Lismore: Tanya Morrissey; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell; Aoife Houlihan, Grainne Kenneally; Laura Buckley, Shona Curran; Johnanna Houlihan, Aoife Hannon, Sharon Williams; Nicola Morrissey, Ruth Geoghegan, Caitriona McGlone. Subs: Sarah Fenton for Johanna Houlihan, Niamh Molumphy for Ruth Geoghegan. Rest of the panel: Aisling O’Brien, Kate Heneghan, Sarah Geoghegan, Ellen Curran, Alice Russell.

Scorers: Catriona McGlone 1-2, Emma Hannon 0-4 (3f) Laura Buckley 0-1.

Saint Anne’s: Ciara Phelan; Claire Whyte, Labhaoise Dunbar, Bonnie Keating; Saoirse Bonner, Pauline Cunningham, Mairead Murphy; Charlotte Raher, Jennie Simpson; Karen Kelly, Sinead Cummins, Claire Murphy; Zoe O’Donoghue, Niamh Rockett, Becky Kavanagh. Subs: Sibeal Harney for Niamh Rockett, Niamh Behan for Claire Murphy. Rest of the Panel: Michelle McDonald, Emma O’Connor, Chloe McGrath, Rachel McDonald, Michelle O’Donoghue, Rachael Keane, Roisin Murphy, Catherine Queally.

Scorers: Karen Kelly 0-7 (5 frees), Jennie Simpson, Zoe O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

Referee: Ger Browne.

 

Goals from Jessica Glavin, Jenny McCarthy and Clodagh Glavin prove decisive in County Final win for Cappoquin

People talk a lot of ‘third time lucky’ and it proved to be for Cappoquin Intermediate Camogie team who were appearing in their third county final in a row on Sunday afternoon at Fraher Field.

Having lost the 2012 and 2013 finals, Cappoquin went into the game hoping that it would be third time luck for them but for it to happen for them they would have to beat a An Rinn side that had beaten them in the 2012 final.

An Rinn topped the group stages of this years championship which meant they went straight to the final while Cappoquin had to beat a Portlaw side that were crowned County Junior Champions twelve months ago in the semi finals.

An Rinn were first off the mark in this game with a Deirdre Fahey point from a free on two minutes, but from Tracey Kiely’s restart, Cappoquin attacked the An Rinn goal and when the ball reached Jessica Glavin with precision she placed the ball past Fiona Kiely in the An Rinn goal.

Cappoquin were now on a high and they added a point from Aisling Power on seven minutes. Cappoquin refused to relent on putting pressure on the An Rinn defence, creating goal chances through Aisling Power and Jenny McCarthy.

The Corner Stone club did manage to hit a second goal on thirteen minutes when Jenny McCarthy finished to the net using a hand pass which is allowed in Camogie to open up a 2-1 to 0-1 lead.

A brace of Aisling Power points followed to extent Cappoquin’s lead which was further stretched when Jessica and Clodagh Glavin added points with nineteen minutes played.

An Rinn however would finish the half the stronger of the two sides as Deirdre Fahey put over two points on twenty three and twenty seven minutes which left them trailing 2-5 to 0-3 at the break.

An Rinn needed a good start to the second half if they were to get back into the game and add a second title to the one won in 2012 at this level, but it was Cappoquin that had the better start who with just sixteen seconds of the half played killed off the chances of An Rinn with a third goal this one coming from Clodagh Glavin.

An Aisling Point from a free followed for Cappoquin, before An Rinn struck two points rom Shannon Dunford. Jessica Glavin and Lorraine Bray landed points for Cappoquin which gave them a 3-8 to 0-5 lead mid way through the second half, and although An Rinn finished the game the stronger of the two sides, Roisin Manahan, Clodagh McGovern and Lorraine Whelan landing points they proved too little too late.

Five minutes from time, Cappoquin had a chance of netting a fourth goal when they won a penalty, but the impressive Aisling Power opted been well in front to put the ball high over the cross bar.

