That was a result few saw coming

I don’t think anybody saw this one coming.

While many of us had predicted that Waterford would win in Thurles this afternoon or at least go very close to winning, I don’t think anybody could have predicted a twenty-two point defeat.

This defeat will add to the calls of some that Football should be forgotten about within the county, but such calls should not be listened to.

At club level and in particular in the senior grades clubs like The Nire, Ballinacourty, Stradbally and Kilrossanty in the last thirty years have served up some excellent performances in the Munster Club Championship and are very unlucky on more than one occasion not to have won.

On the inter county front things however are a little more different as Waterford have standing to be corrected on this have just one championship win since 1988 in the senior grade and while Waterford have won two Junior Munster and All-Ireland Finals in this time as well as one Under 21 Munster Final, Waterford’s record in other levels over this time have been far from satisfactory.

Everyone will have their view on why Waterford are not getting the results at this grade, here is not the place to air them, but maybe I might see what is wrong at another time, instead just look at today’s game.

Tipperary from the off were in devastating scoring form as they set up a Munster semi-final clash against All-Ireland champions Kerry in two weeks time.

Over the seventy minutes, ten different Tipperary players got their names on the score sheet.

Tipperary led by 1-13 to 0-3 at the break having played against the breeze and had six different players getting their names on the score sheet.

Steven O’Brien in the middle of the field had a huge game for the home side hitting six points in the game, three in each half.

The Tipperary goal came ten minutes from the break as Michael Quinlivan was quickest to react to a free from Ballyporeen’s Conor Sweeney hit the post and the Clonmel Commercial’s player was on hand to fist past Sean Barron who had a solid Championship debut for Waterford between the posts.

Tipperary had a brilliant start to this game and were six points up before Michael O’Halloran on his Senior Championship debut opened Waterford’s account.

Conor Sweeney opened the scoring from a free on one minute. Points from the very impressive Steven O’Brien, Philip Austin, Ger Mulhaire and a brace from Stephen O’Brien followed in the next ten minutes to give the eventual winners a handsome lead on the score board before Michael O’Halloran landed Waterford’s first score.

Brian Fox and Michael O’Halloran traded scores on fourteen minutes to keep Tipperary five in front, before Michael Quinlivan in front of an attendance of 1.641 slotted over three points in a row, before the same player registered the games only goal on twenty four minutes.

Tipperary in the time that remained in the first half continued to be the better side and turned around with a 13 advantage on the score board as Conor Sweeney landed a brace of points and Philip Austin also added one with Waterford’s response coming from a JJ Hutchinson free.

Tipperary in the second half continued to be the better team right throughout the field.

Centre back Peter Acheson opened the second half scoring and points from Stephen O’Brien, Philip Austin, Seamus Kennedy and George Hannigan followed for Tipperary before Shane Briggs hit Waterford’s first score of the second half on fifty one minutes.

Brian Fox and JJ Hutchinson again from a free traded scores, the latter proving to be Waterford’s last of the game to give Tipperary a 1-19 to 0-5 lead with a quarter of the game still to play.

In the last quarter, Tipperary refused to relent and attacked the Waterford defence at every opportunity.

Stephen O’Brien hit his fifth score of the game on fifty six minutes. Brian Fox added another a minute later to send Tipperary 19 points in front.

In the final ten minutes, the home side hit three further scores.

George Hannigan hit his second of the game with seven minutes of normal time to play. Steven O’Brien rounded off a fine afternoon’s work three minutes from time and in added time Jason Lonergan who replaced Colin O’Riordan seven minutes into the second half after he picked up an injury, became the tenth member of the home sides panel to score on the day.

Tipperary now advance to a Munster Semi Final where they will face a much harder battle against Kerry than they had today, while Waterford will be involved in the All-Ireland qualifiers where the side will be hoping to firstly receive a home draw and secondly avoid some of the stronger sides that have already exited this years provincial championships.

TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Paddy Codd, Ciarán McDonald, Robbie Kiely; Alan Campbell, Peter Acheson, Seamus Kennedy; Steven O’Brien, George Hannigan; Ger Mulhaire, Colin O’Riordan, Philip Austin; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan, Brian Fox.  Subs: Jason Lonergan for Colin O’Riordan (42), Barry Grogan for Michael Quinlivan (44), Liam Casey for Conor Sweeney (58), Brian Mulvihill for Brian Fox (58), Andrew Morrissey for Peter Acheson (64), Sean Flynn for Ger Mulhaire (66).

