Lismore and Saint Anne’s do battle for County Senior Camogie Title

The curtain is expected to come down on those involved with Camogie at the highest level within the county on Saturday afternoon with the playing of this years County Senior Camogie Final at Fraher Field. (2pm)

Not surprisingly this year’s final is a repeat of that of the last few years with holders Lismore doing battle with Saint Annes.

The two clubs between them have shared the bulk of the titles won in the last decade, winning the last six between them split 4-2 in Lismore’s favour.

For many that are involved in this years final it has been a long year. For some the year will end after Saturday’s Final provided there is a winner of course, but for others the year will go on for another while as the prize for the winners on Saturday is not just the crown of County Senior Camogie Champions for 2015, but also the right to represent Waterford in this years Munster Club Championship.

When the sides met last year, Lismore came out on top winning 1-7 to 0-9.

As the score line in that game suggested, that game was one that went right to the wire, and with some luck the game could have resulted in a win for Saint Anne’s.

The game was a cagy affair throughout with no side wanting to give the other any sort of advantage. But while the game was cagey it was still a pretty enjoyable contest.

The biggest talking point from last years final was a point that looked to be from the stand eight minutes into the second half which was waved wide by the umpires at the road end of the ground.

Inter county star Niamh Rockett sent in a ball from the stand side of the field which looked as if it had slipped inside the right hand upright but despite protests from the Saint Anne’s player the decision of the umpire was accepted by the referee.

On the day it was noted at the time that there was no trying to influence the umpires that you see at times when it comes to tight calls which might have suggested that they thought the umpire would have reached for the white flag or else they all fully agreed with the official before any signal was made.

Despite Saint Anne’s making a lot of the early running that day they failed to show their dominance on the score board and were made pay for it somewhat when Lismore registered the first score of the day on seven minutes, a goal from Caithriona McGlone.

Lismore’s lead was then stretched to five when Aoife Hannon put over a brace of frees.

However the Saint Anne’s fightback soon began hitting the next six scores.

Karen Kelly got the ball rolling with a free and it was followed with efforts from Jennie Simpson and Zoe O’Donoghue.

Karen Kelly put over a brace of frees in a four minute spell before half time to draw the sides level before the same player hit her fourth of the game to give her side the lead for the first time, one that they were full value for.

However the sides would turn around locked 1-3 to 0-6 as Aoife Hannon showed that what Karen Kelly could do at one end of the field she could do at the other putting over her third free of the afternoon.

The chance by Niamh Rockett already mentioned above was the first chance of note in the second half. Had it being registered as a score we will now never know if the game would have had a different outcome.

The first score of the second half did not come till eleven minutes in when Caithriona McGlone gave Lismore the lead once more and she followed it up with another score three minutes later.

But Saint Anne’s refused to throw in the towel and continued to make a game of it for the then All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club champions.

Karen Kelly landed a brace of frees to level matters for the third time in the game with nine minutes remaining.

Lismore took the lead with seven minutes left when a Aoife Hannon attempt for goal was deflected over the crossbar by Ciara Phelan. Laura Buckley followed up with another point for Lismore but Karen Kelly pulled one back to leave the minimum between the sides with time ticking down.

Three minutes into added time Saint Anne’s won a free inside their own half of the field and opted to bring Karen Kelly back to attempt to shoot between the posts to level matters, which would have proven to be a fair result.

From between her own 45 and 65 mete lines the now former Inter county player stood over the ball and a hush fell amongst the 500 or so fans inside the ground. Giving the ball plenty of elevation, the Saint Anne’s player had no difficulty with the range but her accuracy was just out as the sliotar tailed to the left at the last minute of the left post as she looked on.

And while another two minutes was played after this, it proved to be the last chance that either side had of adding to their tally on the score board.

Last years final as can be seen was a closely fought affair and this years final is expected to be no different.

The side’s have clashed already once in the league section of the championship with the game ending in a 3-4 (Saint Anne’s) to 1-10 draw.

Last year in the region of 500 people say Lismore win. This year with Waterford winning an All-Ireland in the past three weeks its hoped that the attendance will surpass that figure by some distance as a number of players involved in Waterford’s win over Kildare will be involved in this game.

Lismore will have Waterford captain Caithriona McGlone, Nicola Morrissey and Shona Curran involved while for Saint Anne’s Claire Whyte, Charlotte Raher, Jennie Simpson, Niamh Rockett, Becky Kavanagh, Claire Murphy, Sibeal Harney and Saoirse Bonner will be involved.

