Waterford may well shade it at Thurles

Waterford and Cork have been rivals when it comes to hurling since they first met four years after the formation of the G.A.A.

For much of this time there can be no disputing that Cork have proved to be the better of the two sides. The sight of a red jersey at times would have ‘put the fear of God’ into the Waterford side they were facing.

However, this is no longer the case.

Since the late 1990’s the rivalry between the two has grown and the fear that Waterford may have at times playing Cork no longer exists.

The hammerings that Waterford got at times up to the 1980’s are no longer. Those of us old enough to remember will never forget the Munster Finals of 1982 and 1983. Now when Waterford take on Cork, even on their own soil for underage games, Waterford travel and take the field firmly believing that they can beat the side they are facing.

Maybe the change of mentality has come as a result of the work by a Cork man. In 1997 Gerald McCarthy took over as manager of the Waterford senior hurlers.

Within one year Waterford were paired with Cork in a major final. The two met in the National League Final at Thurles. Much of the opening half of the game was very nip and tuck but at the break Sean O’Farrell’s late goal proved to be the difference as Cork turned around with a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage on the score board.

Waterford took the lead early in the second half but and Alan Browne goal was to again prove crucial as Cork ran out 2-14 to 0-13 winners. Try as they might, Waterford were not able to hall in the damage the goals had done. This game was to proved to be the first of a number of hugely exciting games between the two.

The two sides met for the first time in the championship for the first time in eight year twelve months later. Cork had a very young side out which had many coming from successful underage teams. Waterford went into the game as favourites, a tag that does not always rest well on the shoulders of many Waterford sides. Cork won the game 0-24 to 1-15 and went on to win the All-Ireland that September.

In 2002 it was again back to Thurles for a Munster semi final Waterford were now under another Cork Man – a name sake of the previous manager, and under Justin McCarthy Waterford beat Cork for the first time in a major game for the first time since the 1989 Munster semi final replay, winning 1-16 to 1-15.

The sides met in the Munster Final the following year. Despite Waterford putting three goals past Cork, it was the rebels that won this game on a 3-16 to 3-12 score line.

Twelve months on, the two sides met in the final again, arguably the greatest Munster Final of all time.

This was the year that Waterford finished the game with fourteen men after John Mullane was sent off at the start of the second half. It was the year that Paul Flynn put a free from distance and from a difficult angle to the back of the Cork net, and it was the year that Ken McGrath late in the game soared high into the air to pick the ball out of the air, one of the magic moments in the history of the G.A.A. in Waterford and one that will rival Ned Power’s leap in 1959 as one of the greatest moments of all time. Beating Tipperary in the Munster Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh two years earlier was magic, the first time Waterford won a Munster Final since 1963. The Waterford players joined by former players carrying the Cup over Youghal Bridge on the way home after the game was also a magic moment, but beating Cork in Thurles in 2004 topped what happened two years previously.

In 2005 the sides clashed twice, Cork winning both games firstly in the Munster semi final at Thurles and later in the year in the All-Ireland quarter finals at Croke Park.

In 2006 Cathal Naughton broke Waterford hearts scoring 1-1 within two minutes of coming on in the All-Ireland semi final at Croke Park. Again Waterford had to settle for second best loosing out 1-16 to 1-15 at Croke Park.

In 2007 the sides met in the Munster semi final at Thurles. Cork were short the services of Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid O’Sullivan and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín for their parts in the ‘Semple-Gate Affair’ win over Clare in the quarter finals. Waterford would win a high scoring game 5-15 to 3-18, Eoin Kelly, John Mullane, Dan Shanahan (2) and Paul Flynn netting the Waterford goals.

The sides would meet twice more that year. On July 29 the two clashed in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals at Croke Park. Dan Shanahan, Paul Flynn and Stephen Molumphy would net goals for Waterford in this game in a 3-16 to 3-16 draw and when the two sides replayed on August 5, Dan Shanahan netted twice in a 2-17 to 0-20 win for Waterford.