Scorers: Michael Quinlivan 1-3 (0-1f), Steven O’Brien 0-6, Brian Fox, Philip Austin & Conor Sweeney (2f) 0-3 each, George Hannigan 0-2, Seamus Kennedy, Peter Acheson, Ger Mulhaire & Jason Lonergan 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Sean Barron; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Thomas O’Gorman, Maurice O’Gorman; Dean Crowley, Shane Briggs, Liam Lawlor; Patrick Hurney, Tommy Prendergast; Mark Ferncombe, Michael O’Halloran, JJ Hutchinson; Michael Curry, Paul Whyte, Joey Veale. Liam Ó Lonáin for Michael Curry (h.t.), Cillian O’Keeffe for Patrick Hurney (49), Stephen Prendergast for Mark Ferncombe (51), Ray O Ceallaigh for Paul Whyte (59).

Scorers: Michael O’Halloran & JJ Hutchinson (2f), 0-2 each, Shane Briggs 0-1.

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare).

Waterford to upset favourites in Munster Senior Football Championship

If we believe everything we read in the paper and hear what we are told, then there is no point in Waterford’s Senior Football Team turning up in Thurles on Sunday afternoon for a Munster Quarter Final where the prize for the winner is a game against the All-Ireland Champions – Kerry.

While a lot of what we read in the papers and hear on our TV’s and Radios which often help others to form a debate can be taken as Gospel, not everything should be taken as Gospel.

If those predicting the outcome of Sunday’s second quarter final game are correct, then Tipperary are going to win, maybe putting up a cricket score in doing so.

The two sides had very contrasting league campaigns.

Tipperary in their first season in Division three having won promotion from the bottom league twelve months earlier, finished in third place, finishing three points behind the two promoted sides Armagh and Fermanagh.

Waterford went into the league on a high, having won a first McGrath Cup since the county won the inaugural title back in 1981. Tom McGlinchey’s side won their first game of the league beating Wicklow at Fraher Field, but was well out of contention heading into the last round of games. However along the way, Lady Luck deserted Waterford and had it remained with the side, things may have been different as some of Waterford’s defeat were small, loosing on three occasions by two points, against Carlow in round 3, Longford in round 4 and Antrim in round 5 and had a share of the spoils away to London.  

The home side will go into the game as favourites and to be fair to them, its easy to see why. In the last few years, the Premier County has tasted success at minor and under 21 level, and many of the players that were involved in these successes, players like Evan Comerford, Seamus Kennedy, Steven O’Brien, Colin O’Riordan and Michael Quinlivan are going to be involved in this game and will be key to their side’s championship hopes this year.

Of course Tipperary do not have just a young team, they also have some experienced players at this grade. Paddy Codd, Ciaran McDonald, Robbie Kiely, Peter Acheson, Alan Campbell, George Hannigan, Philip Austin, Ger Mulhare are all players in the mid to late 20’s while they have a very dangerous full forward line made up of the already mentioned Michael Quinlivan in the middle of Conor Sweeney and Brian Fox.

Of course no team is complete without back up and in the likes of Jason Lonergan, Brian Mulvihill, Ian Fahey, Barry Grogan (a surprise omission for many), Donal Lynch, Andrew Morrissey and Brian Enright Tipperary have a nice blend of youth and experience to call upon if required.

Waterford will go into this game somewhat under the radar. Since the last league game against Leitrim Tom McGlinchey and his management team will have had little time collectively to work with the team.

Two rounds of the senior football championship were played in April followed by two rounds of the senior hurling championship and the coming back of the panel for collective training was put back owing to Waterford contesting and winning the National Hurling League as the first round of games in the club championship were put back two weeks.

Since then, the side has played a number of challenge games which will have helped the selectors come up with the team that they will be sending out to do battle.

In the team Tom McGlinchey has named, there is two Championship debutants in Sean Barron in goal and Michael O’Halloran in the middle of the field.

The Ballinacourty Club man in the league was outstanding and won over for himself many admirers and will not be out of place for when he lines out this weekend. The Ardmore Club man also got to play in the league, playing in the sides draw with London and takes over the number one shirt from Stephen Enright who is out of the country for the summer.

Like Tipperary Waterford will put out an experienced team this weekend.

Shane Briggs is the oldest Waterford player to take to the field this weekend. Players like Thomas and Maurice O’Gorman, Liam Lawlor, Patrick Hurney and Joey Veale are all in and around thirty years old and have plenty of experience.

