Munster Champions win Munster Final Dress Rehearsal at Fraher Field.

In 2015 its fairy to say that Waterford have some very consistent teams.

Take the county senior hurlers. They have played 9 competitive games in league and championship and won 8 of them. The game they did not win was the league opener against Limerick which ended in a draw.

The counties Intermediate Camogie team are also constant this year. Seven games have been played up to this point in league and championship. Waterford have won 6 of them. The game not won was a Munster Championship defeat to Clare.

And then there is the Waterford Intermediate Ladies Football team.

Pat Sullivan’s charges have played 11 league and championship games, winning ten of them. The game not won was the league final against Sligo.

Waterford’s latest win came on Sunday afternoon when the side beat Clare in the final game in the Round Robin section of the Munster Championship, having seven points to spare at the end of the hour.

Prior to the game the two sides had qualified for the Munster Final on July 11, the game having a 4pm throw in at Mallow.

While Sunday’s game had a degree of a shadow boxing attached to it, with neither side wanting to show their full hand ahead of the Provincial Final show down, none-the-less both sides served up an entertaining game.

There can be no doubting that on the day Grainne Nolan was the visiting side’s best player.

The Banner Club player kicked four points for her side, three of which came from play.

Her tally however could well have been much higher but for some wayward shooting from frees especially in the first half.

For Waterford a number of players impressed.

Katie Hannon on goal was coolness personified. The Ballyduff Upper player when needed was always in command around her own goal.

In front of her, the full back line of Nora Dunphy, Michelle McGrath and Linda Wall were outstanding. Linda Wall in particular shone. She helped break up many attacks. She helped carry some good ball out of defence and at one stage she showed her attacking skills kicking a magnificent point after she broke almost unnoticed out of defence to take a pass and to split the posts. Caoimhe McGrath in the half back line also served up an excellent performance over the hour.

In the middle of the field Karen McGrath had another excellent game and in attack Sinead Ryan and Mary Foley were the pick of the forwards who all impressed on the day.

Sinead Ryan who finished as top scorer in her sides win over Tipperary was one of three players to share the title as ‘top scorer’ in this game. The brilliant Ballymacarbry player finished the game with four points all from play, the same tally as Clare’s top scorer Gráinne Nolan, three of which were from play, while Waterford corner forward Mary Foley who seems to have found a new lease of life since moving to the forwards (in the same way as Michelle McGrath and Elaine Power, the latter who did not play in this game have moved to defensive positions after many years playing in the middle of the field) blasted a late goal to also finish the game with an accumulative value of four points.

Waterford started this game very brightly kicking two points inside the opening four minutes of the game both through Sinead Ryan.

Ellie O’Gorman pulled a point back for Clare on six minutes, but Nicola Fennell and Sinead Ryan would follow up with scores for Waterford to give the home side a 0-4 to 0-1 lead with 12 minutes played.

Clare who played in the senior grade up to this year for a number of years and who played at a higher level in the league than Waterford in the last two seasons came back and hit points from Niamh Keane and Kate Coughlan to leave just one between the sides with 16 minutes played.

The visitors levelled matters 8 minutes from the break when their best player on the day Gráinne Nolan hit her first of the game, but Waterford hit back with the games first goal within thirty seconds, Hannah Landers the scorer of two goals against Tipperary finished a good move to the net having been picked out by Sinead Ryan.

The Ballymacarbry Club player went from score provider to score getter on the half hour mark when she split the posts for the fourth time to give her side a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the change of ends.

The visitors at the start of the second half began by cutting Waterford’s lead to three as Róisín Howley hit a very early score.

Waterford however soon were into their stride and a Michelle Ryan point was followed up with Fiona Toughy making an excellent save to deny Hannah Landers and on 37 minutes Michelle Ryan hit her second of the game.

Grainne Nolan again pulled a point back for Clare before the very impressive Linda Wall burst up field and splitting the posts for a delightful score at the end of the third quarter.

Grainne Nolan again pointed for Clare before Fiona Toughy made another excellent save this time keeping out an effort from Waterford sub Maria Delahunty.

Marie Considine landed a point for Clare to leave three between the sides once more with nine minutes to play, but Maria Delahunty from a free and Mary Foley kicked points for Waterford to give their side a more comfortable lead.

Grainne Nolan and Niamh Keane cancelled out the scores of the Abbeyside Club duo to leave three between the sides once more with three minutes plus injury time still to play.

Maria Delahunty put over a point before Mary Foley wrapped up the game for Waterford with an excellent goal a minute from time and on the hour mark Maria Delahunty hit her third score of the game.

Ciara Cahill hit the last score of the game for Clare in added time but it was a mere consolation score.

On the day, the better team won, but when they clash again in two weeks time, things might prove to be a little closer.  