A 3-9 to 0-8 win for Cappoquin means that the corner-stone club ladies will now represent Waterford in the Munster Junior Club championship, where on this performance; they could take a little bit of beating. Credit however must go to An Rinn who despite been well beaten on the day, the difference on the score board at the end of the hour did little justice to the effort they put in.

They say goals win games and this proved to be through in this game.

Cappoquin Panel: Tracey Kiely, Elaine Looby, Carole McCarthy, Lauren McGregor, Aoife Cahillane, Jemma Burke, Emma Foley, Lorraine Bray, Roisin Cahillane, Jenny McCarthy, Aisling Power, Elaine McCarthy, Jessica Glavin, Emily Power, Clodagh Glavin, Tina Coffey, Linda Foley, Bree Coffey, Coley Landers, Catherine Ahearne, Jade Fraher, Niamh Foley, Roisin Uniacke, Sinead O’Brien, Niamh Moore, Ellen Meaney, Seana Barrett, Clodagh Walsh.

Scorers: Aisling Power 0-5 (3 frees, 1 Pen), Jessica Glavin 1-2, Clodagh Glavin 1-1, Jenny McCarthy 1-0, Lorraine Bray 0-1.

An Rinn Panel: Fiona Kiely, Niamh Collins, Lisa Prendergast, Siobhán Murray, Roisin Manahan, Dearbhla Hayes, Lisa McGrath, Fiona Morrissey, Trish Fitzgerald, Aoife Landers, Sinead Whelan, Lorraine Whelan, Shannon Dunford, Deirdre Fahey, Dawn Power, Taylor Murray, Carrie Foley, Fiona Ni Bhriain, Gillian McGrath, Clodagh McGovern, Kayleigh Veale, Eithne Ni Mhurchú, Anne Marie Tutty, Róisín Flynn, Angela McIntosh, Jessica Troy.

Scorers: Deirdre Fahey 0-3 (1f), Shannon Dunford 0-2, Roisin Manahan, Clodagh McGovern, Lorraine Whelan 0-1 each.

Referee: Ger Browne.

 

De La Salle and Ballygunner to advance to County Senior Hurling Final, but not without a fight.

The JJ Kavanagh and Sons County Senior Hurling Championship began last May with twelve teams taking part, the majority of whom had a realistic chance of lifting the Waterford News and Start Cup at the end of the campaign.

At about 7-30pm on Sunday evening, barring the need for a replay, we should know the last two teams left in this years championship.

There can be little disputing that the best four teams in this years championship have reached the penultimate round of games, and which ever two come out of this weekends games as winners and go on to win the title in a few weeks time can truly called themselves deserved winners.

The first game of the weekend sees city sides Mount Sion and De La Salle do battle at Walsh Park on Saturday evening, with the game having a 5-30pm throw in.

De La Salle with some while are favourites to win this years championship, as they look to continue a recent trend of winning the title on an even number year (2008, 2010 and 2012).

They have had some knocks this year. Stephen Daniels has not returned to full fitness yet after a long lay off with an injury picked up with the Waterford senior hurling team in a challenge game in 2013, while this year they have also lost Eoin Madigan and Eddie Barrett  with injuries.

For any team to loose players of these calibre is a blow, but the Gracedieu based outfit are lucky in the fact that some years ago, headed up by the likes of Seamus Quirke they had an excellent underage set up and may of the players that brought so much underage success to the club have now broken into the side with some time or in the case of some in more recent times, and have settled in taking the places of the injured three-o.

They a number of players who have seen it all, done the work and worn the t-shirt or should that be Jersey in the likes of John Mullane, Ian Flynn, Bryan ‘Bull’ Phelan, Dean Twomey, Paudie Nevin, John Keane etc. and also some very good up and coming players in the likes of Jake Dillon, Shane McNulty, Adam Farrell, Shane Ryan etc. who will be vital to the clubs cause in this game.

Mount Sion have not win the Waterford News and Star Cup since the middle of the last decade which is the longest the club has gone without winning the biggest honour in the game within the county.

However, they have been there or there about in the last few years reaching the semi finals, and it is only a matter of time before they are back in the final and challenging for top honours.