Dean Crowley, Tadhg O hUallachain, Tommy Prendergast, Michael Curry, Paul Whyte, Mark Ferncombe and JJ Hutchinson are a little younger but are also experience players at this grade of football.

And again just like Tipperary, Waterford if required will have plenty of experience to call upon if needed in the likes of Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Conor Phelan, Cillian O’Keeffe, and David Hallahan. Waterford would also love to be able to call upon Conor Gleeson for this game. The young Nire man set last years club championship on fire with a number of impressive performance and was called up to the panel recently, but just as the call came and appeared to be answered, the call also came from the Senior Hurling Panel to join them in their recent training camp, so it remains to be seen what happens here.

Waterford has nothing to loose here. Nobody seems to be expecting anything from the side, even within the county. Maybe that is a good thing. It will take any pressure there is off the shoulders of the side.

Waterford will be underdogs. We all know about the success that Tipperary had in recent years when it comes to football, but success at underage level does not always transfer to adult level. Just look at what is happening in Galway when it comes to hurling in the last nearly 30 years. How many excellent minor and under 21 teams have they produced? How many titles have they won at these two grades? And now ask yourself what have they won at adult level? I am sure you won’t have to rack the brains too much to try and figure it out.

In the last few years Waterford has not feared Tipperary. OK in clashes between the two counties at underage level, results have often gone one way, maybe too easily at times, but at adult level little separates the sides.

All the pressure is going to be on Tipperary to produce the goods in Thurles in front of a home support than many will expect to well outnumber the visitors support on the day.

Working in Co. Tipperary and working up to last Christmas within the Tipperary Club Scene, Tom McGlinchey will know the Tipperary players well and will have come up with a plan to try and stamp out areas where the side could cause Waterford trouble.

While Waterford will go into the game as the underdog, lets not forget that when in such situations in the past, Waterford have pulled off some excellent results. Who will forget just two years ago when Galway were expected to go through the motions with Waterford in the All-Ireland qualifiers, but with five minutes to go in that game, Waterford lead but did end up on the wrong end of the final result.

I am expecting Waterford here to give a far better account of themselves then what most are expecting. The experts are saying this is a game for Tipperary’s to loose. I have a sneaky feeling that the experts are going to be wrong here and that Waterford will be looking forward to welcoming the All-Ireland Champions to Fraher Field in a few weeks time.

Waterford Intermediate Ladies Footballers begin quest for 7 in a row

This year’s Munster Intermediate Ladies Football Championship gets underway on Thursday evening with a repeat of last years final as Waterford and Limerick clash in the first round of the round robin part of the championship at Bansha.

Waterford this year will be hoping to win a seventh title in a row at this grade, and they will enter the competition as favourites, but it should be worth noting that this years final could be harder to reach and win than the previous six were.

The reason for this could be down to a number of reasons. While some good work is taking place in Waterford to develop players to play at this grade of football, the same hard work is taking place in the other competing counties as well.

Its also worth noting that like Waterford a few weeks back now, Limerick were in a League Final, where they suffered the same fete.

In Tipperary, the Premier Ladies won a Minor All-Ireland last year, and this year secondary schools in Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel (both of whom had players from Waterford involved), and Cahir had good runs in the Munster Colleges Championships, and many of the players involved in these teams could at some stage see action time for Tipperary this year.

And this year Clare will be involved in the competition. They have played Senior with the last number of years and in recent years they have played in a higher grade than the other three competing did in the National Leagues and as a result, their players will have gained plenty of experience and this should stand to them in the Intermediate championship this year.

Limerick may have played in Division four of the league this year, but their year up to now resembles Waterford’s.

They played five games in the league section of the competition, beating Wicklow by four points, Antrim by five points, Louth by thirteen points, Derry by seven points and in their final game in the league section beat Offaly by four points.

In the semi finals they again beat Louth, this time it was much closer as Limerick ran out 2-14 to 3-7 winners and in the final as often happens, the team that lost the first day won in the second meeting of the two sides as Offaly ran out 3-7 to 1-8 winners.

Waterford in the National League played in Division three and recorded wins over Wexford, Fermanagh, Sligo, Tipperary, Roscommon, and Leitrim in the group stages of the competition and got a walkover from Longford before beating Roscommon in the semi finals.