The next meeting of the two was in the 2010 Munster Final. Tony Browne on the day showed his near twenty years experience wearing a white and blue shirt in this game as he scored a late goal for Waterford following up from a free that was saved on the Cork goal line but the Mount Sion man scrambled the ball over the line to send the game to an historic replay which became the first to be played under lights.

After 70 minutes the game ended in an exciting draw. John Mullane was replaced by Dan Shanahan in extra time and the big Lismore man like Tony Browne in the original game was to show all his experience netting a goal that gave Waterford a 1-16 to 1-13 win.

In 2012 the two clashed in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Waterford led by three points entering the final stages, however, Cork outscored the Déise by 0-7 to 0-1 in the last five minutes to secure a 1-19 to 0-19 win with Jamie Coughlan getting the all important goal.

Twelve months ago the two sides met in the Munster quarter finals.

The game ended in a 1-21 each draw. However, a youthful Waterford side will have felt that they left this game behind them.

Waterford had a disastrous league and little was expected of Waterford in the league. However Waterford were magnificent for much of the game and at one stage held a nine point lead, but once Bill Cooper scrambled the ball past Stephen O’Keeffe Cork began to eat into the Waterford lead and at the end of the game Patrick Horgan put over a free to force the game to a replay.

However the replay proved to be a totally opposite affair for Waterford, as Cork were always well on top and ran out 0-28 to 0-14 winners.

The most recent games between Waterford and Cork may not have been the Classic’s that those in the mid 00’s were, but they were exciting all the same.

The two Munster Championship clashes last year were polar opposites. Waterford should have won the first day. On the second day the better side did win.

Its hard to see this weekend’s National League Final being up there with the Classics. It may not excite the Waterford fans the way the first clash of the two  sides in 2014 did, but it wont disappoint the way the second clash did. I for one would be expecting something in between.

There is some that are saying that neither manager will want to show their full hand of cards in Sunday’s game ahead of the June 7 clash between the two in the Munster semi final at the same venue.

Let’s hope that this will not be the case. For one of these sides it could be their only chance to contest a final this year. For one of the sides they will get to contest and maybe win a Munster Final but not the other. For one of the sides it may be their only chance to contest a final this year. If the winners on Sunday were to end the year loosing the Munster semi final clash between the two and were not to reach the All-Ireland Final through the back door or scenic route, then having the National League Trophy on the sideboard at the end of the year it will be a good year for that side.

Winning their respective semi finals meant a lot to both sides. What it meant to Cork could be seen on the faces of the players and Management after they came from 12 points down against Dublin to win by one.

The same could be said of Waterford. Few gave them a chance against Tipperary and more over after Seamus Callanan won an appeal against his sending off against Offaly in the quarter finals.

Limerick were always favourites to win Division 1B. Wexford would in the eyes of many be the second favourites to win the group. The fact that Waterford finished above both and to win promotion for next years league was a plus for a Waterford side who most would have been happy with just to qualify for the quarter finals.

The tactics used by Waterford may not be enjoyed by most, but it has to be said that the way Derek McGrath has the team playing is effective. The goals which were going past the team last year have not happened this year. The Sliotar has gone into the Waterford net up to now this year in the league.

Players like Austin Gleeson, Stephen and Shane Bennett, Colin Dunford and Tadhg de Búrca are playing good hurling all the year. Derek McGrath has brought them into the team in the last 12 months and they have not let him down, playing with the same confidence of the likes of Dan Shanahan, John Mullane, Tony Browne, Paul Flynn and Ken McGrath did about ten years ago.

This Sunday’s final may not prove to be the Classic that some Cork and Waterford games did in the last decade and a half, but it could well prove to be close. Don’t rule out having to stay in Thurles beyond 5pm on Sunday to see can a winner be found.

As pointed out already, Waterford once feared Cork. This is no longer the case. Every time now Waterford face Cork, the Déise players expect to win.

There will be some that some that will argue that Cork playing Division 1A hurling all along will stand to them.