Waterford: Katie Hannon (Ballyduff Upper); Nora Dunphy (Comeragh Rangers), Michelle McGrath (Ballymacarbry), Linda Wall (Ballymacarbry); Mairead Wall (Ballymacarbry), Caoimhe McGrath (Abbeyside), Kate McGrath (Brickeys); Karen McGrath (Ballymacarbry), Nicola Fennell (Stradbally); Hannah Landers (Ballyduff Upper), Michelle Ryan (Ballymacarbry), Sinead Ryan (Ballymacarbry); Aoife Dunne (Comeragh Rangers), Aoife Murray (Comeragh Rangers), Mary Foley (Abbeyside). Subs: Maria Delahunty (Abbeyside) for Aoife Murray (42), Grainne Kenneally (Ballyduff Upper) for Aoife Dunne (48), Aoife Landers (Saint Patrick’s) for Hannah Landers (58)

Scorers: Sinead Ryan 0-4, Mary Foley 1-1, Hannah Landers 1-0, Maria Delahunty 0-3 (1f), Michelle Ryan 0-2, Linda Wall, Nicola Fennell 0-1 each.

Clare: Fiona Toughy (Kilmihil); Orlaith Lynch (Banner) Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Claire Hester (Fergus Rovers); Ellie O’Gorman (Kilmihil), Laurie Ryan (Banner), Marie Considine (Liscannor); Becky Mahon (Kilmihil), Louise Woods (Banner); Grainne Nolan (Banner), Niamh Keane (Banner), Roisin Howley (Burren Gaels); Kate Coughlan (Kilmihil), Eimear Hillery (Liscannor), Sarah Browne (Kilmihil). Subs: Carla Beehan (Shannon Gaels) for Eimear Hillery (23), Ciara Cahill (Barefield) for Kate Coughlan (HT), Karen Roche (Banner) for Grainne Harvey (48).

Scorers: Grainne Nolan 0-4 (1f), Niamh Keane 0-2, Ellie O’Gorman, Kate Coughlan, Roisin Howley, Marie Considine, Ciara Cahill 0-1 each.

Referee: Mike Duffy (Tipperary)

Some Waterford Camogie and Ladies Footballers to keep an eye out for in 2015 and beyond

We all know that when it comes to hurling Waterford have a number of players to look out for in 2015.

However we also have many female players to look out for in both Camogie and Ladies Football in 2015 and beyond.

Listed below are six players, three camogie players and three ladies footballers to look out for in the white and blue of Waterford this year.

Also listed are two teenagers, who are players to look out for in the years to come and who also could make a big name for themselves this year.

Beth Carton (De La Salle and Waterford Camogie)

2015 could well be a great year for Camogie In Waterford and Beth could well play a huge part in it.

The De La Salle sharp shooter has made a name for herself in the last few years on the underage scene, guiding Waterford to two under 16 ‘B’ All-Ireland appearances winning last year and she also helped the minors reach and with the minor All-Ireland ‘B’ Final in 2014.

She was called up to the Waterford Intermediate panel this year and shun in every game she played a part of in the league.

She put in a player of the match performance in the league final over Laois at Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow, scoring 2-1 and had a helping hand in a number of Waterford’s other scores on the day.

With the championship around the corner, the young De La Salle player could well prove to be key as to where Waterford’s interest in the competition ends.

Sinead Ryan (Ballymacarbry and Waterford Ladies Football)

What an impact the youngest of the Ryan sisters has made since returning to the Inter county set up this year.

Football flows in her blood. Her father Michael helped develop many of the counties finest players when he was involved with Ballymacarbry and Waterford for over 20 years. Her mother Catherine is also deeply involved in the game for many years, while her uncle Jim Wall was one of Munster’s finest ever footballers.

One of thee sisters in the Waterford set up this year (Michelle and Louise are her older sisters), right throughout the league she tormented sides and the mere sight of the goalposts resulted in a score.

As late as last Saturday she again was causing trouble in the Munster Championship scoring a first half hat-trick against Tipperary finishing the afternoon with 3-6.

Down the years Waterford has had some good forwards. Sinead in one of them and could prove to be Waterford’s best since the legendry Áine Wall.

Catriona McGlone (Lismore and Waterford Camogie)

When Waterford won the league final back in May, it was the Lismore player that was presented with the winners trophy after the game.

Catriona in the last few years has made a name for herself as a quality goal poacher, hitting a number of very important goals for both club and county.

In last years All-Ireland Intermediate Club final replay at Clonmel, Catriona hit three goals for the Heritage Town side against Ballyhale Shamrocks.

She also helped her side reach the All-Ireland Final earlier this year where Lismore lost out to Piltown at Croke Park and a few weeks back she again played a major part in helping Lismore win more silverware, beating neighbours Cappoquin to win a third county senior league final at Tallow.

Having already lead the county to one piece of silverware this year, the Lismore player no doubt would love to end the year standing in the Hogan Stand at Croke Park with more silverware in her hands.

Aileen Wall (Ballymacarbry and Waterford Ladies Football)

As pointed out in the piece about Sinead Ryan Waterford has down the years produced some great forward and Aileen is ranked amongst.

At 21 years of age she is part and parcel of the team with a number of years winning 6 Intermediate Munster Medals.

Again one of three sisters involved in the panel (Linda and Mairead are older), she could well prove to be the best of them.

Not only does she know how to score, she also has an eye to pick out a player in a better position to her when she in procession of the ball.  

Recently she was part of the Ballymacarbry side that won the Munster Senior 7’s against Kilmihil from Clare where she scored four goals in the final.

Waterford search for a 7^th Intermediate title in the coming weeks and then look for a first All-Ireland Intermediate title at this grade and Aileen could play an important roll in both quests.