Like Limerick, Pat Sullivan’s Waterford team went into the final undefeated but in the second meeting of the year with Sligo, the Magpies ran out four point winners on a 2-12 to 2-8 score line.

Waterford will know that in different circumstances on that day they would have beaten Sligo. However, now that the championship is about to begin, that defeat will be forgotten about and the team will be setting their sights on the competition that all players in this grade of competition would be looking to win.

The sides met twice last year.

The first meeting took place in the opening round of games in the competition, and resulted in a 2-12 to 0-11 win for Waterford at Adare.

However, that score line did not do justice to the effort put in by the home side on that occasion.

The game proved to be a game of two halves, which Waterford shaded at the break, turning around holding a 1-7 to 0-7 advantage, Hannah Landers very early goal proving the difference between the sides in the first thirty minutes.

In the second half the home side continued to put Waterford under a lot of pressure and managed to get Waterford’s lead down to one point at one stage, but in the end a late Linda Wall goal and late points from Liz Devine, Aileen Wall and Elaine Power proved to be the difference between the sides.

Both sides recorded big wins over Tipperary, Limerick winning 6-13 to 1-13 at Claughaun and Waterford winning 4-23 to 1-8 at Carrick-on-Suir which meant that Waterford and Limerick were to clash again in the Munster Final.

This time things were much more clear-cut as Waterford ran out 2-20 to 1-11 winners.

Waterford inflicted much of the damage early in this game as Michelle Ryan and Hannah Landers scored the first three points of the game inside four minutes Megan Kelleher followed up with a goal for Limerick, but it was Waterford all the way for much of the remainder of the game.

Points from Mairead Wall, Liz Devine, Elaine Power, Aileen Wall and Michelle Ryan quickly followed to give Waterford a five point lead with ten minutes played.

Further scores from Hannah Landers, Linda Wall, Michelle Ryan and Liz Devine followed for Waterford before the break, with responses coming from Marie Curtin, Niamh Richardson and Dymphna O’Brien gave Waterford a 0-15 to 1-4 lead at the break.

Marie Curtin and Elaine Power traded early second half scores that day before Róisín Tobin set up Hannah Landers for the second goal of the game.

Further points from Michelle Ryan and Linda Wall followed before Elaine Power hit Waterford’s second goal of the game.

Waterford eased up after this and while Marie Curtin added five second half points and Claire O’Riordan and Stephanie Carroll added one each they proved to be mere consolation scores as Waterford ran out easy winners.

What kind of game we will get this year is hard to tell at this point. Will it be as close as the first game last year or will it be as one sided as last years Munster Final. Maybe it could be something in between. We will have to wait and find out.

One thing that could happen however if we are to go on games played involving the two sides this year, and that is that goals will be scored, maybe lots of them.

In seven games in the National League, Limerick hit an impressive thirteen goals. Waterford did even better. In eight games Pat Sullivan’s charges hit twenty-eight goals, an average of four per game. On four occasions Waterford hit five goals past their opponents in the league and on only one occasion did Waterford fail to score any goal in a game.

Both sides will show changes from last years championship.

Limerick will have an experienced panel and will be looking to the likes of Alva Neary, Janet Garvey, Megan Kelleher, Niamh Richardson, Siobhan Moloney, Dymphna O’Brien, Aoife Meaney, Stephanie Carroll, Clodagh Kirby and Marie Curtain etc. for much of their inspiration.

Waterford too will have a very experienced side with the likes of Karen McGrath (at the age of 20), Linda Wall, Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power, Mairead Wall, Gráinne Kenneally, Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall (aged 21), Michelle Ryan, Mary Foley, Hannah Landers (aged 20) and Nora Dunphy providing experience to the panel, while Megan Dunford, Caoimhe McGrath, Kate McGrath, Mairead Power, Lauren McGregor, Ciara Hurley, Mary Kate Morrissey, Shauna Dunphy, Aoife and Emma Murray etc.

Waterford you would expect should have enough to see them through this game. The game will not be won not just by the 15 players that start the game for both sides, and those that come in during the course of the game.

If the respective benches were to be the winning of the game, then Waterford will have a great chance as Pat Sullivan will be able to call on players that would be automatic starters for many other sides playing at this grade of football.

However, Limerick will take a lot from the first meeting with Waterford last year, and they will know that if they are still close to Waterford in the final minutes of the game, a shock might be sprung.