They have within their ranks some excellent players. Eoin McGrath has proven to be very solid all year and he will have to be at his very best again this weekend if Mount Sion are to advance.

Last weekend they had Ian O’Regan back between the posts. He is one of the finest keepers around, who over the years is very unlucky not to have played more for the county, but his opportunities have been curtailed because of the standard of goalkeepers competing against him for the number one shirt.

Others that Mount Sion will be looking to in this game will be Owen Whelan, Martin O’Neill, Martin ‘F’ O’Neill, Ian Galgey, Stephen and Richie Roche, Michael Gaffney and Christy Ryan as well as the ever youthful Tony Browne and the rising star of the game within Waterford – Austin Gleeson.

Previewing Mount Sion’s game with Abbeyside last weekend, I felt Tony Browne and Austin Gleeson would have to be started in the half back line for Mount Sion and if they did, they stood a good chance of beating an Abbeyside side that were fancied by many. Austin Gleeson did start in the half back line, but they may have to move the former under 21 winning captain back to the half back line this weekend, if they are to win as they will have to work very hard to stop what could well prove to be a dangerous De La Salle forward line.

This game could well prove to be a close battle and both sides will have to be at their best to win.

It remains to be seen if Ian O’Regan will start for Mount Sion as he struggles with an injury that kept him out of  number of games this year.

If he starts and the Monastery men start with Tony Browne and Austin Gleeson in defence, then they have a very good chance of going further in the championship than they have in recent years.

De La Salle will go into the game favourites and should win, but they will have to be at their very best.

The second game this weekend sees Dungarvan and Ballygunner clash at Fraher Field on Sunday evening, the game having a 6-15pm throw in.

This will be the second meeting of the two sides in this year’s championship. They met back in the first round of the round robin system and on that occasion, Ballygunner came out on top winning by six points on a 2-21 to 2-15 score line.

Highlighting this will be music to the ears of some Dungarvan fans who are regular readers of this column as they will know that I have a belief that the side that looses the first meeting of two sides have some sort of advantage going into the second game.

Ballygunner have come through this years championship with a 100% win record while Dungarvan’s only loss has come against Ballygunner.

While Ballygunner have come this far unbeaten and are the favourites to lift the Waterford News and Star Cup in the eyes of many fans, the truth is that they have not looked all that impressive this year up to now. Maybe this might be harsh to say, but the fact that Ballygunner are unbeaten while not impressing might say something about the standard of opposition that is offered to them within the county.

In their last game against Lismore who were fancied by few to come through the game, they again failed to impress in the opening half and it was only after having their numbers cut to 14 early in the second half that they began to impress.

However, the team that impresses does not always win. If this was the case, Waterford would have won more than they did between 2002 and 2007 when the county played the most impressive hurling in the Munster and All-Ireland Championships.

Dungarvan two years ago reached the county final with what was a very young team. The average age of the team was just over 21. Many believed that they reached a final a year or two ahead of what most would have predicted.

They are now one step away from reaching another final and the average age of the team is not much older than it was two years ago as the likes of Patrick Curran, Darragh Lyons and Michael Kiely who joined the club this year from Saint Mary’s join a team whose oldest regular is Jamie Nagle who is in the latter years of his mid twenties.

Patrick Curran gets a lot of the headlines when it comes to Dungarvan, but they are by no means a one man team. Jamie Nagle is impressive at centre back where he steadies the ship. Gavin Crotty has senior inter county experience as does Ryan Donnelly.

Darren Duggan, Kevin Daly, Kenny Moore, Cormac Curran, Cathal Curran, Shane Kearney, Colm Curran, Arron Donnelly etc. are all excellent players on their day and could well play a huge roll in this game for the Old Boro.

Ballygunner are favourites for this years championship according to many and for a reason.

They have some excellent players that have come through from very good minor and under 21 teams in recent years as well as players that may have just missed out on some of the successes of these teams.

Pauric Mahony is the player that makes most head lines with ‘The Gunners’ as time and time again he finishes as the sides top scorer.

However, like Dungarvan they do not rely on just one player for scores. At different times this year the six starting forwards which has often included Barry O’Sullivan, Pauric Mahony, JJ Hutchinson, Conor Power, Brian O’Sullivan and David Walsh have all got on the score sheet on the same day.