Maybe so, but remember Waterford have beaten Wexford, the side that knocked Waterford out of the All-Ireland Championship last year. They drew with Limerick who were in last years All-Ireland semi final, albeit Limerick may be missing some players on the night.

And in Waterford’s last two games they beat Galway and Tipperary two sides many are always expecting to be there about come the end of whatever competition they are playing in.

These results will give Waterford plenty of confidence heading into Sunday’s game. Cork supporters in any sport like to think they are the best. They will feel that their side can overcome Waterford on Sunday. Lets face it, Cork are a good side, but are they the best.

The bookies are making Cork odd’s on favourite to win on Sunday. The bookies are often proven to be wrong. For me, I think on Sunday evening Waterford will be celebrating a third league final win, but it could be close.

Paths to the final:

Cork

Round 1 -      Cork    2-17    Kilkenny        1-22
Round 2 -      Cork    1-24    Clare              0-17
Round 3 -      Cork    0-34    Dublin            1-20
Round 4 -      Cork    2-17    Galway           0-20
Round 5 -      Cork     4-21   Tipperary       2-28

Quarter-final  Cork 0-18       Wexford         0-14 Semi-final -   Cork 1-27       Dublin            2-23 

Total Scores              10-158

Total conceded         6-144

Average Scored       27 points

Average conceded 23 points       

Waterford - Division 1B

Round 1 -      Waterford       0-22    Limerick         2-16
Round 2 -      Waterford       3-21    Laois              0-12
Round 3 -      Waterford       2-18    Offaly             1-14
Round 4 -      Waterford       4-30    Antrim            1-10
Round 5 -      Waterford       0-22    Wexford         0-16

Quarter-final   Waterford       0-20    Galway           0-12
Semi-final -      Waterford       1-19    Tipperary       2-15

Total Scores              10-152

Total conceded         6-95

Average Scored       26 points

Average conceded 16 points       

(Averages rounded up or down to the nearest full figure)

A lack of experience won’t be an issue for Waterford in Carlow on Saturday.

Ahead of this weekend’s Irish Daily Star National Camogie League Division two final, if you were to take a look at the Waterford panel that team manager Sean Fleming and his backroom team of Brother Philip Ryan, Chris Dempsey, Paul Ennis and Ita Murphy will be sending out to do battle with Laois at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow, one think quickly becomes apparent.

Operating with a panel of 25 its very clear that each and every one of the players involved has a winning mentality and each of the panel in the last few years have won their share of honours with both their club and county.

Jennie Simpson is a vastly experienced player. She was part of the Waterford team that won the under 16 ‘B’ All-Ireland in 2003, beating Armagh 6-11 to 1-4 in the final at O’Moore Park in Port Laoise. She was also part of the Waterford team that won a Division two league and All-Ireland Junior double in 2011 and a Part of the Waterford team that won the 2013 Munster Intermediate Final beating Tipperary at Cahir. A member of the Saint Anne’s Club, she also has won many honours with the club.

Trish Jackman is another member of the victorious Under 16 panel from 2003. She too was part of the Waterford team that won the Division two league and All-Ireland Junior double in 2011 and a Part of the Waterford team that won the 2013 Munster Intermediate Final. Over the past few years she has become the queen of the Puc Fada, winning the National Final on each of the past 5 years. The Gailltir player has also helped WIT to Ashbourne Cup successes in the few years.

Emma Hannon was another member of the 2003 All-Ireland winning team. She was also part of the Waterford Division two league and All-Ireland Junior double in 2011 and a Part of the Waterford team that won the 2013 Munster Intermediate Final

Niamh Rocket was part of the Division two league and All-Ireland Junior double in 2011 and as also won honours with her Club Saint Annes in recent years.

Nicola Morrissey is another hugely experienced player. She was part of the Division two league and All-Ireland Junior double winning teams in 2011 and a Part of the Waterford team that won the 2013 Munster Intermediate Final. 2014 was a memorable year for her as she won her first All-Ireland Club medal with Lismore, having lost out previously a few times at the semi final stages.

