League Champions begin Championship with a big win

Waterford’s intermediate Camogie team in the three years they have played in the second tier Inter County Championship since winning the All-Ireland Junior Final in 2011 have reached the All-Ireland Semi Final, twice loosing out to the team that went on to win the All-Ireland Final a few weeks later, and on Saturday afternoon last they made an excellent start to this years championship when they recorded a comprehensive 6-9 to 1-3 win over Antrim at Walsh Park.

In the league the two sides had contrasting seasons. Waterford won their group and went on to beat a strong Laois side in the final at Dr. Cullen Park, while Antrim who have more than held their own after coming up to this grade of camogie following their 2010 All-Ireland Junior Final win against Waterford after a replay, had a disappointing start to 2015 winning just one game in the league, a one point win over Westmeath and they also lost out in the Ulster Championship at the semi final stages against Derry.

Antrim however were expected to be much better in the championship, but it never happed for them on Saturday afternoon, and with two of the sides that reached the Division two league semi finals yet to play in the championship, their year it could be feared is over just as soon as it began.

This game was over as a contest inside 22 minutes of the game starting, as by that point Waterford held a massive 15 point lead.

Waterford began brightly wit a point from a Patricia Jackman free on two minutes and moments later the home side added a second point when Beth Carton one of the new players in the panel this year who has made a big impression landed her first ever championship score at this grade of camogie on her debut.

Waterford were five up on eight minutes as another of the exciting young prospects brought into the panel by Sean Fleming Dawn Power finished to the net after she was set up by Beth Carton.

A long range Patricia Jackman free just before the end of the first quarter deceived all and landed in the Antrim net, something that the Gailltir sharp shooter had done not for the first time in her career.

Lorraine Bray hit Waterford’s third point of the game before goal scoring machine Catriona McGlone landed Waterford’s third major score of the game on 18 minutes to give Waterford a 3-3 to no score lead.

Further scores from Aisling Power, Dawn Power and Lorraine Bray helped increase Waterford’s lead to 15 points with 8 minutes of the first half still to play.

The visitors did manage to come more into the game in the final few minutes as Emma McMullen landed a free before Charlene Hamill and Emma McMullen again landed points for the visitors.

It was the visitors that landed the last score of the half, a goal from Orlagh O’Hara two minutes from time to leave nine between the sides at the change of ends. However, this was as good as it got for Antrim as in the second half, they failed to register any further scores.

The third quarter of the game proved to be a quiet affair with neither side adding to their half time tally.

The visitors however did have a good chance to eat considerably into the Waterford lead ten minutes into the second half when they won a penalty but Emma McMullen’s attempt to rattle the Waterford net was stopped on the line by full back Jennie Simpson.

Waterford’s first score of the second half came 13 minutes from the hour mark when Wexford referee Aidan O’Brien awarded the home side a penalty after a foul on Dawn Power. Beth Carton took responsibility to strike the for goal, but the De La Salle wizard took the safe option putting the ball over the crossbar to get Waterford flowing once more.

The same player hit Waterford’s fourth goal on 51 minutes and four minutes later the Antrim net was rattling once more this time Catriona McGlone was the scorer for her second of the game following some good work by Beth Carton, Lorraine Bray, Shona Curran and Dawn Power in the build up.

Waterford continued to control the game and further points from Beth Carton and Patricia Jackman, the latter scoring from a free were added before Waterford added a sixth goal in added time, this time through substitute Molly Curran.

So a good start for Waterford this year, but the side will know that when they take on Kilkenny and Kildare in the coming weeks.

Meantime the same two counties contested the first round of the under 16 ‘B’ Championship on Sunday afternoon at Blakestown in Dublin.

Waterford had first use of a strong breeze on the day but only turned around holding a 0-8 to 0-4 advantage.

In the second half Waterford hit goals through Kaisha Tobin and Aisling Madigan which helped the reigning champions to a 2-11 to 3-7 win. Dungarvan’s Kaisha Tobin finished as top scorer for Waterford with 1-4 while De La Salle’s Niamh Murphy hit 0-6. Aisling Madigan and Anne Corcoran shared the other scores on the day.

Waterford: Deirdre Brennan; Kate McMahon, Jennie Simpson, Vikki Falconer; Charlotte Raher, Trish Jackman, Jenny McCarthy; Iona Heffernan Lorraine Bray; Catriona McGlone, Nicola Morrissey, Beth Carton; Aisling Power, Shona Curran, Dawn Power. Subs: Molly Curran for Aisling Power, Elizabeth McGrath for Nicola Morrissey, Claire Whyte for Jenny McCarthy, Becky Kavanagh for Vikki Falconer, S Bonner for Shona Curran.

Scorers: Beth Carton 1-3 (0-1f, 0-1 pen), Catriona McGlone 2-0, Dawn Power 1-2, Trish Jackman 1-1 (1-1f), Molly Power 1-0, Lorraine Bray 0-2, Aisling Power 0-1.

Antrim: Eleanor Mallon; Eimhear Costello, Orla Donnelly, Danielle Scally; Aisling McCall, Aileen Martin, Bronagh Orchin; Sinead Laverty, Una McNaughton; Lucia McNaughton, Emma McMullan, Nicole O’Neill; Charlene Hamill, Noleen Cosgrove, Orlagh O’Hara. Subs: Laoise McKenna for Danielle Scally, Niamh McKee for Nicole O’Neill. 

Scorers: Orlagh O’Hara 1-0; Emma McMullan 0-2 (1f); Charlene Hamill 0-1.

Referee: Aidan O’Brien (Wexford).