In the middle of the field Harley Barnes is very important to Ballygunner while behind him the two Stephen O’Keeffe’s, Alan Kirwan, Shane Walsh, Barry Coughlan and Wayne Hutchinson are very important and they could well have Philip Mahony back in contention for a place in the team this weekend after a spell on the side lines due to an injury picked up earlier this year.

Both sides have some considerable fire power and this could mean that the game of the championship could well be fought out between these two on Sunday evening.

The forward units of both sides all know where the posts are, meaning the side who puts out the strongest defence and the side that show the greater discipline meaning that they will not be allowing their opponents to shoot at the uprights from frees could well come out on top.

Ballygunner look to have the stronger defence, especially if they are able to call on Philip Mahony for this game, which suggests that they will advance to October’s final, but nobody should right off the chances of Dungarvan to easily.

  

 

Lismore and Saint Anne’s to renew rivalry in senior camogie County Final

The period of time between Saint Patrick’s Weekend in 2013 and Saint Patrick’s Weekend in 2014 will long be remembered by many in Lismore for some time to come.

For the 25 players that made up the Lismore Senior Camogie panel the 2013/2014 season was not a good year, it was a great year. Any year a club win a title it’s a good year, when you win four, well then to most it is beyond your wildest dreams.

Lismore began the year winning the Denny Buckley Cup (Senior League Final) beating their great rivals Saint Anne’s in the final at Fraher Field.

The County Final in September was a repeat of the league final, this time the two sides clashed at Lemybrien and for much of the first half it looked as though Saint Anne’s would retain the final they won twelve months earlier.

But in the second half Lismore put in a great showing to win the game by two clear goals.

Lismore played in the Munster Intermediate Club Championship and reached the final where they beat Newmarket-on-Fergus from Clare in the final after a replay and went on to reach the All-Ireland, drawing with Kilkenny side Ballyhale Shamrocks at Croke Park and beating them in the replay at Clonmel.

Many will be making Lismore favourites to retain their county crown this weekend, but they will be the first to admit they face a very difficult task to beat Saint Anne’s.

The mid county side have already played and beaten Lismore in one final this year.

The sides clashed in the league final back in May at Lemybrien and on that occasion they won the Denny Buckley Cup for the first time on a 1-12 to 1-11 score line.

This is the sixth year in a row that the two sides are clashing in the championship decider and as things stand, it is a case of two wins for Saint Annes and three for Lismore.

To reach the final, both sides have recorded some impressive results.

Lismore in their three games collected all the points on offer against Butlerstown, Gailltir and Saint Anne’s in the round robin section of the competition, results that meant that they qualified for this weekend’s game without having to play a semi final.

Saint Anne’s reached the final recording wins over Gailltir and Butlerstown and lost their third game to Lismore.

They played Gailltir in the semi final at Walsh Park a few weeks back, coming through with a little to spare, but not without Gailltir making them fight all the way to the end.

Both sides will need no time to get to know the other side on the day and both sides will be expected to field teams in line with other years.

Saint Anne’s will include the lines of Becky Kavanagh, Pauline Cunningham, Claire Whyte, Mairead Murphy, Sinead Cummins, Charlotte Raher as well as their sharp shooters in attack Zoe O’Donoghue and Karen Kelly in attack, all of whom have played for Waterford this year at Intermediate level be it in the league or championship.

However they will also include the lines of Jennie Simpson as well as rising stars Labhaoise Dunbar, Bronwyn Grace, Sibeal Harney, Saoirse Bonner and Catherine Kelly could all play a vital roll.

Lismore too have a number of players that played Intermediate with Waterford this year that they can call upon, most notably Shauna Prendergast, Shona Curran, Shauna Kiernan, Nicola Morrissey, Ruth Geoghegan and their goal scoring here from their All-Ireland Final win back in March – Caitriona McGlone.