Both sides will have some very experienced players in their panel to choose from.

In addition to their Inter County players, Lismore will be looking to the likes of Tanya Morrissey, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell, Aoife and Johanna Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Ellen Curran, Sharon Williams, Ruth Geoghegan, the experienced Jennifer Kingston and Grainne Kenneally who last weekend won a Ladies Football All-Ireland final for much of their inspiration.

Saint Anne’s will be looking to their inter county players to inspire them but also if selected will be looking to experienced players like Mairead Murphy, Pauline Cunningham, Zoe O’Donoghue and Karen Kelly for their leadership as well as to the likes of Labhaoise Dunbar, Bronwyn Grace and Catherine Kelly.

Twelve months ago when previewing the final, I sat on the fence when trying to decide who will win the final.

This year I am not going to do so.

In the last while my record of predicting has got some bit better, and it will be interesting to see will it remain good this weekend.

Lismore go into the game having gathered a great deal of experience in the past few years.

They have won the last two finals, adding two Munster Intermediate Club titles to their senior club county titles and have appeared in the last All-Ireland Finals winning the final in March 2014 beating Ballyhale Shamrocks after a replay at Clonmel.

Saint Anne’s last won the title in 2012 beating Lismore in the final at Ardmore. However since then many of the side that will feature in this weekend’s final were part of the team that won the County League title in May 2014.

So who is going to win?

I can’t but think to myself that Lismore this year may not be as strong as they were in the last few years. They have brought in some in some good young players but are they are good as the experienced heads that are not expected to be involved this weekend.

For me its Saint Anne’s this weekend, but if Lismore do make it three in a row of titles, I would not be surprised.

In the other games to be played this weekend at Fraher Field, Brickeys play Dungarvan or An Rinn in an under 13 B Final at 3-30pm while an hour later the County Minor Final will be between De La Salle and Cappoquin. Again like in the senior game there will be players involved who won All-Ireland medals with Waterford. For Cappoquin, Aisling Power will be involved while for De La Salle Brianna O’Regan and Beth Carton will be wearing the white and red shirt. The city side will go into the game as favourites but you write any side from the Cornerstone Town off at your pearl.

Saint Mary’s ends 26 year wait for Silverware

Saint Mary’s won what was only a third ever West Waterford Junior Hurling Final on Saturday evening as they overcame the challenge of near neighbours Colligan at Fraher Field.

The Rockies would have gone in the game as the fancied side in the eyes of many having appeared in the previous three finals at this grade of hurling, despite loosing to their neighbours in the league section of the competition.

The last time Saint Mary’s won the junior final in the west was in 1989 and then went on to win the county final beating Ballydurn at Walsh Park. Previous to that Saint Mary’s won the title in 1978 beating Ardmore 1-14 to 2-9 in the final and then beating Rathgormack in the County Final on a 0-16 to 1-6 score line.

For Colligan they have to go back nearly thirty years for their last success at this grade, capturing the title in 1984.

A large crowd gathered to see these two sides do battle with each other. Coupled with the Intermediate Football curtain raiser between another set of neighbours Ballinameela and Geraldine’s, patrons helped to improve the figure on the Western Board’s balance sheet by just over €4,000 and those that did go to view the game were not left disappointed with the winners full value for their win.

Saint Mary’s did much of the spade work for this win in the first half.

They got off to a great start with a Kieran Barron point after just fourteen seconds and followed it up with a brace of Eoin Kearns frees.

Colligan opened their account on five minutes with a point from Johnny Wall after he was picked out by Mark Flynn but it was soon cancelled out with an effort from Johnny Ahearne after some good work by Kevin Sheehan in the build up.

The Touraneena side continued to be the better of the two sides in the remainder of the opening half as Eoin Kearns put over three points from frees while Jason and Kevin Sheehan also added points. Colligan did manage to pull back scores from Ross Browne and Johnny Wall to leave them trailing by six with ten minutes of the first half still remaining.

Colligan in the last ten minutes of the first half faired better than they did in the opening twenty as Johnny Wall added two more points and inter county player Colin Dunford hit one to draw closer to their neighbours.

However Saint Mary’s would go in at the break leading by four (0-10 to 0-6) as Kieran Barron hit his second of the game late in the half following some good work by both JJ Coffey and Jason Sheehan in the build up.

