Déise footballers are good enough to record rare championship win

It’s hard to believe that it is nearly thirty years since Waterford beat Tipperary in a Munster Senior Football Championship game at Fraher Field. And in those near thirty years it is also hard to believe that Waterford have won just one championship game at the Shandon Road venue, that a game against Paudie O’Sé’s Clare in 2010 under the guidance of John Owens who the same year helped Waterford climb out of the bottom tier of the National League.

Both Waterford and Tipperary clash this Sunday in the Munster Championship at the Shandon Road venue again at the quarter final stages of the championship, a game that Waterford have to have a very realistic chance of winning.

This is a game that some have billed as a who is missing type of game rather than who will be actually playing.

It’s no secret that both Tom McGlinchey and Liam Kearns would like to put out sides far stronger than they would like this year. We all know that none of the Stradbally players have made themselves available to the management team this year.

Nobody has come out and given us a definite reason as to why no one from the County Champions have worn the white and blue shirt for Waterford this year but we can all surmise.

The obvious conclusion that most of us can reach is that it is something to do with the club having to play a County Final and a Munster Club quarter Final 23 hours apart last year.

This is something that should never have happened. But who is to blame for this. Is it the County Officer Boards Fixture Committee for allowing a great deal of the year passing with no games getting played, and then when the county senior hurlers who are often our last team to be knocked out of the championship are finished for the year we are left to play catch up with the clubs fixtures.

When this happens the number of clubs involved in the latter stages of the hurling and football championships becomes a problem as fixtures have to be balanced.

Or are the clubs to blame for the late running of the competitions themselves. Do we really have 12 senior hurling and football clubs in Waterford. And are the way the club championships working the way they should. Is there interest in a county league in Waterford and a league style championship? The numbers attending the games in the early stages would suggest that there is not interest and maybe we could well run the championship like it is in Kilkenny.

Waterford also go into this game without Conor Prunty who pulled out of the panel a few weeks back to concentrate of staking a place on the county under 21 team and are also without Dean Crowley who is recovering from an injury.

Tipperary will go into this game as the favourites but they are without players of the ability of Liam Casey, Jason Lonergan Ross Mulcahy and Kevin Fahey who are in the USA for the summer, while Colin O’Riordan will be in Australia for the summer, and Paddy Codd and Barry Grogan have not committed to the footballers this year, while Steven O’Brien, Seamus Kennedy and Bill Maher are all committed to the hurlers in 2016.

The National League for both sides was somewhat of a disappointment for both sides with neither side reaching the levels they would have liked to reach.

Promotion from the bottom tier of the league was Waterford’s main objective this year, but the side won just two league games beating Carlow by nine points in Carlow and Leitrim by one at Fraher Field.

In three other games for Waterford (against Louth, Wexford and London) were lost by a single point while two points was the difference on the score board when they played Wicklow. In Waterford’s other game they suffered a heavy loss to Antrim in Belfast.

Tipperary played in a division higher than Waterford they too would have had realistic chances of winning promotion for 2017.

They began the year without the players of the Clonmel Commercials Club who won last years County Final and went on to beat Nemo Rangers in the Munster Final at Mallow, meaning that an All-Ireland semi final had to be played in the spring and Liam Kearns had to without players from the Club for the start of the league campaign.

They finished the league with seven points winning two of their games against Clare and Offaly and recorded draws against Limerick, Westmeath and Sligo but lost out to Longford and Kildare.

Goalkeeping duty for Tipperary is expected to be a fight out between Ciaran Kendrick and Evan Comerford with Comerford expected to get the nod.

In defense going on the teams sent out in the National League Alan Campbell could well start at full back with Robbie Kiely in front of him, with Ciaran McDonald and Jimmy Feehan starting on the right hand side of the defensive unit with the likes of Colm O’Shaughnessy, John O’Callaghan, Donagh and Shane Leahy all vying for places on the left hand side of the defense.

In the middle of the field expect Alan Maloney an Martin Dunne to partner each other while in attack Tipperary could well have a very dangerous full forward line consisting of Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan and Philip Austin while there could also be plenty of threat in a half forward line consisting of Peter Acheson and Brian Fox with the likes of Josh Keane and Billy Hewitt fighting it out for the last place. George Hannigan could also come into the reckoning for a place in the team from the start.

Stephen Enright will start between the posts for Waterford with either Thomas or Maurice O’Gorman starting at full back with Tadhg Ó hUallachain and James McGrath in the corners.