Lismore will also be able to call upon some up and coming young players in the likes of Sarah Geoghegan, Johnanna Houlihan and Sarah Coughlan as well as the more experienced players like Marie Russell, Aisling O’Brien, Grainne Kenneally, Laura Buckley, Niamh Molumphy, Sinead Walsh and Sinead Bennett.

Normally, when it comes to ending a preview of a game, I have a tendency to favour one team to win and state which.

Last weekend for the County Senior Ladies Football Final I decided to sit on the fence, believing that Ballymacarbry and Comeragh Rangers were too close to make a call on.

This weekend I find myself in much the same boat.

There can be no disputing that the best two teams in the county have reached this years final, but in the next year or two make have things to say about this statement as the gap between the top two in recent years and those coming behind them is getting closer and closer owing to the tremendous work that is currently being done within the county in developing camogie.

As pointed out already, Lismore and Saint Anne’s have shared the last five finals between them. They have also shared the last three league finals between the two. In all cases, Lismore hold a one win advantage in these finals.

However what has happened in previous games between the two will for over an hour on Sunday afternoon will be forgotten about. This Sunday’s final is a complete new game. The sides will start as former Waterford manager Michael Ryan has often said “Zero-Zero to Zero-Zero” on the score board.

For the second weekend in a row, when it comes to the biggest women’s game played within the county this weekend I am going to sit on the fence. These two sides are too evenly matched to decide who is will emerge winners.

Lismore will be favourites but favourites even in a two horse race do not always win. Saint Anne’s have already ensure this year that Lismore cannot repeat the year they had between Saint Patrick Day 2013 and Saint Patrick’s Day 2014 by claiming the league final, and that win will give them confidence going into this weekends game.

One result that has not happened between the two sides in big games in recent years is a draw. Could it happen this year? Sooner rather than later it is going to happen. In hurling we went from 1959 to 2012 without a replay being needed to decide the outcome of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship and then we got three replays in a row.

If a replay is needed in Croke Park to decide who takes home the silverware on offer, then why can’t it happen at Fraher Field.

Although the All-Ireland Football Final is on in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon, and it will generate a lot of viewers who have not being lucky enough to get their hands on one of the valuable tickets needed to gain entry. However, before the many from Waterford that will tune into the big game in Croke Park, they could do worst than to make their way to Fraher Field for a 2pm start to see Lismore take on Saint Anne’s.

The senior final on Sunday sees An Rinn and Cappoquin take in each other in the Intermediate final.

This could well prove to be another exciting game, where victory could go to either side, but Cappoquin get the nod here to win. This game has a 12-30pm start.

County title number 33 for Ballymacarbry.

Ballymacarbry Senior Ladies Football team claimed a thirty-third successive County Senior Football Championship on Saturday afternoon last when they beat Comeragh Rangers in an exciting game, having six points to spare at the end of the hour.

For much of the first half it looked as though Ballymacarbry’s long reign as kings or should that be queens of the game in Waterford as the mid county side really put it up to their neighbours from across the Comeragh Mountains.

For one player on the Ballymacarbry team, the day was all the more special, as Linda Wall not only captained the team, but she also scored a point and also won a seventeenth senior medal with the club.

The club is no stranger to producing good players, but Linda Wall will when the clubs history is eventually recorded on paper be accounted as one of the best.

Not only has she helped her club win seventeen county finals, she also has in her impressive collection of medals, four Munster Senior Club medals and six Intermediate Club medals won with Waterford in the last six years.

The position of Manager for the Waterford Intermediate Football Manager for 2015 was advertised lately, and who ever will be selected to be in charge of the team for the year ahead, going on what was seen in this game will have plenty of material to work with.

Eight members of the Ballymacarbry team that started on Saturday afternoon last were involved with the Waterford Intermediate’s in 2014 and it could be assumed that all eight could again be part of the panel again in 2015.

Two of the Ballymacarbry subs introduced on Saturday afternoon last made a real impact and it would be no surprise if Sinead Ryan were also to get a call up to the panel.

Four members of the Comeragh Rangers panel that started on Saturday afternoon last also played in the championship with Waterford this year and all four would be expected to find a place in the panel in 2014.