Saint Mary’s opened the second half brightly as teenager Ronan Gleeson having come on for Aidan Fitzpatrick at the break split the Colligan uprights within a minute of the resumption.

And it got even better for the Touraneena men a minute later as David Whelan and Eoin Kearns combined to free up Jason Sheehan to fire home the first goal of the game.

This however would prove to be the Touraneena side’s last score of the game from play. Even though they would tag on another four points all from Eoin Kearns made up of three frees and a ’65 it may be a slight concern going into the county final against Fenor at Walsh Park that they went twenty-eight plus minutes without scoring from play.

In those closing twenty eight minutes, the Rockies put 1-7 past the Touraneena men.

Gavin Whelan hit three points in this time while John Wall added 1-3 and John Morrissey also got his name on the score sheet.

Colligan’s goal came ten minutes from the hour mark from a Johnny Wall close in free won by Colin Dunford as he barged down on the Saint Mary’s goal leaving just two between the sides (1-13 to 1-11).

Eoin Kearns restored a three point advantage for Saint Mary’s with a strike from ’65 metres out but it was soon cancelled with Gavin Whelan’s third score of the afternoon.

A minute from the end of normal time Eoin Kearns once more put three between the sides putting over his eight free of the afternoon, but again Colligan came back with an effort from John Morrissey.

Colligan did have chances in added time to get something from the game but some wrongly used use of the ball would cost them.

Saint Mary’s now will take on Fenor in the County Final and judging from what was seen here they could take a little beating. However they will not be under estimating the challenge of Fenor who this year are assisted by a number of players from the Kill Club who are not playing any hurling of their own.

Colligan here were best served by Mark Flynn, Gavin Whelan and Johnny Wall while Saint Mary’s over the hour had excellent performances from Eoin Kearns, Sean Fitzpatrick, Kieran Barron, Mike Kearns, David Whelan, JJ Coffey and Jason Sheehan.

St. Marys : JP Fitzpatrick; Tom Tobin, Sean Fitzpatrick, Jack Power; Dermot Tobin, Denis Coffey, Johnny Ahearne; Eoin Kearns, Kevin Sheehan; David Whelan, JJ Coffey, Mike Kearns; Jason Sheehan, Aidan Fitzpatrick, Kieran Barron. Subs: Ronan Gleeson for Aidan Fitzpatrick, Stephen Coffey for David Whelan.

Scorers: Eoin Kearns 0-9(8f, 1’65’), Jason Sheehan 1-1, Kieran Barron 0-2,  Johnny Ahearne, Kevin Sheehan and Ronan Gleeson 0-1 each.

Colligan: Dean McKenna; Ray Bannon, Alan Walsh, Peter Moloney; John Nick Fennell, Mark Flynn, Darren Dunford; Colin Dunford, PJ Coffey; Ross Browne, John Morrissey, Gavin Whelan; Tom Kiely, John Wall, Richie Kiely. Sub: Alan Kinsella for Tom Kiely.

Scorers: Johnny Wall 1-7(1-6f), Gavin Whelan 0-3, Ross Browne, Colin Dunford and John Morrissey 0-1 each.

Referee: Pat Casey (Cappoquin).

Magnificent Waterford Makes It Third Time Lucky

These are exciting times for Ladies Sports in Waterford.

In the last few weeks Waterford’s Under 16 Camogie and Ladies Football teams captured All-Ireland Titles.

Two weeks ago the counties Intermediate Camogie team captured the All-Ireland Championship with a win over Kildare at G.A.A. Headquarters and yesterday afternoon at the same venue the counties Intermediate Ladies Footballers won a fourth All-Ireland Final for Waterford in little over a month when they beat Kildare in this years championship decider again at G.A.A. Headquarters.

It was anticipated by most that a close encounter would happen in the middle game of the day’s programme of games but as things transpired those expecting a close game could not be more wrong as Waterford ran out winners with 13 points to spare.

Waterford had lost the 2010 decider at this grade to Donegal and to Armagh two years later but Pat Sullivan’s charges travelled to the Jones Road venue intent on making sure it was going to be third time lucky for Waterford.

It seems that many looked at the two semi finals and decided that because Kildare put five goals past Offaly that they should be regarded as favourites for this game.

Why this was the case is hard to work out.