Enda McDonnell Intermediate Championship Round 1 –

Thursday 28^th May at 8pm in Bansha - Waterford v Limerick

Saturday, May 30th at 3pm - Tipperary v Clare

Enda McDonnell Intermediate Championship Round 2 – To be played on Saturday, June 20th at 3pm

Clare v Limerick

Waterford v Tipperary

Enda McDonnell Intermediate Championship Round 3 –  To be played on Saturday, June 27th at 3.00pm

Tipperary v Limerick

Waterford v Clare

Venues for rounds two and three to be confirmed

Ardmore and Modeligo settle for a share of the spoils.

A game between two sides that were not involved in the West Waterford Intermediate Hurling Championship in 2014 proved to be the Game of the Week in West Waterford last weekend.

Ardmore in 2014 played in the senior hurling championship having won the Western and Intermediate Camogie Championship but were related after just one season in the senior grade, loosing a relegation play off against Fourmilewater.

Modeligo in 2014 were playing Junior Hurling. They reached the Western semi finals in 2013 where they lost out to Ballysaggart after a replay in Lismore, the winners of that game going on to win the West, County and Munster Junior Club Championships in the weeks that followed.

The treble win for Ballysaggart showed Modeligo that they were not far off the mark even if they would go into the 2014 campaign possibly as second favourites in the eyes of many behind Colligan to win the Western Championship and a little further down the order for the county championship.

However, Modeligo under Pa Kearney refused to listen to anything about second favourites, as they played some excellent hurling to win the Western Final against Colligan then prove too strong for Bunmahon in the County Final and Castlemartyr in the Munster Final before falling to Fullen Gaels at Birmingham in the All-Ireland quarter final earlier this year.

Normally in a game like last Sunday’s the advantage would have been with the side like Ardmore. The experience of playing in the Senior Grade you would have thought would have given them some bit of an advantage, but the experience of a successful run in the past twelve months and being unlucky to exit the All-Ireland Championship should not have been dismissed in Modeligo’s case.

As in the case of last week’s chosen ‘Game of the Week’ in West Waterford between Saint Mary’s and Colligan in the Junior Hurling Championship, this game proved to be a game of two halves.

Modeligo in the opening half were by far the better side and turn around holding a 0-9 to 0-3 advantage. Ardmore however will have being cursing their luck as they shot nine wide’s as opposed to two to Modeligo in the first half. Had some of then wide’s gone between the uprights they will surly have wondered after the game what the final outcome would be.

Modeligo had a great start to this game as Kieran McCarthy pointed inside the first minute of the game. Two further points from top scorer Jamie Troy and another from Kieran McCarthy followed to give Modeligo an early 0-4 to 0-0 lead.

All of Ardmore’s first half scores were from the stick of former Inter county hurler Seamus Prendergast and all three were from placed balls.

Modeligo to their early tally added points before the end of the opening thirty minutes through current inter county star Tom Devine, Seanie O’Donovan and Jamie Troy slotted over another three to bring his tally for the first half to five.

If Modeligo proved to be the better side in the opening half, it was Ardmore that did so in the second half.

They opened brightly with points from Kenny Murphy and Seamus Prendergast before Jamie Barron pulled one back for Modeligo to give them a 0-10 to 0-5 lead.

A brace of scores from David Gartland and a single score from Seamus Prendergast followed for Ardmore with Modeligo’s response being a brace of points from Jamie Barron which helped them to a 0-11 to 0-8 lead.

Stephen and Seamus Keating drew Ardmore to within one of Modeligo at the end of the third quarter and on forty six minutes the Round Tower men went in front when Eoin Conway beat Cian O’Byrne in his championship debut between the posts for the only goal of the game.

Modeligo however wasted no time in regaining the lead as Man of the Match Jamie Barron added three points in a row to give Modeligo a 0-15 to 1-10 lead.

Stephen Keating and Jamie Troy traded scores before Seamus Keating and Michael Troy did likewise to give Modeligo a 0-17 to 1-12 lead with time fast ticking down.

However, no game is over till the final whistle, and in the closing minutes Ardmore pilled on the pressure. David Gartland hit his third point of the game to leave just one between the sides and in added time at the end of the second half, Kenny Murphy landed a point for Ardmore to give his side a share of the spoils.

Next up for Ardmore is a delayed round one game against Shamrocks this Friday evening in Fraher Field with the game having a 7-30pm start. Modeligo having had a bye in round one will play Ballysaggart in round three. Tourin will play Shamrocks in the same round of games while Ardmore has a bye.

