Waterford Ladies Football - A look back at 2014 - Part 2

Having come through the group stages of the round robin series of the Munster Under 14 ‘B’ Championship with flying colours, Waterford made it three wins in three years when they accounted for Clare at Cappamore in the 2014 Final.

A good start to any game as we all know can be half the battle and so it proved in this game.

Waterford hit three first half goals, the first coming on two minutes when Abi Dunphy finished to the net.

Further scores from Kaiesha Tobin and Abi Dunphy followed to give Waterford a six point lead before the end of the opening quarter. Clare would hit back with a brace of points, but a long ball by Katie Duggan Sullivan found the impressive Abi Dunphy was fouled by the Clare backs inside the big box rather than let her shoot for goal. The referee had no option but to award Waterford a penalty which Kaeisha Tobin finish to the net with style. Before the break Kaiesha Tobin would add a third Waterford goal which gave the side a 3-5 to 0-3 lead at the break.

Waterford opened the second half by opening a twelve point lead when Muireann Boyce pointed early in the half. Clare hit back with a brace of points before Kaiesha Tobin pointed to give Waterford a 3-7 to 0-5 lead.

Clare would hit a purple patch soon after this this. The young ladies from the Banner county would hit three goals in three minutes to make things much tougher for Waterford.

Clare were now on a roll and they attempted their luck for more goals but they could not find beat Rosie Landers in the Waterford goal again, as she made some impressive saves.

Both defences in the closing minutes of the game were on top. Clare hit two points in the closing seven minutes to level the game, but Waterford refused to panic and in stoppage time Áine Flynn who had came on as a sub became the hero of the afternoon for Waterford as she held her nerve to put the ball between the uprights and give Waterford a deserved 3-8 to 3-7 win.

In the All-Ireland semi final it was a case of one way traffic as at the St. Peregrine’s Club Grounds in Dublin, Waterford ran out 7-12 to 1-6 winners over Antrim to set up a final against Galway.

After winning the last two All-Ireland finals hopes were high heading to McDonagh Park in Nenagh that Waterford could make it three titles in a row, but there was to be disappointment for Waterford as they came up against a strong Galway outfit who won out 6-12 to 5-8 on the day.

On the day, Waterford however were the better side in the opening half. While Galway would score first through Amy Coen, Waterford responded with a Kaeisha Tobin point only for it to be cancelled out by a similar score from Rebecca Conway.

On nine minutes Kaeisha Tobin hit the back of the net and the same player a minute later had the umpire reaching for a green flag after she converted a penalty won by herself.

Galway responded with a green flag of their own after Ailish Morrissey beat Rosie Landers, but Waterford quickly went three back in front after Aisling Baumann split the posts.

Galway would level on the quarter of an hour mark when Rebecca Conway hit her sides second goal of the game, but Waterford controlled the last quarter. Abbie Dunphy hit Waterford’s third goal of the game, Aisling Baumann would hit the sides fourth and would also hit a point, as would Annie Fitzgerald to give Waterford a 4-4 to 2-4 lead at the break.

Even though Waterford played against the wind in the second half, Waterford opened with a fifth goal of the game, as Kaeisha Tobin laid the ball off to Abbie Dunphy who struck for her second goal of the game, but not before Rosie Landers made a great save to deny Galway what looked certain to be a third goal for them.

Galway did land a brace of points before they did strike for a third goal on thirty-five minutes, Rebecca Conway the player finishing to the Waterford net.

Galway pulled level on forty three minutes and soon went in front when they converted a free.

Kaiesha Tobin was putting in a magnificent hours work on the edge of the Galway square and she was rewarded for her efforts with a series of points which soon had Waterford back in front.

However six minutes from time Rebecca Conway again showed her magic when she scores an opportunist goal for the Tribes-ladies.

Galway piled on the pressure for Waterford in the closing minutes of the game, making it very difficult for Waterford to get out of their own half of the field in a bid to kick the scores that would get Waterford something from the game. Such was the pressure Waterford were under that Galway were able to kick three points in added time at the end of the hour which helped them to a seven point win.

After winning the Under 14 ‘B’ All-Ireland in 2012, Waterford played in the ‘A’ Championship this past year at under 16 level.