Many choose to ignore the fact that while Kildare put five goals past Offaly, they also only hit five points in that game. Many failed to recognise that Waterford’s defence and Offaly’s defence are very different. There was no way that five goals would have passed Waterford in this game. And to raise just five white flags again in an hour was never going to be enough to win at Croke Park.

What many did not know as well that there was an unbelievable hunger in the Waterford panel.

Linda, Mairead and Aileen Wall, Elaine Power, Michelle McGrath, Mary Foley, Michelle Ryan, Nora Dunphy and Gráinne Kenneally had between then heading this game over 60 Intermediate Munster Final medals, but none had an Intermediate All-Ireland Medal despite going fairly close to doing so in the last number of years.

Some might say that some of these players may be coming to the end of their playing career on the inter county scene. Hopefully we will not see any of them call time on their inter county days as their experience is going to prove invaluable to the younger players in the panel in the next few years as they try and find their feet in the senior grade.

It would have been a shame if these players having served Waterford so well since they were introduced to the inter county adult scene had retired without winning an All-Ireland medal. Now at least no matter what happens from here on in they can always point out their All-Ireland medal in their already collection of impressive honours.

Waterford did not just beat Kildare in this game. They hammered the Lilly-whites. From the off Pat Sullivan’s charges attacked the Kildare goal at every opportunity. In Waterford’s end of the ground, Kildare found the Waterford attack very difficult to break through and with the only chance they did have late in the game, they still could not beat Katie Hannon in the Waterford goal who made an outstanding save putting Róisín Byrne’s effort out for a ’45.

Kildare got off to a very good start in this game. Aisling Holton and Joanna Timmins won the throw in and quickly worked the ball towards the Canal end of the ground and when Maria Moolick got the ball in her hands she made no mistake in splitting the posts.

After their semi final win over Leitrim star forward Aileen Wall revealed that when Waterford concede a score the aim is to get it back as quickly as follows.

And this is what Waterford did as Aileen Wall ran at the Kildare defence and slotted over to draw the sides level.

Sinead Ryan slotted over a free from the Cusack Stand side of the field as Waterford attacked the Hill with the wind at their backs soon afterwards to take the lead, one that the side all in Blue did not give up.

The impressive Maria Delahunty slotted over another free before Ellen Dowling pointed after eleven minutes to leave her side trailing 0-3 to 0-2.

Aileen Wall smashed her and Waterford’s first goal of the fame on twelve minutes and once it went in there was going to be no doubting as to how this game would finish.

Ellen Dowling pulled a point back for Kildare but Maria Delahunty registered another brace of points in the very early stages of the second quarter which gave Waterford a 1-4 to 0-3 lead.

Grace Clifford pulled another point back for Kildare with 11 minutes remaining, but Waterford would end the half as strong as they were for much of the game as Maria Delahunty and Aileen Wall hit further scores for Waterford inside a minute of each other before the brilliant Abbeyside player struck another two points on twenty-three and twenty seven minutes to give Waterford a 1-9 to 0-4 lead.

Kildare knew that they were in trouble and did not wait till the break to replace Grace Clifford with Mikaela McKenna and while they did hit the last score of the half through Róisín Byrne even though they were going to be playing with the wind in the second half you could not but wonder as Kildare went to the dressing rooms trailing 1-9 to 0-5 that they had left themselves with too much to do.

Waterford introduced the experienced Michelle Ryan for Mary Foley early in the second half and she made a massive impact causing the Kildare defence all sorts of problems with her height and experience.

Having come on at the end of the first half, Mikaela McKenna made an immediate impression at the start of the second half kicking the first point.

Michelle Ryan then made her presence felt with the first of her four scores of the game before Maria Moolick pointed with 18 minutes still to play.

Michelle Ryan and Róisín Byrne traded scores on thirteen minutes before the Sarsfields player slotted between the posts again four minutes later.

Sinead Ryan hit her second of the game with 12 minutes remaining showing on the giant score boards at either end of the ground before Maria Moolick pointed again for the Leinster side with ten minutes remaining to leave her side trailing 1-12 to 0-10.

The Leinster Champions would not hit any further scores in this game and would have had team captain Aisling Holton sin binned in the last ten minutes of the game meaning that they would finish the game with just 14 on the field.

Waterford as they had all along continued to dominate in those closing minutes.

Michelle Ryan hit 1-1 in quick succession to extend Waterford’s lead and it was only fitting that another fantastic servant Elaine Power broke forward and hit Waterford’s last point of the game.