Trish Jackman (Gailltir and Waterford Camogie)

Gailltir Camogie Club have made headlines of late, capturing a third Féile Crown in three years.

The Club has some real up and coming starts and its easy to see why, as they have a real heroine in Trish as a roll model to look up to.

The Queen of the Puc Fada had done it all winning major honours with both club and county in the last decade and a half as well as with Waterford Institute of Technology.

A player that can play in most positions, goal included, she excelled this year in the middle of the field with the Waterford Intermediates, help then reach and win the league final playing in the middle of the field.

With youth on her side and with an abundance of talent coming through in the county, there is no reason why further silverware will not be added to her collection in the years to coming, hopefully including an All-Ireland Intermediate medal later this year.

Elaine Power (Tramore and Waterford Ladies Football)

The Tramore player is one of the longest serving players in the current Waterford set up and is part of the starting team now for over a decade.

For many years she was part of a hugely successful centre field pairing with Ballymacarbry’s Michelle McGrath.

When current Manager Pat Sullivan took over the team for this year he opted to took both out of mid field and moved the pair to the half back line.

Many wondered how the pair would settle into their new positions but there should be no fears, as the two settled like ducks to water helping Waterford reach the league final in May,

Always someone you can rely upon to hit a few scores over the course of the year, even in her new position, don’t be surprised to see Elaine break forward and put the ball between the posts when given the chance.

And a player to keep an eye on in both codes.

Brianna O’Regan (De La Salle and Waterford Camogie)

It must be hard for any player to find yourself in a position where you have two good players fighting for the one position.

Brianna is one such player. All through the league she provided back up to Dee Brennan but when she was given her chance to play in the number one shirt she did not let the side down.

She has won honours at under 16, minor and now Intermediate grades with Waterford and expect her the flame haired De La Salle player to add more in the years to come.

Just like many other goalkeepers she has a brilliant strike of the ball as was clear to see recently when she recently won the county Puc Fada at Tramore Race Course and will now compete for the Munster title.

Its only a matter of time before Brianna gets the chance to wear the number one shirt again for Waterford and when she does it will be hard to take it back from her.

Megan Dunford (Abbeyside and Waterford Ladies Football)

Megan had a brilliant league campaign for Waterford in this year’s league and it was no real surprise to see the Abbeyside selected in the Division thee team of the year alongside two other Waterford players, Linda and Aileen Wall.

On the day of the league final Waterford played well but Lady Luck deserted the team at key moments, but Megan always remained calm and but for her especially in the first half Waterford’s defeat could be a lot more that the four points between the sides at the end of the hour.

Player of the Game awards are not presented at half time, but if they were, then in that game Megan would have won the award easily.

In her first year playing for Waterford at this level, Megan could well find herself a regular for much of the year but it is in the years to come that we could well see the best of her.

A second heavy defeat for Waterford footballers in 2015

About 6 months ago on this blog I wrote of my disgust of how low the experts had rated Waterford when it comes to the Senior Inter county scene.

With six months to go in 2015, I am going to admit that should Waterford receive a similarly low or even lower ranking for 2015 I won’t be too surprised.

Right now, I hate say it, but Waterford when it comes to senior football and football in general on the inter county scene across the different grades, things are at a very low level.

From the outset it must be pointed out that I do not point the finger of blame to the players.

At club level we have seen time and time again that we have club sides that have proven to be as good as anyone else in the province.

The Nire, Stradbally and Ballinacourty have in the senior club football championship have shown that little separates them from the rest of the football clubs in any of the other five counties in Munster. No Waterford club have won the Munster Senior Club Football Championship up to now, but surely its only a matter of time before one of them or another club from within the county does win a provincial championship. Sometimes to win such championship you need some lady luck and when it is most needed it has a habit of deserting Waterford sides.

After two heavy defeats in this years championship against Tipperary and Offaly, two sides that Waterford are more than capable of beating it clear that things are not the way it should and no stone should be left unturned in trying to get the county to the level we should be at.

Waterford started the year brightly, winning the McGrath Cup for the first time in 34 years back in January and followed it up with a win over Wicklow in the first round of the league, but since then the tide turned against Waterford.

Waterford senior Football manager Tom McGlinchey after the loss to Tipperary said a second tier championship is needed for the likes of Waterford. I know every player wants to play against the best, but sometimes playing in the same competition as the best players and suffering heavy defeats is doing more damage than good.

I am sure if during the upcoming Summer Camps if some research was done amongst the participants, if every boy was asked right now how many would want to play football for Waterford in the future, the numbers would be very low.

Its clear that right now something has to be done if Waterford are competing as at high a level as possible in the future.

However, where do you start the work that is needed? Is it at the top of the tree and work down, or is it vice versa. Maybe the work should start somewhere in the middle and it then slowly works its way up and down the grades.

Questions have to be asked. Do we really have 12 clubs capable of competing in the senior grade? Are our underage grading correct? Saint Saviours and Portlaw were on the wrong end of heavy defeats in the recent Under 13 Football County Finals against Stradbally and An Gaeltacht respectfully. How did this happen. Did the two loosing sides have an off day or were the grading completely wrong.