Jenny McCarthy is a member of the Cappoquin Club that has won a number of honours in recent years. She won League and All-Ireland Medals with Waterford in 2011 and won a Munster Intermediate medal in 2013. Jenny was also a member of the Mary I team that won this years Purcell Cup, beating DIT in the final after a replay.

Vikki Falconer was the Captain of the WIT that won the Ashbourne Cup earlier this year. A member of the Butlerstown club that has won honours in recent years, She was also part of successful Waterford sides in 2011 and 2013.

Claire Whyte is a relatively newcomer to the Adult Inter County Scene. She was part of the Waterford side that won the 2013 Munster Intermediate Championship against Tipperary at Cahir. She has also won honours with her club Saint Anne’s.

Deirdre Brennan is also a relatively new member of the panel. She was the reserve goalkeeper in 2013 when Waterford won the Munster Intermediate Final. She has also helped Butlerstown to win honours in the last few years and was part of the DIT team beaten in the Purcell Cup Final replay earlier this year.

Claire Murphy is another relatively newcomer. A member of the Saint Annes club who she has won honours with, she also was part of the Munster Intermediate Championship winning side of 2013.

Lorraine Bray is a member of the Cappoquin club that has won honours in the last few years. The Melleray lady was part of the 2013 Munster Intermediate Championship winning team and also was part of the Waterford side that won the Minor ‘B’ Championship last year.

Valerie O’Brien is another young player that has established herself in the team this year. She was part of the Roanmore side that won the Junior County Championship last year. Twelve months earlier she was a member of the 2013 Munster Intermediate winning team with Waterford and earlier this year was one of three Waterford players that helped WIT win the Ashbourne Cup.

Beth Carton and Brianna O’Regan are two players that need no introduction to Camogie supporters in Waterford and soon could well prove to be household names in Camogie supporting houses across the country. Both are members of the De La Salle Club. They helped Waterford win the All-Ireland under 16 and Minor ‘B’ All-Irelands. In the last week they showed their versatility helping Presentation Secondary School Waterford in a major schools Basketball Competition on the Continent.

Dawn Power from Dungarvan is one of the new players brought into the panel this year by Sean Fleming and she has quickly become a key player in the set up, hitting some crucial scores. She was part of the Waterford minor winning team from last year.

Becky Kavanagh if my records are to prove correct is one of only three players of the Waterford panel this year not to have won an Inter County medal at Adult or Underage level, but that surely will be put to right this weekend. A member of the Saint Anne’s Club she has won numerous honours with the Dunhill based club in the last few years and will surly win more in the years to come. She was part of the DIT team beaten by Mary I in the replayed Purcell Cup Final earlier this year.

Shauna Prendergast is one of the teams joint captains this year. Again if my records are to prove correct, she is the second player not to hold adult or under age medals with Waterford and will be looking put that right this weekend. What medals she may not have won for Waterford she has more than made up for with her club side Lismore with whom she won an All-Ireland Intermediate Club Medal in 2014.

Catriona McGlone will need no introduction to anyone who follows the game of Camogie in Waterford and indeed in many other counties.  She is the third player who may not have won medals with Waterford up to now but again has made up for it with Lismore. On any given day, she can be a goal machine. Last year she hit three goals against Ballyhale Shamrocks for Lismore to help them win the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club Final replay at Clonmel. Catriona is the second joint captain of the side this year.

Molly Curran of the Brickeys, Saoirse Bonner of Saint Annes, Aisling Power of Cappoquin and Kate McMahon of Butlerstown are all new to the panel this year and were members of the Waterford Under 16 team that beat Derry in last years ‘B’ All-Ireland Final.

Sibeal Harney from Saint Annes is another member of the victorious under 16 winning team and also was part of the Minor winning team that so beat Derry in last years All-Ireland Final. Also part of the Waterford minor team that won the All-Ireland ‘B’ Final were Orla Flynn from Clonea and Iona Heffernan from Ferrybank, the latter having got some game time this year in the league and could well be a player to keep an eye on in the coming years.

