Waterford look to reverse recent results against Kildare in Camogie League semi final

It’s fair to say that this Sunday the attention of most Gaelic Games Supporters in Waterford will centre on what is happening at Nolan Park in Kilkenny from about 4pm.

But it’s not only at the Kilkenny venue that Gaelic Games supporters will be keeping an eye at.

Fifteen minutes before the ball is thrown in at Nolan Park it will be thrown in at McDonagh Park at Nenagh in the Irish Daily Star Division two Camogie semi final between Waterford and Kildare.

While interest in Camogie is not a high priority with many, there is some great work being done within the county both on and off the field to promote the game and it’s only a matter of time before we see interest increase even more.

On the field of play Waterford have had a great last decade winning numerous titles. These titles may be in the second or third tier of Camogie but a Championship win is a championship win regardless of what grade or level it is at.

Many of the players that were part of good underage teams in the last few years have been called up to the adult scene by Intermediate team manager Sean Fleming and they have not disappointed playing along side players that had played under previous managers Andy Maloney, Mark Cooney and Niall O’Donnell.

Off the field a new look County Board have been put in place this year under the leadership of Ita Murphy. In the short time they are together some outstanding work has been done and I know that more is planned and what is planned I am sure will be announced shortly which will further promote the game within the county.

Should Waterford win on Sunday afternoon it will give the game of Camogie another boost in the county. However to win will not be easy. Kildare have won the last two meetings in the league between the two including at the semi final stages in 2013. But Waterford will be looking for revenge this weekend.

Kildare had the best scoring average in group one of this years division two league but finished second having lost out to Laois who like Kildare finished with eight points from ten in their five games but would finish second in the group having lost the head to head between the two.  

Kildare’s only loss in the league was in the opening round of games when Laois ran out 1-11 to 0-5 winners. Since then it was wins all the way beating Wexford 3-13 to 0-6, Galway 3-14 to 0-5, Westmeath 2-13 to 0-7 and finally Antrim 2-10 to 1-7.

Averaging seventeen points a game in their five games in the league, the Kildare players from 8 to 15 will be a threat to the Waterford backs.

Players like Emer Reilly, Siobhan Hurley, Laura Sheehan, Susie O’Carroll and Dearbhaile Byrne will be amongst the players they will be looking for the bulk of their scores from.

And while Kildare are strong in attack, they are equally as strong in defence, conceding just over eight points in their five games to date.

Like Kildare, Waterford up to now has proven to be a strong outfit.

They have played just four games in the league having got a walkover from Down in their last game and recorded four wins, beating Tipperary 2-21 to 0-4, Cork 1-9 to 1-8, Meath 2-14 to 1-13 and Kilkenny 2-13 to 1-6.

In their four games they have averaged just under twenty points a game and conceded an average of ten points per game which suggests a close game is store.

Waterford right throughout the team look solid. Deirdre Brennan is likely to start in goals. Claire Whyte could well be at fullback, Jennie Simpson at centre back and Trish Jackman and Lorraine Bray in the centre of the field.

In attack Waterford will have plenty of options including Catriona McGlone, Beth Carton (who is away with Presentation Secondary School playing Basketball), Dawn Power, Valerie O’Brien, Nicola Morrissey, Aisling Power and Niamh Rockett.

Waterford warmed up for this game with a Munster Championship game against Clare last Saturday at The Ragg. While defeat was Waterford lot (0-16 to 1-10), the workout will have proven to be fruitful exercises as it will have got rid of any rustiness that may have set in since the win over Kilkenny in mid March.

When the sides met at the same stage of the competition two years ago at Mountmellick it was the Lilly Whites that came out on top winning 0-12 to 0-8.

Much of the damage that day was won in the first half when Kildare aided by a very strong wind in the first half retired at the break with an 0-8 to 0-1 lead.

Waterford with the wind at their backs in the second half piled on the pressure. Jennie Simpson and Shona Curran hit a point each and Trish Jackman added five to the one that she hit in the first half.

However with time ticking down the goal that Waterford needed to put extra pressure on Kildare never came.

Last year it was much the same. Waterford had a very understrength team in the league last year as the Lismore players took a break after helping their club to win the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final against Ballyhale Shamrocks.

Waterford has the makings of a good team this year and the side will be confident of getting revenge for the defeat in the last two meetings between the sides.