Ardmore: Clinton Hennessy; Niall Hennessy, Declan Prendergast, Gavin Williams; Kenny Murphy, Wayne Hennessy, Richie Hennessy; Seamus Keating, Michael Cronin; Eoin Conway, David Gartland, Thomas Power; Seamus Keating, Seamus Prendergast, Cathal Hennessy. Sub Used. Seamus Veale.

Scorers: Seamus Prendergast 0-5 (5pts), David Gartland 0-3, Eoin Conway 1-0, Kenny Murphy, Seamus Keating, Stephen Keating 0-2 each.

Modeligo: Cian O’Byrne; Louis Queally, Brian McCarthy, Robbie Buckley; Sean O’Donovan, Pat Fitzgerald, Shane Troy; Kieran McCarthy, John McGrath, Jamie Troy, Tom Devine, Rian Reddy; Michael Troy, Pa O’Donovan, Nicky O’Donovan.

Scorers: Jamie Troy 0-12 (8 frees, 1 ’65), Kieran McCarthy 0-2, Seanie O’Donovan, Tom Devine, Michael Troy 0-1 each.

Referee: Timmy Organ (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty).

Results from Round 2: (Group A): Ardmore 1-14 Modeligo 0-17, Ballysaggart 1-18 Shamrocks 1-18; (Group B): An Rinn 4-14 Ballinameela 1-7, Clashmore 3-12 Stradbally 0-13.

Every week one game will be picked from games played in West Waterford as ‘Game of the Week’ and will be reported upon here.

Lismore claim third County League title in four years

There can be no disputing that the final of the Waterford Senior Camogie League for the Denny Buckley Cup which this year was sponsored by the Premium Butchers gets the best out of the competing sides.

The first two finals of the four year history of the competition were won by Lismore who beat Saint Anne’s in both finals. The 2014 final saw the rolls reversed as Saint Anne’s beat Lismore, this time at Lemybrien.

In all three finals, little if anything separated the sides.

This years final was played on Saturday evening last. Pairc Eamon De Paor in Tallow was the setting for the final with near neighbours Cappoquin competing in their first final and Lismore who were involved in their fourth final making the relatively short journey to the venue by the Bride River.

Both sides in recent years have enjoyed a great deal of success.

Much of what Cappoquin achieved has come at underage level and in particular in the Minor grade, and last year the Cornerstone Club also won the Intermediate Championship County Final, beating a fancied An Rinn side in the final at Fraher Field.

Lismore too have enjoyed considerable success. While the Heritage Town side have enjoyed success at underage level’s in the years to come, it is for what they have achieved at Adult Level will be remembered. In the last five years, Four County Senior Championship has been won. So too have Four Munster Intermediate Club Championships and one All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final, as well as finishing runners up in another All-Ireland Final. And now the club can lay claim to winning three County Senior League titles in four years on their Roll of Honour.

Both sides went into the final without the services of established players, but it was still 15 against 15 and those that came in did their chances of staking a more regular place in the starting team no harm.

Those that did travel to Tallow expecting another close and exciting game they were not to be disappointed.

The sizeable attendance was served up a game by the two sides where the final outcome was in doubt right to the end.

The game one of two halves, but in the end experience was to play a major roll in the final outcome as Lismore tagged on two late points to ensure that the trophy was doing to find a home in Lismore for the next twelve months.

It was Cappoquin that were first to score in this game through Aisling Power who captained Waterford to win the All-Ireland under 16 ‘B’ Final in 2014 against Derry.

However, Lismore wasted no time in taking control of the game and turned around at the break with a 1-8 to 0-3 advantage.

Nicola Morrissey levelled proceedings on four minutes. Laura Buckley then gave Lismore a lead that they never gave up. Her score was followed with efforts from Aoife Hannon and a second strike from Nicola Morrissey.

The game’s only goal came on the quarter of an hour mark and it was no surprise that it was the Lismore goal scoring machine Catriona McGlone that supplied the finish to the Cappoquin net, after she was set up by Emma Power, one of a number of new faces in the Lismore set up this year, having come off successful underage teams in recent years.

Inter County player Lorraine Bray pulled a point back for Cappoquin on nineteen minutes. Aoife Hannon followed up with a brace of scores for Lismore which gave the Heritage Town side a 1-6 to 0-2 advantage on the score board.