However, should more players find themselves included it would not be a surprise. Ann Dunphy missed out this year. She had a great game in the middle of the field for Comeragh Rangers on Saturday afternoon last and would be a plus to have back in contention for a place in the team in 2015, while the Murray triplets, Aoife Dunne, Eibhlin Power and Marian Hogan win for themselves a place in the panel they would greatly strengthen Waterford.

Ballymacarbry for much of the opening half had to play second fiddle to a very determined Comeragh Rangers side who should had lady luck being on their side at times would have gone to the dressing rooms with a much bigger advantage than the 1-6 to 0-6 lead that they actually held.

In every game there are turning points, and in this game the turning point came on forty-two minutes when Comeragh Rangers win back Aisling Hahesy was sin binned.

At the time Comeragh Rangers held a 2-6 to 1-8 advantage, but when Comeragh Rangers had their full quota of players restored ten minutes later, Ballymacarbry had put 1-4 past Comeragh Rangers who in that same ten minutes failed to score.

Ballymacarbry made all the early running in this game, but failed to show their dominance on the score board.

Comeragh Rangers had their first chance of the game on three minutes. Kate Hahessy  took a quick free kick which found its way to the very impressive Aoife Dunne who forced Sinead Grant into making a good save and putting the ball over her own end line. From the resulting Forty-Five the ball was worked into Shauna Dunphy in the opposite corner to Aoife Dunne. She attempted her luck in having an early Green flag waved at the road end of the ground, but she saw her effort fizzle just wide of the upright.

The games first score came on seven minutes when Inter county player Michelle Ryan kicked a delightful point for Ballymacarbry.

The Ballymacarbry lead however was a short lived one, as Aoife Dunne kicked a brace of points on twelve and fourteen minutes to give the challengers the lead for the first time.

In fact, Comeragh Rangers at this stage could have been even further in front as Aoife Murray shot just wide in another attempt for an early goal on ten minutes.

Linda Wall levelled matters on eighteen minutes when she kicked a point and almost straight away, Kate Hahessy was again very unlucky not to have had a green flag waved.

On twenty minutes, Comeragh Rangers again tried for a goal. This time Eibhlin Power saw her effort rebound off the post and from the resulting rebound Aoife Dunne put the mid county side back in front with her third score of the game. From the restart, Ballymacarbry worked the ball down field very quickly and Aileen Wall pointed to level the game, three points a piece.

Eibhlin Power from play and Marian Ryan with her first of the afternoon from a free swapped scores on twenty one and twenty three minutes to keep large crowd in the stand sitting on the edges of their seats.

Linda Wall six minutes from the break put Ballymacarbry back in front, but it was again a short lived lead as Katie Murray scored a delightful goal on twenty-six minutes after some good work up the left hand side of the field.

Comeragh Rangers were forced into making changes before the game, Katie Murray being one of two players brought in to the published team. She showed her appreciation to the selectors for giving her the nod, as after just scoring a goal, she played an instrumental roll in setting up Kate Hahessy and her sister Aoife for points which gave the challengers a four point lead.

Ballymacarbry in the opening half found themselves in a lot of trouble and made two changes in a bid to try and steady the ship. They worked, and they gave themselves some hope for the second half when Marian Ryan kicked a free for the side just before the break to leave them trailing 1-6 to 0-6 at the turn around.

Sometimes games can be won and lost by what is said and done during the few minutes during the break. Ballymacarbry kept their players on the field during the break and had them back in position for a few minutes before Comeragh Rangers returned from the dressing rooms.

What ever was said to the Ballymacarbry players worked and so do did the introduction of Sinead Ryan.

Just one minute of the second half was played and the sides were level after Lauren Guiry finished to the net. Four minutes later Ballymacarbry were in front when Marian Ryan put over another free.

However, almost straight away Comeragh Rangers were back in front when Shauna Dunphy hit a second goal for her side.

Shauna Ryan kicked a point for Ballymacarbry on thirty-nine minutes to leave just one between the sides.

Three minutes later Comeragh Rangers were dealt a blow, a much bigger one to loosing two of their published team before the game started when they lost Aisling Hahesy for ten minutes after referee Kevin Martin sin binned her.