Stephen Prendergast was at centre back in the league and could well continue there for the championship but he could also move to the middle of the field to partner his brother Tommy in place of Conor Prunty with Thomas or Maurice O’Gorman which ever is not selected at full back playing centre back. Ray Ó Ceallaigh was another regular in the league for Waterford and could well continue at wing back with Brian Looby on the other side.

In attack Paul Whyte, Patrick Hurney, Gavin Crotty, Craig Guiry, JJ Hutchinson, Joey Veale, Liam Lawlor Michael O’Halloran and Sean Corcoran are all quality football but only a maximum of six of them is likely to start. Liam Ó Lonáin missed the league this year but he was in brilliant form in the early rounds of the senior football championship and if back in the panel it will be hard to overlook him for a place in the team from the start with the form he brings into the game, possibly playing on the edge of the Tipperary square.  

When the sides met last year at Thurles Waterford were at the end of a very heavy defeat. Both sides this time around are much different in look but expect both at the same time to field very strong starting fifteen.

The result twelve months ago did not do Waterford or football in the county justice. I for one am expecting this game to be much closer. When the sides met in the league and McGrath Cup down the last number of years very little has separated the sides and this is how I expect it to be this time around.

So who will win? Playing against Waterford at Fraher Field can be a difficult task for most sides and I expect Tipperary to face such a task on Sunday afternoon. For me it’s Waterford to win on Sunday with a couple of points to spare.

And let’s hope that we will see a significant increase in the amount of support that Waterford will receive compared to what was seen as some of league games earlier this year. With football strong in South Tipperary which is just a short journey from Dungarvan it would be terrible to see the visiting side out number the home support when it comes support.

Lismore and Saint Anne’s renew rivalry for Denny Buckley Cup

For the fourth time in five years, great rivals Lismore and Saint Anne’s do battle for the Waterford Senior Camogie League Final on Saturday evening when the two meet at Stradbally Club grounds.

Lismore were the winners of the competition in its first two years when they beat this weekend’s opponents that ran out winners at Lemybrien.

Last year it was Cappoquin that were Lismore’s opponents at Tallow where Lismore won the competition for the third time.

The sides have also met in the last number of county finals in the championship and just like in the league finals in recent years some terrific battles have been fought between the two with Lismore again coming out on top in the majority of the most recent clashes in this competition.

If the last few big games between these two sides proved to be close and exciting affairs this one is likely to be no different.

Both sides go into the game with a nice sprinkling of inter county and former inter county players to choose from.

For Lismore they will be looking to the likes Shona Prendergast, Catriona McGlone Nicola Morrissey, Ruth Geoghegan and Grainne Kenneally amongst others, while Saint Annes will have Jennie Simpson, Becky Kavanagh, Claire Whyte, Charlotte, Sibeal Harney, Niamh Rockett and Zoe O’Donoghue in their ranks.

The winners of this game in addition to be County Senior Camogie League Champions will be presented with the Denny Buckley Memorial Cup presented to the Waterford County Camogie Board by Denny’s Daughter Laura in 2012.

Denny was well known in the G.A.A. who died suddenly at his home in 2009 at the age of just sixty. He was a keen supporter of both Lismore and Waterford hurling teams and also that of Lismore and Waterford Camogie teams.

During his playing days he was a goalkeeper who helped Lismore win a Western Minor championship in 1965 and two years later he was again between the posts when Lismore won a under 21 West and County double and a further two years on he helped Lismore again win an Intermediate Championship.

On retiring from playing Denny turned his had to the administrative side of the game was a Chairman of the Juvenile and Adult sections of the Lismore Club and was also one of the most co-operative grounds men that Divisional or County secretaries at Underage or Adult sections of Divisional or County Boards had to deal with when looking for a ground for games.

Denny married Brenda Mellor from Passage East but she died at the age of just 37 leaving Denny to bring up Laura then aged three on his own.

In 2003 he was a very proud father when Laura Captained Waterford to win the Under 16 B All-Ireland Camogie Final beating Armagh in the final at Portlaoise, the first time Waterford had won a underage All-Ireland in Camogie.

Lismore reached this year’s final by virtue of winning the group and last weekend Saint Anne’s qualified when they beat Cappoquin in the last round of games in the competition.

Expect this game to go right to the wire. Lismore may go into this game as champions from 2015 as the slightest of favourites, but Saint Anne’s will not make it very hard for them and it would be hardly a surprise if they were to run out winners. Could we even see the two sides requiring more than the hour of allotted time to find a winner.