Waterford however were not finished scoring yet and late on in the game Aileen Wall crashed her second and Waterford’s third goal to give Waterford a 3-14 to 0-10 victory.

Kildare on the day had good performances from Maria Moolick and Róisín Byrne while for Waterford, Official Player of the Match Karen McGrath, Michelle Ryan, Aileen Wall and Maria Delahunty will make many of the headlines, but in truth each and every player was fantastic.

The question now some will ask is how will Waterford fair in the senior grade?

A quick look at how teams that have come up from Intermediate in recent years in this year’s senior championship would indicate that Waterford will more than hold their own.

The first three winners of the Intermediate grade after it was re-introduced in 2007 – Leitrim, Tipperary and Clare have all come back down to Intermediate. All winners since 2010 played senior this year and with the exception of last year’s winners Down, all more than held their own.

2010 Intermediate Champions Donegal won the Ulster Senior Championship this year and reached the All-Ireland quarter finals.

2011 champions Westmeath reached the Leinster Final loosing to All-Ireland Runners up Dublin.

2012 Champions Armagh reached the Ulster and All-Ireland semi finals loosing to Monaghan and Dublin respectfully.

2013 champions Cavan lost out in the Ulster quarter finals by a point against Tyrone, and beat Down 10-25 to 0-3 in the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers before loosing out to Monaghan 4-13 to 1-4 in the second round of the All-Ireland Qualifiers.

Last years champions Down however lost the two games they played in the Ulster and All-Ireland qualifiers scoring just 0-7 over the two games and conceded 20-60.

Waterford has some very good young players coming through and has some very experienced players in their current panel.

In the coming years more new young players will be added and the current players will be more experienced.

Nobody expects Waterford to be involved in an All-Ireland Ladies Football final in the next couple of years, but you know what, if Lady Luck was to shine on Waterford a return visit to Croke Park on the fourth Sunday of September could be on the cards again sooner than what we might think.

Waterford: Katie Hannon; Mairead Wall, Michelle McGrath, Linda Wall; Elaine Power, Megan Dunford, Louise Ryan; Karen McGrath, Emma Murray; Caoimhe McGrath, Mary Foley, Grainne Kenneally; Maria Delahunty, Sinead Ryan, Aileen Wall. Subs: Michelle Ryan for Mary Foley (31), Hannah Landers for Sinead Ryan (52), Aoife Murray for Caoimhe McGrath (55), Nicola Fennell for Louise Ryan (56), Nora Dunphy for Mairead Wall (58).

Scorers: Aileen Wall 2-2, Maria Delahunty 0-6 (3f), Michelle Ryan 1-3, Sinead Ryan 0-2 (1f), Elaine Power 0-1.

Kildare: Rebecca McGuirk; Tara Hallinan, Aisling Savage, Rachel Reidy; Paula Keatley, Aisling Curley, Lydia Furey; Aisling Holton, Joanna Timmins; Éadaoin Connolly, Róisín Byrne, Grace Clifford; Ellen Dowling, Maria Moolick, Trina Duggan. Subs: Mikaela McKenna for Grace Clifford (29), Rachel Cribbin for Lydia Furey (39), Niamh Mulhall for Ellen Dowling (44), Molly Price for Paula Keatley (55).

Scorers: Maria Moolick, Róisín Byrne (1f) 0-3 each, Ellen Dowling, Grace Clifford 0-2 each, Mikaela McKenna 0-1.

Referee: Mel Kenny (Mayo).

Meet Waterford’s Intermediate Ladies Football All-Ireland Panel

Aileen Wall at 21 is one of the most senior members of the panel. She was part of the panel that won the first of seven Munster Intermediate Finals in a row in 2009 but did not make her debut till the following year against Tipperary. Along with older sisters Linda and Mairead, the Ballymacarbry Club player who has won many honours within the game is going to be vital to Waterford this weekend.

Aoife Landers is another player in her very early 20’s who has wealth of experience. The Saint Patrick’s Club player joined the panel in 2012 and since then has won four Munster Intermediate medals. She made her debut in the year she joined the panel against Tipperary and was part of the side that played right corner back in that year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Final against Armagh.

Aoife Murray at 17 is one of a set of triplets in this year’s panel who are involved for the first year. The Comeragh Rangers player would have worked with manager Pat Sullivan a lot in the last few years at under 14 and 16 levels where she won honours and knowing what she did with these panels Pat Sullivan had no hesitation in bringing in Aoife into his panel this year after taking over the Intermediate team.