When the fixtures for the year were revealed, it looked as if Waterford were given a tough opener as they were paired with Kerry at Bishopstown and when the Kingdom opened the scoring inside four minutes it certaintly looked as if it would be a tough day in the workplace for Waterford.

However, this is a good Waterford side and they came storming back with goals from Megan Dunford as well as Katie and Aoife Murray which helped Waterford to a 3-9 to 0-2 lead at the break.

Kerry began the second half as they did the first kicking an early point, but it was to be their only score of the half as Waterford as they were in the first half proved to be the better of the sides and ran out comfortable 3-19 to 0-3 winners

Waterford’s subsequent game against Cork was a bit of a dead rubber game as the two side would meet in the final and neither of the two sides wanted to show the other their full hand ahead of that game.

Played at Cahir, the Munster Final proved to be a terrific game that needed extra time before Cork claimed the crown on a 1-15 to 1-14 score line.

Cork opened the game brightly with points from Ciara Hartnett and Sadhbh O’Leary. Waterford had a call for a penalty turned down on five minutes but they were on the score board soon afterwards when Bronagh Condon opened her sides account.

Cork kicked further points from Grace Culloty and Abbie Scannell but Aoife Murray pulled one back for Waterford with a point on thirteen minutes.

Saoirse Noonan put Cork three up on seventeen minutes but points from Ciara Hurley and Kate McGrath soon had Waterford back to within one of Cork.  Some loose play by Waterford allowed Ciara McCarthy to break out of the Cork defence to kick a point with four minutes of the half remaining. Saoirse Noonan further stretched Cork’s lead with three minutes to play but it was cancelled out with a good score from Aoife Murray.

Waterford however were not long more behind as Old Parish’s Hannah Power smashed the ball to the net just before the break which raised a great cheer from the Waterford support, as it ensured that her side turned around leading 1-5 to 0-7.

On a high after their late first half goal, Waterford came out for the second half by extending that lead to four inside the first seven minutes of the half with points from Kate McGrath, Ciara Hurley and Aoife Murray.

Laura Cleary kicked Cork’s first score of the second half but Waterford responded with a point from Ciara Hurley after she was set up by Megan Dunford.  The same player would put over a free from forty metres on forty-four minutes and from the restart the Ciara Hurley again won the ball and slotted over to give Waterford a six point lead with fifteen minutes to play.

Unfortunately for Waterford this was the wake up call that Cork needed as they hit back with a goal scored by Saoirse Noonan after she was set up by Laura Cleary.

Laura Cleary and Lorraine O’Neill kicked points for Cork to bring the gap down to the bare minimum. Ciara Hurley kicked a point for Waterford to put two between the sides again but Lorraine O’Neill and Saoirse Noonan kicked points for Cork in the time that remained to lock the sides at 1-12 a piece on the score board at the end of the hour.

In extra time it was Cork that started the brighter of the two sides as Laura Cleary hit a brace of points and Ciara Hartnett hit one to sent Cork into a three point lead. Ciara Hurley however pulled a point back for Waterford to leave two between the sides and giving Waterford hope heading into the final ten minutes of pulling off a result that few would have fore-told.

Waterford in the last ten minutes had a number of chances to draw closer to Cork but despite the best efforts of the Waterford attacking players, many of the chances dropped short.

Aoife Murray late in the game attempted her luck for a second Waterford goal which if registered would secure a win for Waterford, but her rasper rose too high and went over the crossbar leaving one between the sides.

Cork held out for a one point win, but it has to be pointed out, Waterford put in a terrific effort, and showed that there is some fantastic talent coming through within the county.

In the minor Championship, Waterford recorded a very comprehensive win over Clare in the ‘B’ Munster Semi Final, running out 8-14 to 0-1 winners.

To Clare’s credit, they were very much understrength on the night and had to make a half dozen changes to the named team in advance of the game starting.

The Waterford 2014 Minor Panel was a very strong outfit, and no doubt we will hear a lot more of some of the players that were part of the panel including Megan O’Connor, Clodagh Keane, Mairead Power, Aoife Dunne, Shauna Dunphy, Liz Devine, Lauren McGregor and Caoimhe McGrath amongst others in the years ahead.