One thing is certain however, Camogie in Waterford is on the up and the game and those that travel to Stradbally on Saturday evening for a 4-30pm throw in will be the biggest winner as they are likely to see some of the most skilful players in the county do battle.

Waterford push All-Ireland Champions all the way

Waterford’s first game in the Munster Senior Ladies Football Championship since 2008 may have ended in a six point defeat against All-Ireland Champions Cork at Fermoy on Saturday afternoon last, but there was enough to be seen that some good days for the game at the highest level within the county are not far from returning.

When Waterford were a force to be reckoned with under Michael Ryan in the 1990’s the side was build on a nice mix of youth and experience, the experience coming from the players who were still playing at the top level that had helped Waterford beat Wexford in the 1986 All-Ireland Junior Final, the first Ladies Football All-Ireland Final to be played at Croke Park, while the youth was coming from successful under 14, under 16 and minor teams that were put together within the county at the time, players who in turn went on to become very experienced players, many of whom won many honours in the game including up to five All-Ireland Final medals as well as several Munster Final medals and All-Stars.

In the last few years some exciting young teams have been put together and many of these players who worked with Pat Sullivan on the underage scene are now part and parcel of his Waterford senior panel, a panel that is likely to include more exciting underage players in the next year or two.

The experience in this years panel comes from players who helped Waterford win seven Munster Intermediate Finals in a row between 2009 and 2015, and appearing at Croke Park on All-Ireland Final Day on three occasions in that time, one of which was last years win over Kildare.

What has also bared fruit for Waterford in recent times is the re-introducing of players like Katie Hannon, Maria Delahunty and Sinead Ryan to the set up having played on and off for the county in the years prior to the appointment of the Dungarvan man as manager of the side ahead of the 2015 league and championship campaign.

Much has been made by some that Cork looked a tired side on Saturday afternoon. It was pointed out that it was the side’s second big game in a week having beaten Mayo in the League Final 1-10 to 0-10 a week earlier and some had also played camogie for Cork in recent weeks.

But it should not be forgotten that for the Waterford panel it was their third big game in a forth-night. They had drawn a hard fought game with Tipperary in the Division Three League Final two weeks earlier and the Sunday before this game the replay with the Premier County went right to the buzzer with Waterford needing Maria Delahunty to kick a free after the buzzer had sounded to ensure that they won the title at the third time of asking having lost the 2014 and 2015 finals against Armagh and Sligo respectfully.

Waterford will know that this is a game that they could have won as they kicked 13 wides over the course of the hour. They also went almost half and hour either side of the break without scoring. But they also will know that Cork could have won by a much bigger margin as they too kicked a large amount of wides, something down in no small part to some terrific defending by Waterford made the Rebelettes often hurry their shooting because they were closed down in numbers by the Waterford defenders.  

At the break Cork were 1-6 to 0-5 in front kicking four scores in a row in the last eight minutes half.

Orla Finn opened the scoring for Cork from a free but it was cancelled out with an effort from Sinead Ryan with Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall and Grainne Kenneally playing a part in the score.

Waterford went in front when following some good work by Maria Delahunty Aileen Wall put the ball between the uprights and the Abbeyside player went from score provider to score getter soon afterwards to give Waterford a 0-3 to 0-1 lead following some good work by Linda and Aileen Wall.

Cork took the lead once more on sixteen minutes when Áine O’Sullivan lobbed Katie Hannon in the Waterford goal and the same player quickly added a point to give the All-Ireland champions a 1-2 to 0-3 lead.

Waterford however showed that they did not fear the All-Ireland champions and following some good work by the Murray sisters Maria Delahunty pulled a point back for Waterford before Michelle Ryan following some good work by Róisín Tobin pulled the sides level.

However this would prove to be Waterford last score for nearly half and hour and Cork would finish the half strong as Orla Finn put over a brace of frees and Orlagh Farmer converted two from play to give their side four point cushion at the break.

While Waterford did not score for nearly half an hour either side of the break Pat Sullivan’s charges did have many chances.

Maria Delahunty had two ‘45’s that failed to reach their intended target the same player had a chance for goal blocked by the experienced Briege Corkery and Aisling Mullaney also had a chance which went across the face of the Cork goal.

Orla Finn from a free gave Cork a double score (1-7 to 0-5) advantage on 41 minutes but they had their numbers cut five minutes later when Co. Tipperary referee Keith Delahunty sent Annie Walsh to the sideline for ten minutes after issuing her with a yellow card.  