Why are there so many walkovers given in the Minor and Under 16 football championships? Is it a case that there is no interest amongst players to travel for example from Dunmore East to Tallow or from Ballyduff Upper to Ferrybank. Do players want competitions to revert back to divisional competitions? Is it the timing of the championships is wrong. Would it help that when teams have to travel distances of 20 miles or more to games that there is school that day or the following day that players just don’t want to do it, as their studies are more important.

I must admit that I am not as much up to date as what I used to be in what is happening at Bord na nÓg levels. When I was involved in Bord na nÓg there was hardly a Saturday that I was not aware of under 8, 9 and 10 hurling tournaments taking part in the different clubs and I firmly believe that these tournaments have in no small part helped develop players that have us where we are right now and in recent years and not just on the inter county scene but also on the club scene as club players from the likes of Dungarvan, Lismore, Cappoquin, Modeligo etc. have benefited from tournaments run by the likes of Magoo in Cappoquin down the years.

I remember a time in the mid 90’s when clubs like The Nire, Kilrossanty, Clashmore, Ardmore and Naomh Brid tried to do something to help raise the standard of football in the county and were hosting different tournaments. Maybe someone should take it upon themselves to start organising such competitions to restart. Maybe now is the time also to try and ensure that at least two Waterford group scenes in the Munster Senior Colleges championship.

There is a old saying that says a good start is half the work and for Offaly on Saturday afternoon just like against Tipperary a few weeks back they got off to a great start, one which Waterford were never able to recover from.

Offaly had a magnificent start here racing into a five point to no score lead inside five minutes of the game starting.

While Waterford were comprehensively defeated in the end (14 points), it has to be pointed out that at the break just one point separated the sides and mid way through the second half Waterford were not out of contention as Tom McGlinchey trailed by just four points.

Offaly had the umpires reaching for a white flag after just 28 seconds when Graham Guilfoyle slotted over the bar and it was followed up in the next four and a half minutes with efforts from Joseph O’Connor, a brace from Nigel Dunne and an effort from Anton Sullivan to give the mid-landers an early 0-5 to 0-0 lead.

Mark Ferncombe and JJ Hutchinson pulled points back for Waterford in the eight minutes, but Graham Guilfoyle and a brace of scores from Bernard Allen followed for Offaly before Tommy Prendergast landed Waterford’s third score of the game on 27 minutes.

Joey Veale and Mark Ferncombe landed further scores for Waterford with William Mulhall responding with a point in between and Patrick Hurney just before the break landed another point for Waterford to leave the home side trailing 0-9 to 1-5 at the break.

Midway through the second half Offaly had stretched their lead to four points meaning that Waterford were still in contention, but Waterford problem in the second half was that the side added just two points to their first half total while Offaly would add 1-11.

Nigel Dunne and Joey Veale exchanged early second half scores but Offaly would add a brace of scores from Nigel Dunne as well as single efforts from Conor McNamee and Eoin Carroll in an eight minute spell to give Offaly a five point advantage.

Liam Lawlor pulled a point back for Waterford on 51 minutes, but this would prove to be the sides last score of the game.

Nigel Dunne, Johnny Moloney, Peter Cunningham and Dunne again all landed points for the visitors by the hour mark which gave them a 0-18 to 1-7 lead

Offaly in the final 10 minutes continued to control proceedings as Graham Guilfoyle and Nigel Dunne landed points before Anton Sullivan completed the scoring five minutes from time with a goal for the visitors.

Offaly: Alan Mulhall; Brian Darby, Paul McConway, Cian Donohue; Niall Darby, Johnny Moloney, Joseph O’Connor; Conor McNamee, Niall Smith; Peter Cunningham, Graham Guilfoyle, Anton Sullivan; Bernard Allen, Nigel Dunne, William Mulhall. Subs: Nigel Bracken for William Mulhall (HT, bc), Eoin Carroll for Bernard Allen (HT), Jamie Evans for Graham Guilfoyle (62), Daithi Brady for Brian Darby (67), Niall Geraghty for Niall Smith (67), Paul McPadden for Johnny Moloney (70).

Scorers: Nigel Dunne (0-8, 0-4 frees); Anton Sullivan (1-1); Graham Guilfoyle (0-3); Bernard Allen (0-2); Eoin Carroll, William Mulhall, Conor McNamee, Peter Cunningham, Joseph O’Connor, Johnny Moloney (0-1 each).

Waterford: Sean Barron; Dean Crowley, Peter Crowley, Tadhg Ó hUallacháin; Shane Briggs, Paul Whyte, Stephen Prendergast; Tommy Prendergast, Craig Guiry; JJ Hutchinson, Mark Ferncombe, Michael O’Halloran; Liam Lawlor, Joey Veale, Patrick Hurney. Subs: Darren Guiry for JJ Hutchinson (25 mins), Liam Ó Lonáin for Michael O’Halloran (47), Cillian O’Keeffe for Patrick Hurney (52), Michael Curry for Craig Guiry (60), Kieran Murphy for Tommy Prendergast (67), Jason Curry for Joey Veale (67).

Scorers: Joey Veale (1-1); Mark Ferncombe (0-2), JJ Hutchinson, Patrick Hurney, Tommy Prendergast, Liam Lawlor (0-1 each).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).

