No Joy for Waterford in first Camogie League game of 2016

History was made in the South Kilkenny village of Piltown on Sunday afternoon last as Waterford’ s senior Camogie team played their first ever Division One league game against Kilkenny.

Waterford made the step up this year to play at the highest level after the side managed by Sean Fleming in 2015 completed a Division Two League and All-Ireland Intermediate Championship double beating Laois and Kildare respectfully in the respective finals played at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow and at GAA headquarters at Croke Park.

While Waterford will deep down be disappointed with a 3-16 to 3-7 defeat, the panel can and should hold their heads high as it will take the side a little time to adjust to playing at a higher level than they were with the last few years.

Make no mistake this is a good Waterford panel.

The match day panel showed that ten players not involved last year in the sides double success were included, some of whom are returning to the inter county set up while others were included for the first time.

Within the county some great work is being done to promote Camogie and the fruits of that work are beginning to be reaped and with some exciting young prospects coming through from the under 14, under 16 and minor teams from recent years, it surly is only a matter of time before Waterford are challenging for honours at a higher level than they did in 2015 and in years previous to this.

Kilkenny had a dream start to this game hitting the Waterford net inside one minute of the game starting as a shot from distance struck by Ann Dalton deceived the Waterford defence and went past Tracey Kiely in the Waterford goal.

Waterford pulled a point back through Zoe O’Donoghue another player returning to the inter county set up this year almost straight away.

On four minutes the home side won a penalty after top scorer Sarah Ann Quinlan was dragged to the ground. Denise Gaule took responsibility for trying to beat the Waterford three lady wall on the goal like but she could find no way past Tracey Kiely who became the second Waterford Camogie goalkeeper to save a penalty in a week following on from Brianna O’Regan in the Minor championship game with Galway at Carriganore a week earlier.

Aoife Neary put three between the sides when she split the Waterford posts on five minutes and three remained the difference between the sides after Beth Carton and Sarah Ann Quinlan swapped scores with eleven minutes played.

Trish Jackman made it a two point game when she converted a free from fifty metres on thirteen minutes but the home side would hit the next three scores in a row to go five up with seventeen minutes played.

Denise Gaule got the first of the three scores from a free. Michelle Quilty followed up with a point from play before Denise Gaule again struck from a placed ball, this time from a ’45.

The next three points also came from Kilkenny players, Sarah Ann Quinlan from a free and points from play from Denise Gaule and Ann Dalton gave Kilkenny a 1-8 to 0-3 lead with time in the first half ticking down.

However Waterford were given a major boost before the break as the brilliant Beth Carton got onto a Jennie Simpson past and blasted past Emma Kavanagh in the Kilkenny goal from close range.

In added tie at the end of the first half the home side ensured that they turned around with a healthy six point advantage as Sarah Ann Quinlan put over another free.

Kilkenny at the start of the second half showed their greater experienced at this level as they put a lot of pressure on the Waterford defence.

For the second half Waterford lost Trish Jackman as she had to leave the venue to head to the airport to catch a flight back to the UK where she is currently studying.

Sometimes you have to wonder if those inside the corridors of Croke Park charged with running games be it in the men or ladies codes are really committed to what they tasked to do.

Both of these sides had agreed to play the game an hour earlier that the 2-30pm start which happened to allow Trish play the full game, but officials at the top refused for some reason not to sanction the earlier throw in.

You have to wonder if they were fully committed to the task given to them, then they surly would be doing all they could to ensure that those that turn up to see games, specially the younger players get to see exceptional talents like Trish Jackman start and finish games as she is a roll model for so many up and coming players.

Kilkenny had a great start to the second half, hitting 1-2 inside the opening ten minutes as opposed to a single point for Waterford.

Sarah Ann Quinlan got the ball rolling thirty seconds into the half from a free and followed it up with another free on thirty-three minutes.

Áine Gannon hit a second Kilkenny goal hitting the net from close range but Beth Carton responded with a free for Waterford to leave the visiting side 2-11 to 1-4 behind.

Kilkenny continued to mount pressure on the Waterford goal and with ten minutes remaining on the clock they stretched their lead to 3-15 to 1-4.

Denise Gaule put over a point before Kate McDonald hit her sides third goal hitting home from close range after getting onto an Ann Dalton pass.

Denise Gaule, Sarah Ann Quinlan and Aoife Neary followed up with having white flags waved.

However credit the Waterford side, they never gave up.

In the last ten minutes they outscored the home side. Iona Heffernan hit a second Waterford goal as she latched onto a dropping free in front of the Kilkenny goal. Beth Carton followed up with a point and Aoife Shanahan on her league debut hit a third Waterford goal and Beth Carton landed another point to leave Waterford 3-15 to 3-6 behind.

There was still time for both sides to add one further score each. Sarah Ann Quinlan was first to score for the home side and the scoring for the afternoon was brought to an end just before the end when Fiona Morrissey another of the players who have returned to the panel this year put over a point.

Kilkenny: Emma Kavanagh; Sarah Kent, Jacqui Frisby, Stacey Quirke; Kelly Ann Doyle, Edwina Keane, Sarah Crowley; Miriam Frisby, Aoife Neary; Denise Gaule, Sarah Ann Quinlan, Ann Dalton; Michelle Quilty, Kate McDonald, Anna Farrell. Subs: Ann Marie Lennon, Colette Dormer, Aine Gannon, Julieann Malone, Laura Murphy, Davina Tobin, Grace Walsh, Miriam Walsh, Katie Power, Meg Farrell, Shelly Farrell.

Scorers: Sarah Ann Quinlan 0-7 (4f), Denise Gaule 0-5(1f), Ann Dalton 1-1, Aine Gannon, Kate McDonald 1-0 each, Aoife Neary 0-2, Michelle Quilty 0-1. 

Waterford:  Tracey Kiely; Mairead Power, Fiona Morrissey, Claire Whyte; Charlotte Raher, Patricia Jackman, Clare Murphy; Lorraine Bray, Iona Heffernan; Kate McMahon, Jennie Simpson, Niamh Rockett; Zoe O’Donoghue, Beth Carton, Caithriona McGlone. Subs; Brianna O’Regan, Becky Kavanagh, Saoirse Bonner, Aisling Power, Sibeal Harney, Caoimhe Drohan, Sinead Cunningham, Ciara Jackman, Aoife Shanahan, Niamh Murphy, Deirdre Brennan, Niamh Ahearne, Jenny McCarthy.

Scorers: Beth Carton 1-4 (3f), Iona Heffernan, Aoife Shanahan 1-0 each, Zoe O’Donoghue, Patricia Jackman, Fiona Morrissey 0-1 each.

Referee: John Dolan (Clare).