Orla Finn made it a six point game before Ciara Hurley clipped the Cork post but Michelle from the rebound put the ball between the uprights it was followed with Maria Delahunty’s third of the afternoon after she was picked out by Grainne Kenneally.

But when Cork had their full compliment of players restored they finished strong as Áine O’Sullivan put over two more points to give her side a hard fought six point win.

For both sides its Kerry next. The Rebelettes have them first in Kerry and then the Waterford have them at home.

In the 1990’s it took Waterford a few years after winning the Junior All-Ireland to break the dominance of Kerry who were queens of the game for almost a decade. It’s going to take Waterford a little while to establish themselves in the top flight again this time. They may have to get out of Division Two in the league as quick as possible and to be playing the top teams in the country week in week out in the early months of the year. But give this a few years and maybe we will see a team that will end the dominance of Cork over the past decade and to maybe prove to be as good as the side that Waterford had in the 1990’s.  

WATERFORD: Katie Hannon; Megan Dunford, Michelle McGrath, Linda Wall; Aisling Mullaney, Mairead Wall, Hannah Power; Emma Murray, Grainne Kenneally; Roisin Tobin, Michelle Ryan, Katie Murray; Maria Delahunty, Sinead Ryan, Aileen Wall. Subs: Lauren McGregor for Roisin Tobin (36), Ciara Hurley for Sinead Ryan (49), Liz Devine for Michelle Ryan (52), Shauna Dunphy for Lauren McGregor (53).

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 0-3, Michelle Ryan 0-2, Aileen Wall, Sinead Ryan 0-1 each.

CORK: Martina O’Brien; Marie Ambrose, Brid Stack, Eimear Meaney; Vera Foley, Deirdre O’Reilly, Roisin Phelan; Annie Walsh, Briege Corkery; Rena Buckley, Áine O’Sullivan, Orlagh Farmer; Rhona Ní Bhuachalla, Hannah Looney, Orla Finn. Subs: Aisling Hutchings for Marie Ambrose (27), Niamh Cotter for Rena Buckley (h.t.), Emma Farmer for Rhona Ní Bhuachalla (47), Shauna Kelly for Orlagh Farmer (57), Áine Hayes for Roisin Phelan (60).

Scorers: Áine O’Sullivan 1-3, Orlagh Finn 0-5 (4f), Orla Farmer 0-2

Referee: Keith Delahunty (Tipperary)

Waterford Ladies make it third time lucky

Waterford made it third time lucky in National Ladies Football League Finals on Sunday afternoon when they beat near neighbours Tipperary in a replayed final at Semple Stadium.

Just over a week earlier the two sides had fought out an exciting drawn game at Clane in County Kildare where Waterford needed a late pointed free from Maria Delahunty to secure another go at the Premier Ladies and this time around they needed another late free from the same player to secure the laurels.

Originally this game had been pencilled in for twenty four hours earlier at Parnell Park in Dublin, a ground that saw Waterford suffering defeat at the same stage in the competition in 2014 against Armagh and in 2015 against Sligo.

To send both sides to the capital this past weekend having sent them to Kildare a week earlier would not have made much sense. It would have been hard to see numbers from both counties travel in numbers, but after Waterford and Clare drew in the National Hurling final at Thurles last Sunday and with the game fixed for the same venue yesterday the Thurles venue was always going to be the ideal venue for the game even if it meant that Waterford were going to give their opponents home advantage for the final. It also made sense in so far that TG4 were going to be showing the replayed ladies football final and the replayed hurling game and to have the two at the same venue made sense.

In the run up to the replayed hurling final last week there was a lot of talk about the cost of the tickets and how the G.A.A. had not taken anything off the cost of the ticket as happens in the championship.

Despite the fact that there was nothing taken off the tickets there was still a sizable Waterford support that travelled to Thurles for the game. however what a pity that a large amount of this support for what ever reason opted not to go inside the ground for the first game on the programme. Had they did they would have got full value for parting with their cash to gain entry for the afternoon’s games as both Waterford and Tipperary served up another very entertaining game.

Waterford in the early stages of this game proved to be the better of the two sides and it looked early on as if they were going to win the game with some ease.

Sinead Ryan opened the scoring with a pointed free and moments later Aileen Wall tore the Tipperary defence apart and played the ball across the goal to the onrushing Katie Murray who took the right option in trying to shoot by sticking her leg out but she saw her effort go to the right of the post.

Maria Delahunty followed up with a brace of points to give Waterford a three point lead before Mairead hit her sides first score of the game crashing home a goal to level matters on the score board.