From the resulting free after her sin binning the ball was worked quickly to Shauna Ryan who kicked a point to level matters with eighteen minutes to spare.

With a numerical advantage Ballymacarbry began to make it count. Sinead Ryan pointed on forty-six minutes and a minute later Marian Ryan put over a free to give her side a two point lead.

Lauren Guiry kicked a point with eleven minutes left on the clock to send Ballymacarbry three clear and three minutes later the writing was on the wall for Comeragh Rangers when Sinead Ryan doubled her sides lead after she kicked the team’s second goal of the game.

Stacey Whelan came on for Comeragh Rangers in the closing minutes to restore their full complement of players. She was not long on the field when it was Ballymacarbry’s turn to have their numbers cut when Treasa McGrath another of their first half changes was sin binned.

Aoife Dunne pointed for Comeragh Rangers on fifty-four minutes but it was to prove to be a mere consolation score. Further scores from Sinead Ryan and Marian Ryan from a free followed for Ballymacarbry to give them a seven point lead, but Aoife Murray kicked another late score for Comeragh Rangers but it was too little too late as Ballymacarbry ran out comfortable six point winners.

All players that played a part in this game played a roll in making this a very enjoyable game. Both sides had within their ranks however players that really impressed.

For Comeragh Rangers they had fine performances on the day from Aoife Dunne, Katie and Aoife Murray, Nora, Ciara, Ann and Shauna Dunphy, Marian Hogan and Eibhlin Power, while for Ballymacarbry they were best served by Michelle and Karen McGrath, Sinead Ryan, Shauna Ryan (who play’s her inter county football with Tipperary), Lauren Guiry, Mairead, Linda and Aileen Wall as well as Marian Ryan.

Ballymacarbry: Sinéad Grant; Mairéad Wall, Karen McGrath, Bríd Cooney; Siobhán Ryan,  Michelle McGrath, Eibhlis Cooney; Louise Ryan, Laura Mulcahy; Linda Wall, Marian Ryan, . Lauren Guiry; Laurissa Hogan, Aileen Wall, Michelle Ryan. Subs: Shauna Ryan for Laurissa Hogan, Treasa McGrath for Brid Cooney, Sinead Ryan for Laura Mulcahy.

Scorers: Marian Ryan 0-5 (4f), Sinead Ryan 1-2, Lauren Guiry 1-1,Shauna Ryan, Aileen Wall 0-2 each, Michelle Ryan, Linda Wall 0-1 each.

Comeragh Rangers: Marian Hogan; Nora Dunphy, Ciara Dunphy, Aisling Hahessy; Aisling Hahesy, Clodagh Keane, Emma Murray; Maria Power, Ann Dunphy; Kate Hahessy, Katie Murray, Eibhlin Power; Aoife Dunne, Aoife Murray, Shauna Dunphy. Sub: Stacey Whelan for Aisling Hahesy.

Scorers: Aoife Dunne 0-4 (1f), Katie Murray, Shauna Dunphy 1-0 each, Aoife Murray 0-2, Eibhlin Power, Kate Hahessy 0-1 each.

Referee: Kevin Martin (Ballyduff Upper).

Will it be title number 33 for Ballymacarbry or number 1 for Comeragh Rangers?

Think of some of the most successful teams in Ireland down the years and you think of the likes of the great Kerry team from 1977 to 1986, you think of the Kilkenny team of the past decade and a half, you think of the Mount Sion and Erin’s Own teams of the past in Waterford that won so many County Senior Hurling Finals over a number of years, or you think of the great Crossmaglen Rangers side that dominated the Armagh Senior Football Championship for so long.

But there is another team that has to be included in the greats, and maybe for one simple reason.

Ballymacarbry Ladies Football Club has as much a right as anyone else to consider themselves amongst the great teams. They have dominated the Waterford Ladies Football scene going back to the early 1980’s winning 32 senior county finals, going on to compete in Munster, winning Provincial Finals and then winning ten All-Ireland Finals.