As can be seen, there is plenty of experience in this years Waterford Intermediate Camogie team. There is plenty of medals in the collection of the 25 players. Wouldn’t it be great if there was another 25 medals added to the overall tally about 3-45pm on Saturday afternoon.

If I have mistakes in what players have won, please forgive me, but I am fairly confident that the information above is pretty much correct.

Waterford to play Sligo in Tesco Homegrown National Ladies Football League Division 3 final on May 9

Waterford’s Intermediate Ladies Football team are back in the final of the Third Division of the Tesco Homegrown National Ladies Football League after they hammered Roscommon today at Nenagh.

The first half proved to be a very even affair with Sinead Ryan’s goal proving crucial as Waterford turned around with a 1-5 to 0-4 lead.

The second half however proved to be all one way traffic as Michelle Ryan, Hannah Landers and Mary Foley all hit goals as Waterford ran out comfortable 4-15 to 0-9 winners.

In the final Waterford will play Sligo who beat Leitrim in the second of today’s Division three semi final’s.

Played at Ballyhaunis, it was Leitrim that were in front (1-4 to 0-6), Áine Heslin’s goal having been set up by Sarah McLaughlin proving crucial.

In the second half Sligo were awarded two penalties which were slammed to the net by Emma Hansberry which helped Sligo to a 2-9 to 1-8 win.

In Division one, All-Ireland Champions Cork will take on Galway in the competition decider.

Eamon Ryan’s charges took on Kerry at Dromcollogher Broadford in Limerick at the break held a 0-7 to 0-6 lead and in the second half again shaded it winning 0-13 to 0-10.

Tracey Leonard hit two goals for Galway in the first half of their game at Mullingar and Noelle Connolly hit one in the opening thirty minutes to give the Westerners a 3-4 to 1-3 lead at the break. Dublin’s goal in the first half came from Nicole Owens.

Galway’s fourth goal came from Patricia Gleeson after some good work by Annette Clarke in the build up.

Dublin did hit second half goals from Hannah Noonan and Nicole Owens but it was not to be enough as Galway ran out very easy 4-13 to 3-4 winners.

Meanwhile Armagh who beat Waterford to win last years Division 3 final at Parnell Park in Dublin are to contest this years division two final after they beat Cavan at Clones and in the final they will play Donegal who had a 3-10 to 1-4 win over Westmeath at the same venue.

Armagh had much of the hard work done by the break turning around with a 1-11 to 1-4 lead, Aimee Mackin hitting the Armagh goal and Aisling Sheridan striking for Cavan.

Armagh continued to be the better side in the second half running out 2-20 to 1-8 winners. Caroline O’Hanlon who stood out for Armagh hit her side’s second goal as she finished the game with 1-8 behind her name on the score sheet.

It was a slow start for both Donegal and Westmeath in the other semi final. The winners lead 2-1 to 0-3 at the break with the goals coming from Amber Barrett and Yvonne McMonagle.

The second half proved to be a much more lively affair, but at the end of the hour, Donegal proved to strong. Yvonne McMonagle hit a second goal in the second half and while Karen McDermott pulled one back for Westmeath, it proved to be a mere consolation score.

The Division one, two and three finals are due to take place on May 9 at a venue to be confirmed. In the last few years, all three finals have taken place at Parnell Park in Dublin.

The division three final between Waterford and Sligo on May 9 has a 12-15pm start. The Division two final between Donegal and Armagh follows at 2pm and the main game of the day the division one final between Cork and Galway has a 3-45pm start.

The Division four final between Limerick and Offaly who were relegated from Division three last year will contest the Division four final next Saturday at venue and time to be confirmed.

Remaining round two games in Senior Football Championship to take place this Saturday and Sunday

Two games in the second round of this year’s JJ Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Football Championship were played last weekend in the second round of the championship. This weekend, the remaining four games in the second series of games will be played in Double Headers at Fraher Field on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Clashmore V Rathgormack - (8pm on Saturday in Fraher Field)

Both of these sides had contrasting results in the first round of games two weeks ago.