Caoimhe McGrath is one of the most exciting young prospects within the county who is involved in the panel for the second year. A member of the Abbeyside Club 18 year old Caoimhe has already achieved so much in the last few years playing Ladies Football and is a player that I look forward to seeing her a lot more in the years to come, possibly playing in the centre back position.

Ciara Kearney is one of a number of players involved in this year’s panel from the Ballyduff Upper Club who recently won the County Intermediate Final against a good Clashmore side.  She is the sub goalkeeper on this year’s panel playing reserve to fellow Ballyduff player Katie Hannon. Ciara has won two Munster Intermediate medals and will be looking to add an All-Ireland medal to that this weekend.

Elaine Power is the longest serving player on this year’s panel having made her debut against Laois in 1999. A member of the Tramore Club she is one of a number of players to play senior for Waterford and was part of the Waterford panel which lost the senior All-Ireland Final against Mayo in 2000 where she wore the number 20 shirt.

Emer Scanlon is a member of the Saint Patrick’s Club and is in her first year involved with the panel. She made her championship debut earlier this year in Waterford’s opening round win in the round robin series of games in the Munster Championship against Limerick. Emer is likely to start on Sunday as a sub but at 25 despite it been her first year involved with Waterford, if called upon she will offer the side plenty of experience.

Emma Murray is another of triplets to be involved this year with Waterford. Like her sisters, this is her first season involved at this level having come through from successful under 14 and 16 teams where she would have worked alongside Pat Sullivan. If All-Stars were awarded to players playing in the Intermediate and Junior grades the Comeragh Rangers player would almost be assured of one this year and even up against players in the senior grade she may not be far from winning one.

Gráinne Kenneally is another member of the Ballyduff Upper Club. At the age of 27 she is one of the most experienced players in the panel. She made her debut back in 2006 against Kerry. A player that will always give it her all be it on the Ladies Football or Camogie field, she is one of the bravest players you will find anywhere. She has six Munster Intermediate Medals. She missed the 2012 All-Ireland Final having picked up an injury in the run up to the game that saw her miss nearly 12 months of action, but it did not stop her literally playing every ball along the line against Armagh.

Hannah Landers at 20 is another of the vastly experienced players in this year’s panel and another member of the Ballyduff Upper Club. She joined the panel in 2012 and made her championship debut that year against Tipperary. Twelve months earlier she was part of the Waterford team that won a Minor ‘B’ All-Ireland. Highly thought of by many, Hannah could have a very bright future ahead of her in the game.

Karen McGrath is the younger sister of former team captain Michelle and just like her is a very experienced player. She made her debut for Waterford in the championship against Sligo in 2011 and has not looked back. In addition to winning Intermediate medals each year since she made her debut she has also won honours at minor level with Waterford and also had played for Munster in the Inter Provincials and has won many hours for her club Ballymacarbry.

Kate McGrath is another member of the panel who is involved in the panel this year and is one of its younger members. A member of the McGrath Dynasty from the Brickey Club, 16 year old Kate has a very bright future ahead of her. Like so many new members of the panel this year she has come off successful underage panels. She made her debut earlier this year in the championship against Limerick.

Katie Hannon is yet another member of the Waterford panel who comes from the Ballyduff Upper Club. This is her first year involved with Waterford in a number of years and has taken over the number one shirt despite never playing in goal in a ladies football match up to this year. However, she is no stranger to playing between the posts having played soccer there for a number of years while she was a student in Cork.

Katie Murray is the third of triplet sisters from the Comeragh Rangers Club that involved in this years panel. She has come through the Comeragh Rangers set up along with her sisters Aoife and Emma and was part of successful underage teams in the past few years. Just like her sisters you can expect to see and hear a lot more about her in the next few years.

Linda Wall is the captain of the side this year and is an honour that she richly reserves. A member of the Waterford panel since 2001 she made her championship debut that same year against Cork. She has won seven intermediate All-Irelands in recent years as well as two Munster Senior Medals and a National League medal. She also has minor medals won with Waterford and has played for Munster. She recently won her EIGHTEENTH County Senior Club medal in a row, which surly puts her in the record books.