They for a long time dominated the All-Ireland sevens competition and they have supplied numerous players to different Waterford teams down the years, often having maybe fourteen players in the White shirt of Waterford at different times when Waterford began their great era as kingpins or should that be queenpins of the game on the inter county scene in the early 1990’s.

This weekend Ballymacarbry will look to add to their already impressive roll of honour when they take on Comeragh Rangers in the County Senior Football Final at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon.

Many of the finals they won in the past were won with some years and some years they were won uncontested, but this years one promises to be one of the toughest they have ever played.

Cross Comeragh rivalry when it comes to football is nothing new. For a long number of years the men from The Nire and the Rathgormack area have served up many great battles and now a rivalry between the ladies from the Nire/Ballymacarbry area and the women from Clonea and Rathgormack extending up into Newtown and Ballydurn is beginning to develop.

The two sides clashed in last years final where Comeragh Rangers really tested Ballymacarbry who needed to call on all their experience amassed over the years to secure a 1-11 to 0-8 win, needing a Danielle Hallahan goal to turn the tide.

Both sides have qualified for this year’s final with some ease. Both Comeragh Rangers and Ballymacarbry collected the full quota of points on offer from their games with Saint Anne’s and Abbeyside.

When the two sides clashed in the round robin section of the league, a close battle was fought between the two with Comeragh Rangers coming out on top on a 3-9 to 1-12 score line.

While Ballymacarbry were set up in the 1970’s Comeragh Rangers are a much younger club, being formed as late as 1999. They won their first county final, a junior one six years later, beating Ballyduff in the final and the following year beat the Brickeys to win the Intermediate Final. Since then the mid county club has grown from strength to strength and head into Saturday’s game confident that now is the time to win a first senior final.

Both clubs have produced some top quality players over the past few years.

Seven members of the Ballymacarbry Club were part of the Waterford Intermediate team this year while four members of the Comeragh Rangers Club were part of the Waterford side which lost the League Final to a strong Armagh side, won the Munster final against a good Limerick side and then bowed out of the championship against a strong Fermanagh side in the All-Ireland quarter finals.

Over the past few years, Waterford have put together some excellent under 14 and 16 sides and both clubs also have a share of their members involved in these sides and it is only a matter of time before they are called into the Waterford Intermediate team.

Ballymacarbry in this game will be looking to their inter county players – Linda, Mairead and Aileen Wall, Louise and Michelle Ryan, Karen and Michelle Ryan as well as Lauren Guiry for much of their inspiration. Others that could play a leading roll for Ballymacarbry are Sinéad Grant in goals, Eibhlís Cooney, Marian Ryan and Laurissa Hogan.

Not to be outdone, Comeragh Rangers have their star players. Nora and Anne Dunphy are players that have been part and parcel of the Waterford set up with a few years now and so will Ciara Dunphy who played at Full back for Waterford in many of their league games this year while Shauna Dunphy has the potential to be a leading light of the game in the years ahead. Another player involved with Waterford this year is Aisling Hahessy and is again a player to look out for.

And just like Ballymacarbry, Comeragh Rangers are a side that will not depend on their players that have played with the Waterford Inter county team for inspiration in this game.

Eibhlin and Geraldine Power, Clodagh Keane, Aoife Dunne and the Murray triplets Aoife, Emma and Katie Murray are all players to keep and eye on and could play a huge roll in this game.

If you are a regular reader of what I have to say here and elsewhere, I often tend to favour the team that lost the first day when teams meet twice to win second game. This time I am not too sure if this will happen.

Champions seldom if ever give you their crown easy and Ballymacarbry are going to show this on Saturday afternoon.

The players will feel that county title number 33 in a row as a bit of a ring to it and is unlikely to be equalled or bettered anytime soon by any club in any county.

But they will know that this could well prove to be the hardest to win. On paper, both sides have some very good players.

Some will say that the experience of Ballymacarbry has to county for something, but so too does the hunger of Comeragh Rangers to win a first. They will feel they have learned from last years defeat and will want to show all present this is the case.

This is one of the few games that I am not going to make a call on as to who is going to win. It’s one where I will sit on the fence. It looks as though it is too close to call.