Sinead Ryan and Aisling Moloney swapped scores to keep the sides deadlocked before Linda Wall burst forward to kick a delightful point after some good work by Róisín Tobin in the build up.

Aileen Wall and Katie Murray kicked points to give Waterford a 0-7 to 1-1 lead as Waterford were beginning to look as if they were going to pull away.

However this is a good team. They had contested the 2013 All-Ireland Intermediate Final loosing to Cavan after which they had two below standard years as some of the counties better players for what ever reason were not part of the Tipperary set up under the guidance of former Tipperary hurler John Leahy.

But they look this year as if they are back to where they were at in 2013 and with Waterford out of the way they will be serious contenders for this year’s Munster Intermediate Championship and for the follow up All-Ireland competition.

A week earlier Aisling Moloney was Tipperary’s standout player but for this game she was well marshalled by the Waterford defence. This in a way led to Mairead Morrissey being their most crucial player in Thurles and was involved in a lot of what her side were doing.

Team captain Edel Hanley made it a two point game when she put the ball between the uprights after which Mairead Morrissey and Aisling Moloney hit points to bring the sides level, something the Tipperary side were full value for such was the effort and pressure they were now putting on Waterford.

The Premier ladies went in front when Mairead Morrissey brought her tally for the afternoon to 1-3 but it was a short lived lead as Comeragh Rangers Katie Murray who has impressed immensely in this years league smashed the ball past Patricia Hickey for the second time in a week to give Waterford a 1-7 to 1-5 lead as the sides headed to the dressing rooms under the Old Stand.

Tipperary proved to be the slightly better of the two sides early in the second half as Gillian O’Brien made it a one point game and moments later Mairead Morrissey shot just wide of the uprights following some good work by Lorraine O’Shea.

Aileen Wall and Aisling Moloney swapped points before Waterford had another attempt to have a green flag waved. Aileen Wall who again impressed in the white and blue saw her effort well saved by Patricia Hickey in the Tipperary goal.

Katie Murray and Michelle Ryan hit points to give Waterford a 1-10 to 1-7 lead before points from Edith Carroll and Gillian O’Brien made it a one point game once more.

Sinead Ryan and Lorraine O’Shea swapped scores as time ticked down and with the ground starting to fill for the hurling replay that was to follow many were wondering if the game would require extra time to find a winner.

Maria Delahunty made it a two point game once more before Aileen Wall shot wide for Waterford to keep just two between the sides.

That lead however was soon wiped out Mairead Morrissey landed a brace of points for Tipperary to level matters 1-12 a piece on the scoreboard. Gillian O’Brien had a chance to sent Tipperary back in front but she shot just wide and with just seconds remaining on the clock Waterford won a free. Both Maria Delahunty and Sinead Ryan debated as to who should take it before deciding it should be the Abbeyside player to kick off the ground from metres out. She cleverly allowed time to tick down and to allow the hooter to sound before starting her run up and brilliantly kicking over the crossbar to give Waterford a one point win.  

Waterford: Katie Hannon; Linda Wall, Michelle McGrath, Megan Dunford; Aisling Mullaney, Louise Ryan, Mairead Wall; Emma Murphy, Grainne Kenneally; Roisin Tobin, Katie Murray, Caoimhe McGrath; Sinead Ryan, Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall. Subs: Liz Devine for Caoimhe McGrath (27), Michelle Ryan for Roisin Tobin (39), Ciara Hurley for Liz Devine (46), Nicola Fennell for Louise Ryan (50), Lauren McGregor for Aisling Mullaney (59).

Scorers: Katie Murray (1-2), Maria Delahunty (0-4, 0-3f), Sinead Ryan (0-3, 0-2f), Aileen Wall (0-2), Linda Wall and Michelle Ryan (0-1 each).

Tipperary: Patricia Hickey; Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert, Sinead Delahunty; Anne O’Dwyer, Jennifer Grant, Claire Mullins; Lorraine O’Shea, Sheelagh Carew; Eimear Myles, Gillian O’Brien, Caithriona Walsh; Aisling Moloney, Mairead Morrissey, Edel Hanley. Subs: Edith Carroll for Caithriona Walsh (30), Aisling McCarthy for Edel Hanley (41), Cliona O’Dwyer for Claire Mullins (59), Aoibhe O’Shea for Edith Carroll (62).