First half points from Liz Devine, Jessica Glavin, Lauren McGregor, Mairead Power, Katie Hayes as well as a goal from Lauren McGregor gave Waterford a 1-10 to 0-0 lead at the break.

In the second half Waterford went on a goal scoring Spraoi as Aoife Dunne, Alice Hahessey and Shauna Dunphy shot two goals each while Liz Devine hit one. Liz Devine, Geraldine Power and Jessica Glavin also shared four points in the second half.

This win gave Waterford a semi final spot in the ‘A’ Championship against Cork at Bushy Park as well as final place in the ‘B’ Championship.

Waterford were unlucky to come up against such a strong Cork team. Eimear Scally was magnificent for the Rebelettes finishing the game with 3-5 behind her name. She hit the first of her goals in the first quarter and further goals from Eirne Ní Dheasmhunaigh and a second goal from Eimear Scally gave Cork a thirteen point advantage at the break.

Waterford faired better in the second half and early points from Aoife Dunne and Liz Devine gave Waterford hope, but Cork would again up the tempo with Eimer Scally and Hannah Looney hitting goals to help Cork to what was a comfortable win.

 

In the ‘B’ Final at Fraher Field, Waterford were the underdog against a Tipperary side who had pushed Cork all the way in the ‘A’ final.

Tipperary opened the game in whirlwind fashioned hitting 1-3 in the first nine minutes of the game.

Mairead Power opened Waterford’s account at the start of the second half only for Aisling McCarthy to cancel out the Comeragh Rangers players effort. Shauna Dunphy and Lauren McGregor drew Waterford closer with a share of brace of points. Waterford were unlucky soon afterwards to not to hit a goal as Jessica Glavin got on the end of a sweeping movement but her effort was saved by Lauren Fitzpatrick in the Tipperary goal.

A brace of mistakes in the Waterford defence resulted in Tipperary kicking points from Aisling Moloney and Aisling McCarthy but Lauren McGregor would pull back one for Waterford before the break at which time Tipperary held a 1-8 to 0-4 lead.

Waterford started the second half with a Shauna Dunphy point but Tipperary soon cancelled it out as Aisling McCarthy and Sara Everard pointed to leave six between the sides.

Lauren Guiry put over a good point on thirty-five minutes which was followed up with an effort from Lauren McGregor from a free.

Lauren Guiry was next to score for Waterford after which Mairead Power scored to leave two between the sides.

Eleven minutes from time disaster struck for Waterford when a 45 for Tipperary when all the way to the Waterford net after a mix up in the Waterford defence.

Tipperary pressed again after this and kicked points from Aisling Moloney, Caoimhe Condon and Aisling McCarthy to put eight between the sides. Despite eight points separating the sides, Waterford in the time that remained pressed the Tipperary backs but their only reward was a late Aoife Murray point.

Work has already begun in getting this years championship team in place.

Waterford sent an under 17 development squad to Portmarnock to take part in a blitz last summer.

In the group stages of the competition Waterford were drawn against Mayo, Cork and Dublin ‘A’.

After a slow start, Waterford lost their first game to Mayo by a point. Game two saw Waterford gain an excellent draw result with a strong Cork Side and in their last game they beat a fancied Dublin side to set up a plate semi final against Meath.

Waterford beat Meath which set up a final against Dublin’s second team. As they had been doing all day Waterford played some good football against Dublin and went on to win the game with some style.

Waterford on the day had a strong panel with many members of the panel available to play minor again in 2016.

For the record the Waterford panel on the day was Ciara Hurley, Lauren Mc Gregor, Katie Hayes, Grace Heffernan, Rebecca Casey, Laura Cusack, Caitríona O Brien, Róisín Curran, Aoife Murray, Katie Murray, Emma Murray, Kate Hahessey, Jodie Nugent, Áine Power, Shauna Power, Becky Hogan, Lauren Guiry, Shauna Hewitt, Mairéad Boyce, Jess Fitzgerald, Paula Cliffe, Shauna Ryan, Caoimhe Bourke, Katie Cliffe, Carrie O Keefe and Katie Fowler.