Waterford reach seventh Munster Final in a row with big win over Tipperary

It was all one way traffic at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon last as the Waterford Intermediate Ladies Football Team booked a seventh Munster Final appearance in a row with a comprehensive win over neighbours Tipperary.

When the sides met last year at Carrick-on-Suir Waterford again recorded a very big win, but in the league this year when the two sides clashed at Ardfinnan just four points separated the sides in Waterford’s favour who were pushed hard all the way by the home side who at half time enjoyed a six point advantage on the score board.

Waterford began the game in Ardfinnan with an understrength team but when the big guns were called for, the delivered. Hope was that this game would prove to be close, but it was not to be.

For the visitors they started well, as their busiest forward on the day Gillian O’Brien put over the first score of the game inside a minute of the game starting.

Waterford however, wasted no time in responding and points from Player of the Match Sinead Ryan and Maria Delahunty kicked points in the fourth and fifth minute to give Waterford a lead that they would never loose.

Waterford hit six goals in this game and could have hit more but for some good defending by the visitors backs.

On five minutes Grainne Kenneally got inside the Tipperary backs and attempted to beat Lauren Fitzpatrick one of three Tipperary players involved with Tipperary who play their club football with Ballymacarbry, the visiting number 1 doing well to go low and block the Ballyduff Upper club players attempt.

Sinead Ryan and Aisling McCarthy swapped scores in the sixth and eight minute to keep just one between the sides in a very close opening to this game.

Sinead Ryan and Gillian O’Brien then traded scores to give Waterford a 0-4 to 0-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

From here on in however it was Waterford all the way.

Sinead Ryan’s fourth point of the game was followed with similar scores from Emma Murray and Maria Delahunty to give Waterford a 0-7 to 0-3 lead after nineteen minutes.

Waterford split open the Tipperary defence on twenty minutes as Maria Delahunty and Aileen Wall combined to set up Sinead Ryan and once through on goal there was only one thing on the mind of the Ballymacarbry player and she made no mistake.

Maria Delahunty followed up with a free that the likes of former Kerry and Dublin greats Maurice Fitzgerald and Barney Rock would have been proud off kicking from twenty metres out off the ground against the sideline at dressing room corner of the ground.

The same player followed with Waterford’s second goal of the game on twenty six minutes after an excellent team build up, and then landed a point to give Waterford a 2-9 to 0-3 lead after twenty-seven minutes.

Waterford however refused to relent on the pressure and Sinead Ryan landed a brace of goals in the twenty-eight minutes and the Ballymacarbry player further extended Waterford’s lead with a point on the half hour mark.

In added time at the end of the first half, both sides kicked a point each. Sarah Everard was first off the mark in the first added minute and a minute later Aileen Wall kicked her first of the game to give Waterford a 4-11 to 0-4 lead at the end of the break.

Waterford began the second half with Aileen Wall and Maria Delahunty kicking points.

Gillian O’Brien pulled a goal back for Tipperary on thirty eight minutes as the Premier ladies worked the ball up the field well after Delahunty’s score but it was to prove to be the visitors only score of the second half.

Aileen Wall hit another Waterford point before Mary Foley kicked a brace of points in a two minute spell which helped Waterford to a 4-16 to 1-4 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Sinead Ryan hit her final score of the game nine minutes from time, but Waterford yet as Hannah Landers who had come on as a first half sub hit Waterford’s fifth goal of the game four minutes from time, then followed up with a point and the Ballyduff Upper player rounded off the game by kicking Waterford’s sixth goal of the game two minutes into added time.

Waterford will now play Clare in the Munster Final on July 11 after the Banner ladies this weekend also recorded a second win of the championship beating Limerick 4-9 to 3-8.

The two sides meet in the round robin series this Saturday at 2-30pm in Fraher Field while twenty-four hours later Limerick and Tipperary do battle to see who finishes the year with the ‘wooden spoon’.

Waterford: Katie Hannon; Mairead Wall, Michelle McGrath, Linda Wall; Elaine Power, Megan Dunford, Emma Murray; Louise Ryan, Karen McGrath, Mary-Kate Morrissey, Maria Delahunty, Grainne Kenneally: Aileen Wall, Sinead Ryan, Mary Foley. Subs: Hannah Landers for Mary-Kate Morrissey, Michelle Ryan for Louise Ryan, Nicola Fennell for Mairead Wall, Nora Dunphy for Linda Wall, Kate McGrath for Karen McGrath.

Scorers:   Sinead Ryan 3-6, Maria Delahunty 1-5 (0-2f), Hannah Landers 2-1, Aileen Wall 0-3, Mary Foley 0-2, Emma Murray 0-1.

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Bernie Ryan, Marie Curley, Sinead Delahunty; Niamh Lonergan, Louise Cadell, Roisin McGrath; Anne O'Dwyer, Lorraine O'Shea; Breda Feeney, Gillian O'Brien, Aoife Ryan; Aimee Pollard, Aisling McCarthy, Sarah Everard. Subs: Laura Dillon for Sinead Delahunty, Sheelagh Carew for Breda Feeney, Shauna Ryan for Aimee Pollard, Elaine Butler for Aisling McCarthy and Gemma O’Dwyer for Sheelagh Carew.

