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.