Louise Ryan comes from a family that is steeped in football. Her father was manager of the Waterford senior team throughout the 90’s and Louise on more than occasion was one of the teams mascots. Her uncle Jim Wall was one of the finest footballers of his generation and one of Waterford’s all time greats while her mother Catherine was also a footballer of note. She’s been involved with Waterford since 2005 making her championship debut that year against Cork. She has won many honours at club and county level over the past few years.

Mairead Wall is one of the most under rated players in the country and another member of the Ballymacarbry Club. She is a sister to team captain Linda and Aileen she is a very versatile player who can play anywhere needed. She made her championship debut against Cork in 2005 and lined out at wing back against Armagh in Waterford’s last All-Ireland Final appearance at Croke Park. Last year she played in attack but is set to start this year in an all Ballymacarbry full back line.

Maria Delahunty is a player that has made a huge impression with Waterford this year playing on the 45 metre line. She made her Championship debut for Waterford in 2010 and won a Munster All-Ireland medal that year and was part of the side which lost the All-Ireland Final that same year against Donegal. She did not feature for Waterford again after this till this year where she has impressed. The Abbeyside club player has won for herself many admirers as a quality striker of the ball especially kicking from distance.

Mary Foley is another very experienced member of the panel. The Abbeyside player has been involved with Waterford since 2003 and made her debut that year against Cork. She is one of a number of players who have experience playing senior with Waterford and surely would love to get back playing again at this grade. She has won six Munster Final medals in the last seven years, missing out in 2012 when Waterford went on to contest the All-Ireland Final against Armagh.

Mary Kate Morrissey is another player in her first year playing with Waterford. A member of the Na Déise Club who have supplied some very good players for Waterford down the years at different levels, she recently was involved in the Junior ‘A’ County Final against Comeragh Rangers where she kicked some good scores but finished up on the loosing side. She made her championship earlier this year against Limerick.

Megan Dunford is another of the young players introduced this year for the first time by Pat Sullivan. She has quickly established herself as a regular starter in the team and in the league final earlier this year when Sligo were exerting pressure on the Waterford goal she remained calm and proved to be one of the best players on the field and must have pushed Sligo’s Katie Walsh all the way for the player of the game award. Expect to see and hear a lot more about this Abbeyside player in the coming years.

Michelle McGrath has served the team well over the past number of years since making her championship debut against Kerry back in 2002. She captained the side over the past few years and formed a very successful centre field partnership with Elaine Power. She has moved to full back this year and again has lead by example in that position. Like many before her coming from the Ballymacarbry club, she has won many honours within the game and must be looking to return playing senior for Waterford in the near future.

Michelle Ryan is another very experienced player from the Ballymacarbry Club. An older sister to Louise and Sinead, she has been involved with Waterford on the adult inter county scene since 2001 when she made her debut against Cork. No stranger to the Croke Park sod, she was a mascot to many of the successful senior sides in the 90’s. She has been used a lot this year as a sub but has offered so much to the side when introduced especially if the game is close. She hit 1-1 in the semi final win over Leitrim and would love to get her name on the score sheet again this weekend.

Nicola Fennell is from the Stradbally Club and is involved this year for the second year. She was first involved in 2013 and while she missed out last year she returned to the inter county set up this year. Like so many of the panel she has won Intermediate Munster Medals in each of the last number of years she is involved. She made her debut against Tipperary in 2013. Likely to start as a sub this weekend, if called upon during the game she wont let the side down.

Nora Dunphy is another hugely experienced player. She made her championship debut back in 2006 against Kerry and since then has won so much with Waterford and with her club Comeragh Rangers. When Waterford last visited Croke Park on Ladies Football All-Ireland Final day, Nora began in the number four shirt, but is likely to start on the bench this time around. She recently played a part in the county senior final with Comeragh Rangers and looked very sharp.

Shauna Dunphy is another of the young players introduced to this level of football in recent years. The Comeragh Rangers players made her Championship debut in 2013 against Limerick. She has also been part of successful college’s sides and is a player that could cause most sides a lot of damage. Shauna is a player that I for one am expecting to make a big impact in the next few years.

Sinead Ryan has come into the panel this year after missing a number of years recently. The youngest of the Ryan sisters, she has made a huge impact this year playing on the edge of the oppositions square. Aged 24, the Ballymacarbry player made her championship debut ten years ago against Cork on the same day as her sister Louise. She has won Munster medals at this age group in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and again this year. She has clocked up some impressive totals this year and if she gets the right ball this Sunday expect her to cause Kildare a lot of heartache.