Scorers: Gillian O’Brien 1-2, Aisling McCarthy, Sarah Everard 0-1 each.

Referee: Maurice Mulcahy (Cork).

Waterford Ladies look to book Munster Final spot with win over Tipperary

Waterford’s Intermediate Ladies Football team will be looking to record a second win in this years Munster Championship when they play Tipperary at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon, a win that would book for the side a spot in a seventh successive Munster Final in a row.

For both side’s Saturday afternoon’s game is their second game in the campaign which this year consists of three games each before the final after Clare were relegated from the Senior Grade after last years championship.

For Tipperary last time out they lost to a strong Clare side at Kilmihil in a game where the old adage of goals wins games came through as the home side hit three over the coarse of the hour to win on a 3-13 to 0-17 score line.

Tipperary in that game had a great start to the game as Shauna Ryan who is one of three Tipperary players who play their club football for Ballymacarbry kicked a point and Gillian O’Brien landed a brace of scores to give their side an early lead.

Shauna Ryan and Lorraine O’Shea went on to hit further scores for Tipperary but were cancelled out with a brace of points for the home side.

The games first goal came on fourteen minutes, Eimear Hillery beating Lauren Fitzpatrick which helped her side to a 1-9 to 0-11 lead at the break, Tipperary’s last six scores of the half coming from Sarah Everard (2), Aisling McCarthy (2), Niamh Lonergan and Lorraine O’Shea.

Trailing by one at the break, Tipperary knew that if they were to get a good start to the second half that they could have gone on to beat a fancied Clare side, but it was the home side that had the better start as Róisín Howley hit her sides second goal four minutes after the restart.

Tipperary however refused to throw in the towel and four points in a row from Aisling McCarthy drew the sides level with the sides heading into the final quarter of the game.

The game took another turn on 48 minutes when Clare won a penalty for a foot block which the home side did not look for, happily taking a ’45 which the umpire signalled and from twelve metres when given the chance Róisín Howley put the ball past Lauren Fitzpatrick for the third time.

Tipperary responded with a point from the brilliant Aisling McCarthy but were unable to hit the extra scores that would get them something from this game as Clare hit three late points to run out winners.

When the two sides clashed last year Waterford ran out very comfortable winners at Carrick-on-Suir but this time around, expect things to be much closer.

Like in Waterford, some great work is being done in Tipperary on the underage scene and this work is beginning to show with some excellent players coming through.

Tipperary if they are to get something from this game, they will be looking to the likes of Lauren Fitzpatrick in goal, Shauna Ryan another player who plays her club football for Ballymacarbry in the full forward line, Teresa McGrath the third Ballymacarbry player in the Tipperary set up who usually plays in defence, Emma Buckley, Barbara Ryan, Bernie Ryan, Niamh Lonergan, Lorraine O’Shea, Gillian O’Brien and Aisling McCarthy for much of their inspiration.

Waterford in their last game recorded an excellent win over Limerick, winning 3-17 to 4-7.

Waterford in the league this year had an outstanding run, collecting full points in their seven games in the league section of the competition and then beating Roscommon in the semi final at Nenagh.

Waterford however had an off day in the league final at Parnell Park loosing by four points to a Sligo side for whom Katie Walsh was outstanding on the day.

Waterford however got that loss out of their system very quickly beating Limerick in the first round of the championship at Bansha a few weeks back.

Its hard to see Waterford make too many changes to the team that played in most of the sides last competitive games.

That will mean a mixture of youth and experience, and will have the same mix on the bench if the needed to be called upon.

That should mean that Katie Hannon will be between the posts, Karen McGrath could well be at full back flanked by Megan Dunford and Linda Wall.

In the half back line Elaine Power could well start in the centre with Michelle McGrath in the number five shirt with a number of options available to Pat Sullivan and his selector for the number seven shirt.

In the centre of the field, the hugely experienced Grainne Kenneally could well start with plenty of options again available as to who will partner her.

In attack, Waterford can prove to be very dangerous, as the likes of Maria Delahunty, Aileen and Mairead Wall, Michelle and Sinead Ryan, Hannah Landers, Emma Murray, Margaret Revins, Aoife Dunne, Ciara Hurley, Lauren McGregor, Mary Foley and Shauna Dunphy amongst others all vying for the six available spots.

The size of victory by Waterford last year does not give an indication as to the gulf in standards between these two teams.

If we are to look for an indication as to the difference between the sides, we should look to the meeting of the two sides in the league this year at Ardfinnan.

In that game, while Waterford may have started somewhat under full strength, the Premier Ladies really put it up to Waterford.

That day it proved to be the old game of two halves, as Tipperary turned around holding a 2-4 to 0-6 lead, with the goals coming from Laura Dillon midway through the half and one soon afterwards by Laura Dillon.

Tipperary started the second half in whirlwind fashion as Aoife Ryan hit her second goal of the game within a minute of the restart, but after Waterford send for some of their big guns, the call was answered.

The concession of a third goal was a wake up call for Waterford. Lauren McGregor responded with a Waterford goal shortly after Ryan hit her second of the game.

Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall, Ciara Hurley and Sinead Ryan all landed points for Waterford by the 49^th minute to level matters 1-11 to 3-5.