Carole McCarthy from a free again pulled a point back for Cappoquin, but Lismore would end the half as strong as they were throughout the opening thirty minutes as Catriona McGlone and Aoife Hannon landed points inside the final five minutes of the half to give Lismore an eight point advantage at the break.

Cappoquin came out for the second half a much different side.

Two Aisling Power points in a three minute spell inside the opening six minutes of the half cut Lismore’s lead to a more manageable figure.

Cappoquin were holding their neighbours from up river scoreless which gave their backs plenty of confidence.

At the other end of the field, keeping Lismore scoreless was also encouraging the attacking players, and when chances came their way they hit another four points in a row, Aisling Power and Carole McCarthy both hitting two each to leave two between the sides with time ticking down.

If Cappoquin could now hit the next score and if it proved to be a crucial goal, then a grandstand finish would be in store.

However it was not to be. Cappoquin failed to score in the time that remained and in the final five minutes as they called on the experience picked up in the last five or six years, it came to the core.

Ruth Geoghegan put Lismore three in front, a dangerous lead for any side to hold at times, as one attack up field could have resulted in the lead being wiped out with one strike, but there would be no such worries for Lismore as an Aoife Hannon point in the closing minutes ensured that the Denny Buckley Cup would be returning to Lismore after a year away.

Lismore Panel: Tanya Morrissey, Shauna Prendergast, Ellen Curran, Sarah Fenton, Grainne Kenneally, Sharon Williams, Nicola Morrissey, Shona Curran, Aoife Hannon, Johanna Houlihan, Laura Buckley, Emma Power, Catriona McGlone, Ruth Geoghegan, Marie Russell, Emily Heneghan, Emily Prendergast, Jennifer Kingston, Alice Russell, Karen Kelleher, Sarah Nugent/Shanahan, Aoife Houlihan, Sarah Coughlan, Sarah Geoghegan

Scorers: Aoife Hannon 0-5, Catriona McGlone 1-1, Nicola Morrissey 0-2, Laura Buckley, Ruth Geoghegan 0-1.

Cappoquin Panel; Tracey Kiely, Aisling Power, Laura Murray, Aoife Cahillane, Bree Coffey, Tina Coffey, Carole McCarthy, Catherine Ahearne, Clodagh Glavin, Elaine McCarthy, Niamh Foley, Ellen Meaney, Emma Foley, Jade Fraher, Linda Foley, Lorraine Bray, Niamh Moore, Coley Landers, Roisin Cahillane, Roisin Uniacke, Sinead O'Brien.

Scorers: Aisling Power 0-5, Carole McCarthy 0-3, Lorraine Bray 0-1.

Referee: John Kirby

Cappoquin and Lismore do battle in this years County Senior Camogie League Final

As a past pupil of Saint Anne’s Post Primary School in Cappoquin, at times I think back to my five years spent there. Even though it is nearly 30 years since I first entered the school, sometimes it feels only like yesterday.

At times memories of pupils and teachers in the school for the five years I spent there often come flooding back to me.

I was not the world greatest student, and while often on the grounds, sometimes in the classroom I might have gone into a world of my own.

I remember one occasion, an English and Geography teacher in the school P.J. Dolan came to me after noticing I was not paying much attention to what was happening in class and he said to me that time flies when you are enjoying yourself.

While what was said to me at the time was said a little sarcastically, the statement is often a very true one.

When I learned that it was time once more for the playing of the Waterford senior Camogie League Final for the Denny Buckley Cup this weekend, I could not believe that a full year had passed since I previewed the 2014 final between Saint Annes (the holders) and Lismore at Lemybrien.

This is the fourth year that the Denny Buckley Club will be played for. Put up by his daughter Laura in memory of a man that did tremendous work to promote Camogie in Lismore and in general, if this years final is to prove to be as exciting as the three previous finals, those that make their way to the Tallow G.A.A. Club Grounds for a 6pm throw in on Sunday evening will be in for an exciting affair.

In 2012 and 2013, Lismore emerged as victors at Fraher Field both against Saint Anne’s by a very small margin. In 2014 the final was played at Lemybrien and this time Saint Anne’s made it third time lucky as they emerged winners by a small margin.

Camogie on the adult scene in Waterford has been dominated by two clubs Lismore and Saint Annes in the last four or five years, but thanks to the tremendous work done in the other clubs in the county, the gap is closing each year, something that is borne out by the fact that Cappoquin are in this year’s final just eight months after they were crowned County Intermediate Champions last September when they beat An Rinn at Fraher Field.