Clashmore beat 2014 champions The Nire in the first game of the championship.

First half goals from Jason Seward and Cillian O’Keeffe proved crucial as Clashmore ran out winners on a 2-8 to 0-13 score line.

Rathgormack went into their opening round game with Ballinacourty with many expecting them to serve up a strong challenge for the 2013 champions, but they proved to be no match as Ballinacourty ran out very comfortable 4-10 to 0-9 winners.

Clashmore will go into this game on a high after their opening round win. Rathgormack after their first round defeat will not want to fall further behind the leaders as the half way point in the league section of the competition nears.

Clashmore will be favourites to win here, but if Rathgormack up their game on what they served up against Ballinacourty, they could push very hard for a win.

 

County Senior Football Championship

Nire V Ardmore - (3-30pm on Sunday in Fraher Field)

The Nire went all the way to the Munster Final last year without loosing a game a championship game. Having lost out to Clashmore last time out, they are already playing catch up. They will not want to fall any further behind and will know that if they were to win their remaining four games they could top the group or at least finish second and get what is often perceived to be an easier quarter final.

Ardmore last time out did well to beat De La Salle. For 45 minutes of the game they were the better team but found themselves trailing 1-7 to 0-4 at the break.

Clinton Hennessy was their best player last time out hitting 1-5 of his sides tally of 1-10. They will have to get more players firing on all cylinders in front of goal in this one if they are to win.

 

County Senior Football Championship

Kilrossanty V An Rinn - (2pm on Sunday in Fraher Field)

Both of these sides had opening round wins so a win for either side here will go a long way towards securing their place in the quarter finals of the championship.

On paper both sides have some very good players and this could well prove to be the best game in this weekend’s programme of games.

An Rinn against Saint Saviours were best served by Donie Breathnach who hit 0-8 of his sides 1-12 with Liam Ó Lonáin hitting 1-3. They will be looking for big performances again from them this weekend and will also be hoping to get one or two others on the score sheet with two or three points each.

Kilrossanty in beating Brickeys 0-15 to 0-9 had good performances from Paul Whyte who hit half a dozen points, two more than Joey Veale while Tommy Prendergast also impressed.

This is a game that could well go to the wire. If there is to be a draw this weekend it could be in this game.

 

County Senior Football Championship

Stradbally V Brickeys - (6-30pm on Saturday in Fraher Field)

Stradbally have proven to be the best team in the county since the turn of the millennium and while many of the players that have helped them to win so much in this time are no longer part of the panel they have still some experienced players in the likes of Kevin Coffey, Shane Lannon, Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh, John Hearne, Tony Grey, Shane Ahearne and Ger Power to pick from, plus some up and coming players like Jack Mullaney and Michael Sweeney.

Brickeys last year as expected bounced straight back up to the senior grade one year after dropping down to Intermediate.

They have some good players within their ranks like Conor Phelan, Shane McGrath, David Ryan, Mark Cummins, Conor McGrath, Cormac Curran and Carthach Shalloe but despite this it is hard to see them get anything from this game.

 

 J J Kavanagh & Sons Senior Football Championship - Group 1

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
Ballinacourty	2	2	0	0	48	11	37	4
Clashmore Kinsalebeg	1	1	0	0	14	13	1	2
Ardmore	1	1	0	0	13	12	1	2
The Nire	1	0	0	1	13	14	-1	0
Rathgormack	1	0	0	1	9	22	-13	0
De La Salle	2	0	0	2	14	39	-25	0

 

J J Kavanagh& Sons Senior Football Championship - Group 2

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
Stradbally	1	1	0	0	18	12	6	2
Kilrossanty	1	1	0	0	15	9	6	2
An Rinn	1	1	0	0	15	10	5	2
St Saviour's	2	0	1	1	20	25	-5	1
Gaultier	2	0	1	1	22	28	-6	1
Brickey Rangers	1	0	0	1	9	15	-6	0