Michelle Ryan not long after coming on as a sub for Lauren McGregor finished to the net to give Waterford for the first time on 52 minutes which was followed by a Dede Fahey point which secured a 2-12 to 3-5 win for Waterford.

Waterford will enter the game on Saturday afternoon as the favourites, but could well be tested by an up and coming Tipperary side, if we are to go on the league game between the two.

From games between the two in recent years, Waterford should win here, in a much closer game than last year when Waterford won 4-23 to 0-8.

Waterford good enough to pull off one those ‘unexpected wins’ against Offaly

Two sides with the most disappointing records in the All-Ireland Football qualifiers meet in the first round of games in this year’s qualifiers on Saturday afternoon when Waterford and Offaly do battle at Fraher Field.

Both of these lost their first round games in recent weeks.

Offaly lost out to Longford 0-16 to 0-13 in the Leinster Championship while Waterford lost out to Tipperary in the Munster Championship on a 1-24 to 0-5 score line.

Down the years, when it comes to the qualifiers, Waterford have had to take to the road a lot and even had to cross the Irish Sea on one occasion, so there can be no disputing that the side will be happy when they were drawn to play at home when the draw took place on Morning Ireland recently, but may have like to got someone other than Offaly.

Offaly in the eyes of many of their supporters are travelling to Fraher Field expecting their side to win this game rather easily.

The sides have met once already this year when Waterford lost out in the league meeting between the two at O’Connor Park in Tullamore back in February, a game where Waterford had their quota of players cut on the day after Shane Ahearne was controversially sent off after he collected a second yellow card with less than twenty minutes played.

Offaly were a bit of a surprise inclusion in this side of this year’s first round draw in the qualifiers.

Pat Flanagan’s side won the Division Four final in the league back in late April at Croke Park against Longford 4-16 to 1-12 and when the same two sides met recently in the championship it was looking for a long time that the outcome was going to be the same as they were well up early in the second half but Longford finished very strong and ran out winners on a score line of 0-16 to 0-13.

Heading into their game with Tipperary Waterford expected a close battle but it was not to be. At Thurles it was one of these days that nothing went right for Waterford, as Tom McGlinchey’s charges found themselves six points down very early in the game and never recovered.

It has to be pointed out that in that game we did not see the real Waterford.

Offaly have named a strong team to take on Waterford. Right throughout the team they have players who are all outstanding footballs, including the likes of Alan Mulhall in goals, team Captain Paul McConway at full back, Niall Darby, Johnny Moloney and Joseph O’Connor in the half back line, Graham Guilfoyle in the middle of the field, Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan in the half forward line and they have a potentially dangerous full forward line made up of Bernard Allen, Nigel Dunne and William Mulhall.

At the time of compiling this preview no Waterford team is named and suggestions are that it will not be made public until shortly before the throw-in.

What is known that Waterford will be picking from a number in the low 20’s and that players like Darren and Craig Guiry who played Junior Football for Waterford this year have been drafted into the senior set up. It remains to be seen if The Nire pair will win a place in the team from the start, but they will add some strength to the team.

Many will be writing off Waterford’s hope of winning this game following their loss to Tipperary and Offaly winning the League Final earlier this year.

Why people write Waterford off so easily when it comes to football amazes me at times.

Traditionally, Waterford are hard to beat at Fraher Field, and hopefully this will stand in Waterford’s favour this weekend.

Waterford a few years back after they suffered a heavy defeat to Kerry a few years back had their chances written off well ahead of their game against Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers two years ago, but someone forgot to tell the Waterford players that day that few gave them a chances and with minutes to go in Salthill, Waterford lead before the home side finished strong and won the game by one point.

Waterford as pointed out do not have their team for the game with Offaly named yet, but if they can name the strongest starting fifteen as is possible which would include the likes of Shane Briggs, Thomas and Maurice O’Gorman, Liam Lawlor, Tadhg Ó hUallachain, Tommy Prendergast, Paul Whyte, Liam Ó Lonáin etc. then Waterford have a good chance of winning this game.

The fact that Waterford are written off ahead of this game should be the incentive to so the knockers when it comes to football in Waterford to be wrong again.

Waterford in the past has pulled off a win that few expected. I have no doubt that the side will again in the future and maybe the first time one of these ‘unexpected’ wins will happen is here.

Déise advance with win over Rebel Rivals

What is seldom is wonderful.

Waterford’s under 21 hurling team travelled to Pairc Ui Rinn in Cork last night with the tag of favourites around their necks for their clash with Cork in the quarter final stages of this years championship.

While it was easy to see what Waterford were favourites to advance to the semi finals and a meeting with Clare, the odds that some bookies were offering on Waterford were a little surprising.

In eighteen previous clashes between the two sides at this grade of hurling, Waterford’s overall record was far from good, as Cork emerged winners in sixteen of the games, Waterford won one back in 1992 when Waterford went on to win the All-Ireland (Could that be an omen), and there was one draw when the sides drew 1-11 a piece in 1983.

Waterford’s overall record in playing Cork on their own soil heading into last nights game was also far from good. Waterford emerged as winners once playing underage hurling on Cork soil, that winning coming two years ago in the minor championship after extra time in Pairc Ui Rinn, where Waterford again went on to win the All-Ireland (Another omen maybe).