It is no fluke that Cappoquin are in this year’s final in their first year playing Senior.

Some tremendous work is going on in the Cappoquin Club in recent years.

Supporters of Camogie in the county will be only two well aware of the standard of player that they have to choose from. The abilities of the likes of Lorraine Bray and Jenny McCarthy who both have been involved in the County Junior and Intermediate teams in recent years are well known. Aisling Power who captained the Waterford Under 16 team to All-Ireland glory last year is also a player of note. Her abilities were recognised by the County Intermediate selectors who have her involved in the Inter County set up this year and she recently add a National League medal to her collection of medals.

Cappoquin are not just about these three players. Tracey Kiely has played for the Counties Intermediate team in the not too distant past.

Lauren McGregor, Roisin Cahillane, Jessica and Clodagh Glavin, Roisin Uniacke and Linda Foley are also very good players and will serve up a great battle to Lismore.

Camogie supporters within the county and even outside it will not need telling about Lismore.

Over the past few years they have achieved a great deal and if they were to add to the titles that they have won then I for one would not be surprised.

The names they have to pick from in the last few years roll off the tongue, Tanya Morrissey, Aisling O’Brien, Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Niamh Molumphy, Shauna Kiernan, Aoife and Johanna Houlihan, Ruth Geoghegan, Laura Buckley, Shona Curran, Marie Russell, Nicola Morrissey, Aoife Hannon and Grainne Kenneally will spring to mind for many straight away.

Last year Sharon Williams broke into the team and this year if more back up players last year like Alice Russell, Ellen Curran, Sarah Geoghegan and Kate Heneghan were to stake a place in the team ahead of the more established players, don’t be too surprised.

Previewing games on here, I sometimes say that something tells me that ‘this game’ could be close. Ahead of this years county league final, again there is something telling me that it could be close, maybe too close for comfort for some of the players and mentors.

Lismore will go into the game as favourites, but favourites don’t always win.

The stats ahead of this game are interesting and may give an indication as to what way this game could pan out.

One thing that can be expected is goals, maybe lots of them. In their three games in the league section of the competition, Lismore raised eight green flags. Cappoquin in their three games went one better.

In their three games Lismore conceded six goals, Cappoquin faired better. They left three past them in their three games.

Lismore head into the final an unbeaten side. They beat 2014 champions Saint Anne’s in their first game on a 3-12 to 3-3 score line. They followed it up with a 3-6 to 3-6 draw with Gailltir and last weekend they beat Cappoquin in a dress rehearsal for this weekend’s final 2-7 to 0-11.

Cappoquin head to Lismore with two wins from there three games. Last time out they lost to Lismore by two points in the above mentioned game. Previous to that they beat the 2014 champions Saint Anne’s 4-6 to 0-5 and in their first game they had another excellent win, beating Gailltir 5-4 to 1-6.

Saturday evening’s game between Cappoquin and Lismore is the first of two big games between the two side just four miles apart this weekend.

When the draws for this year’s senior hurling championship were made some months back, when Cappoquin and Lismore were drawn together in the one group and in what was to be the opening round of games, there were many who were rubbing their hands with anticipation.

Because of Waterford’s involvement in the National League Final against Cork two weeks ago, the opening round of games in this years championship were deferred to this weekend.

The hurling game in Ballyduff on Sunday evening is likely to attract a big gathering.

However, hopefully in a build up to that game, it would be great to see many from the two clubs take the time to visit Tallow on Saturday evening, to see the female players from both clubs do battle.

As already said, something is telling me that this final could well prove to be a great game, fought out by two close sides.

I know that when it comes to support in both clubs, hurling will win out if supporters are only to go to one of the games. If supporters were to go to just one of the games between Cappoquin and Lismore this weekend, then maybe they could do worse than head to Tallow. Something tells me that the Camogie clash could prove to be the better of the games. Those that do make their way to Tallow wont be disappointed with the standard of player that they will see on both sides.

Last year in previewing the game when it came to a prediction I sat on the fence. I felt it was too close to call. Heading into this year’s final, as already pointed out, both sides have some excellent players.

While expecting a close game, Lismore for me will go in as favourites and should emerge winners for the third time in four years in the final. Their greater experience has to count for something. However, I for one would not be over surprised if Lismore’s record after this final would be played four, won two, lost two. Neither would I be over surprised if for the first time a second attempt was needed to find a winner of the competition.