Waterford Camogie can only get stronger says 2014 Under 16 All-Ireland winning Captain Aisling Power

I have often heard older supporters of hurling in Waterford say that for hurling to be strong in Waterford it needs clubs from West Waterford like Dungarvan, Cappoquin, Lismore, Ballyduff and Tallow to be strong.

I have many of those that made such claims name out some of the greats that have played for Waterford down the years from these areas and there is something in what they say as because when hurling was at its strongest in Waterford it had players from these clubs involved.

It’s up to each individual to debate whether Waterford hurling is strong right now and in such a debate there would be many points thrown over and back across the table.

If there could be a debate as to whether hurling is strong right now in Waterford or not, there can be no debate when it comes to Camogie.

In the last decade or so some great work has taken place and this work is now beginning to pay off.

And what is interesting to see is that of the clubs that need to be strong for Waterford hurling to be strong in the eyes of some, in three of the clubs mentioned above camogie at this point is very strong in Dungarvan, Lismore and Cappoquin.

When the Waterford panel take to the field sometime after 1-30pm on Sunday at Croke Park, Dungarvan will have one player involved while both Lismore and Cappoquin will each have three players each involved.

One of those that will be running out onto the field is Cappoquin’s Aisling Power who is one of the younger members of the panel.

She was captain of last years All-Ireland under 16 winning team and such is the progress that she made over the past few years that when Sean Fleming was appointed as manager of the team this year, he along with fellow selectors Brother Philip Ryan and Chris Dempsey had no hesitation in calling the seventeen year old into their new look set up.

She says that twelve months ago after captaining the under 16 side to All-Ireland glory that she would be called up to the Intermediate side. She tells how she got a phone call from Sean one day asking her if she would be interested in playing with the intermediate team. She admits that she knew straight away that she would love to be part of the team but she did not know straight away if she wanted to be involved or not. Sean, Aisling says told her to go along to the training sessions and as she turned up more for training that seeing what was happening she wanted to be involved more.

With so many players from last years successful under 16 and minor teams asked to be part of this years team, Aisling says that it helped settle into the new set up quicker. She has also paid glowing tributes to the more established players in the panel the likes of Trish Jackman, Jennie Simpson and Nicola Morrissey for helping the new players settle in.

We (the younger players) have a huge respect for them and know that what great players they are, and she regards it to be an honour to be sitting with them in the same dressing room with them. Aisling points out that she would have known the players from watching them play with their clubs and for Waterford and points out that they have been very encouraging to be around and for the way they advise the younger players on how to do things when it comes to the Inter county scene.

Like many players who have got to play on the big stage, Aisling is quick to point out that there is plenty of people who have helped her get where she is.

She says that the different coaches that she has worked with down the years have all shaped her to be the player that she is, but she is quick to heap most praise on her father for what he has done for her.

My father helped me be the player I am today he would always bring me down to the pitch, puck around in the garden with me and bring me to all the matches. It's nice to have someone like that to look up to. Also my grandad (former referee Jim Joe Landers) would have and still does share his information about the game to me and gives me good advice.

To get to an All-Ireland Final takes a lot of commitment and the commitment put in by the present Waterford Intermediate Camogie team is no different to any other side playing at such a stage be it in the men’s or women’s games.

‘The girls have put in a huge effort’ Aisling points out and points out that the whole panel are fantastic to encourage each other. We have had a few early morning training’s and everyone gives 100% (in them), like they would if it was an evening training session. ‘It can be difficult at times’ Aisling says ‘but everyone is committed to the cause and if we do win the All-Ireland it will be 100% worth it.

If Waterford do overcome the challenge of Kildare on Sunday afternoon, it will mean that not only will Waterford be playing Senior Camogie in 2016 but they will also be playing against the top guns in the game in the league next year as well after Waterford’s league final win earlier this year.

Other sides have made the same jump and have settled in well and are more than holding their own and there is little to suggest that Waterford will be no different.

County Camogie Board Chairperson Ita Murphy recently said that she could see Waterford challenge for Senior All-Ireland’s in a few years time such is the talent that is coming through in the county, and this is something that Aisling agrees with.

‘I can defiantly see Waterford Challenging for senior All-Ireland’s’ the Cappoquin teenager says.

‘Waterford has a lot of great up and coming camogie players and there has been a lot won over the last few years. With the work that’s being done in the underage grades Waterford Camogie can only get stronger and I believe it will’.

I doubt that there are many that will disagree with what Aisling sees happening in the future.