Also its worth remembering that heading into this game Cork would have put in a lot of collective training while Waterford with so many players involved in the senior set up, even though the players would be playing at a higher standard, it is important that players are together as much as possible as a group heading into a game like this.

On the night, Waterford had a number of outstanding performers.

Its well documented that Shane Bennett only finished his leaving cert two and a half hours before this game an had to make the dash from Lismore to Cork to be with the side as they went through the final preparations for the game.

The Ballysaggart man was outstanding on the night and was a worthy winner of the Man of the Match Award finishing with 1-4 behind his name but he would have been pushed all the way for the award by a number of Waterford players including centre back Tadhg de Burca, Tom Devine, Patrick Curran who finished with as many scores behind his name as the whole Cork team achieved between then and Darragh Lyons a late call up to the team before the game for the injured Cormac Curran.

Early in the game it did not look as if the game would finish the way it did as Cork proved to be the better side in the opening minutes as Waterford were slow to settle.

Fermoy’s Martin Brennan was first to get his name on the scoresheet putting over a point inside the opening sixty seconds of the game and the lead was soon doubled as Kevin O’Neill found the range.

Waterford’s first score came on three minutes when Shane Bennett put over the first of his scores.

Mark O’Connor from a free and D.J. Foran swapped scores before Martin Brennan hit his second of the evening on ten minutes to give Cork a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Luke Meade put Cork three up on thirteen minutes, but this was as good as it got for the home side as Waterford upped their game and for the remaining three quarters of the game proved to be the better side.

Patrick Curran put over a brace of frees with side of the quarter of an hour mark to leave one between the sides and the scores were tied on eighteen minutes when Dungarvan’s Ryan Donnelly split the posts.

Eleven minutes from the break Waterford took the lead when Patrick Curran put over another free before Shane Bennett and Mark O’Connor swapped scores to keep just one between the sides.

Waterford however finished the game the stronger of the sides and went to the dressing rooms with a three point lead as the impressive Patrick Curran landed a brace of points on twenty seven minutes.

A good start was needed by both sides in the second half. For Cork if they were to get it and went on to further cut Waterford’s lead then a battle could be made of things, while if Waterford were to get the better start they could go on and win the game comfortably.

David Geary who had replaced Killian O’Connor late in the first half was first to score, a point, but it was cancelled out soon afterwards by Austin Gleeson.

Patrick Curran and Shane Bennett added points to extend Waterford’s lead to five which was followed by Martin Brennan and Stephen Bennett swapping scores.

Patrick Curran and Mark O’Connor were next to swap scores before Patrick Curran and Conor Twomey did likewise just as the game was entering its final quarter.

Leading by five with a quarter of the game still to play, Waterford finished the game well in command.

Patrick Curran put over two more points and Shane Bennett landed one by the forty-eight minute.

Colin Dunford and David Geary swapped scores with ten minutes remaining.

In front of 3,765 spectators, Patrick Curran seven minutes from the hour mark Patrick Curran edged Waterford nine in front, but three minutes later it looked as if Cork might stage a late fight back as Luke Meade beat Billy Nolan with a neat finish, but Waterford’s response was rapid as Shane Bennett rounded off a great evening’s work kicking the ball to the net, which will have impressed the Ballysaggart Junior Football Selectors and will have banging on his door to see if he could do the same for their high flying team.

Waterford rounded off a good evening’s work with another Patrick Curran late on in the game, which helped Waterford to a first championship win since 2009 and a meeting with Clare in Ennis just over 72 hours after the county senior hurlers play Tipperary or Limerick in the Munster Final on July 12.

Waterford: Billy Nolan; Shane McNulty, Conor Gleeson, Kieran Bennett; Michael Harney, Tadhg De Búrca, Tom Devine; Ryan Donnelly, Colin Dunford; Austin Gleeson, Darragh Lyons, Shane Bennett; Stephen Bennett, DJ Foran (Portlaw), Patrick Curran. Subs: Michael Kearney for Ryan Donnelly (44 mins), Cathal Curran (Dungarvan) for Michael Harney (51), Brian Phelan for DJ Foran (57), Barry O’Sullivan for Shane Bennett (60).

Scorers: Patrick Curran 0-12 (0-7f, 0-1 '65), Shane Bennett 1-4, D.J. Foran, Austin Gleeson, Stephen Bennett, Ryan Donnelly, Colin Dunford 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Darren Browne, Alan Dennehy, Sean O’Donoghue; Dave Noonan, Conor Twomey, Niall Cashman; Rickard Cahalane, Martin Brennan; Darren Casey, Killian O’Connor, Kevin O’Neill; Mark O’Connor, Anthony Spillane, Luke Meade. Subs: David Geary for Killian O’Connor (26 mins), Dayne Lee for Mark O’Connor (40), Kieran Histon for Dave Noonan (51), Shane Hegarty for Darren Browne (59).

Scorers: Luke Meade 1-1, Martin Brennan, Mark O'Connor (0-3f) 0-3 each, David Geary 0-2, Kevin O'Neill, Conor Twomey (f) 0-1 each.

 

Referee: Fergal Hogan (Tipperary).