Scorers: Mairead Morrissey (1-4), Aisling Moloney (0-3, 0-1f), Gillian O’Brien (0-2), Edel Hanley, Edith Carroll and Lorraine O’Shea (0-1 each).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow)

Déise loose out in controversial finish

Normally I am not one to give out about referees. Over the years I have attended thousands of games at different levels in both hurling and football, in both the men’s and women’s games. I have often seen referees make mistakes but more often than not, I have abstained from shouting from the side of the pitch like many other peoples. Instead I would mutter something like ‘you got that wrong there ref’ under my breath but might have put it a little more colourful.

After yesterday’s National Hurling League Final replay between Waterford and Clare I did go public on my Twitter and Facebook pages and say I felt that Cork referee Diarmuid Kirwan got it horribly wrong towards the end of the game when he awarded what looked like a free to Waterford in the opposite direction and from which Clare pulled level with Waterford on the score board.  

Sitting in the press box at matches as I have done in the last number of games, unlike those that sit beside me I tend not to count the amount of wides or frees won by either side over the course of the game. Towards the end of a game or straight after a game someone might mention that x amount of frees or wides were recorded and I might make a mental note of it and might use it in my report of the game.

Throughout the game yesterday I was aware that many people were not happy with the refereeing of Diarmuid Kirwan. It was only this morning that I learned one alarming stat, that Clare were awarded twice as many frees over the seventy plus frees than what Waterford got.

Were Waterford a more dirty or rougher team than Clare yesterday. I did not think so watching the game. Usually you would expect the free tally to be fairly even but learning that the Cork man awarded twice as many frees to Clare as opposed to Waterford would suggest that the Banner County got many of the calls to go in their favour, including one at the end of the game which had a major bearing on the result of the game.

I have also heard in the last 24 hours that a referee should not come from a county where a member standing on the line comes from. No doubt that many that were saying this was referring to Donal Óg Cusack’s involvement with Clare. Maybe if we go down that road are we opening a major can of worms for the association. If that road was gone down to you have to check them what county every referee’s wife or partner is if, and the same for the linesmen and umpires as well as those that are on the line for the two respective sides.

Waterford had an electric start to this game as Patrick Curran rattled the Clare net inside seventeen seconds of the game starting after he turned Patrick O’Connor racing in from the new stand side of the field.

The Dungarvan man followed up with a long range free on three minutes and already it was looking as if this game would be a much better affair than the drab drawn game at the same venue a week earlier.

Tony Kelly throughout was dangerous for Clare and he opened his sides account on four minutes. Less than a minute later Podge Collins pulled another back for Clare but it was quickly cancelled out with an effort from Kevin Moran.

Aaron Cunningham and Tony Kelly pulled points back for Clare and Davy Fitzgerald’s side went in front for the first time just past the fifteen minutes mark when Conor McGrath split the posts from a brace of frees.  

Patrick Curran levelled matters once more from a free and Waterford went three in front on nineteen minutes when De La Salle’s Jake Dillon cracked Waterford’s second goal of the game.

A Conor McGrath point quickly followed before Waterford hit four in a row from Austin Gleeson, Patrick Curran, Shane Bennett and Jamie Barron to leave Patrick Curran’s and Jake Dillon’s goals separating the sides with twenty three minutes showing on the clock.

Conor McGrath put over a brace of points before Darragh Fives and Patrick Curran followed with another brace from Conor McGrath had Waterford leading by four with three minutes of the half remaining.

Just one more score followed in the time that remained in the opening half, Conor McGrath again proving his worth to the Banner men with his seventh score of the afternoon.

The second half proved to be as equally as exciting as the first. Austin Gleeson and Davy Fitzgerald swapped early scores before Patrick Curran and Tony Kelly did likewise and when Patrick Curran put over six minutes into the half there was just three points between the sides.

The Dungarvan man put over another placed ball before Jamie Barron and Austin Gleeson gave Waterford a 2-15 to 0-15 lead with forty seven minutes played.

Two minutes later the game was anyone’s to win as Tony Kelly blasted to the Déise net to leave just three between the sides after he left a number of Waterford defenders in his wake.

Darach Honan then made it a two point game when he drilled between the posts from close range. Patrick Curran and Shane Bennett put day light between the sides with fourteen minutes to go.

Clare hit three in a row from Colin Ryan, Tony Kelly and David Reidy to reduce the difference on the scoreboard to just one point with nine minutes left on the clock.

Points from Patrick Curran and Brian O’Halloran followed with time ticking down but these were to prove to be Waterford’s last scores of the game.

Clare hit a purple patch in the closing minutes as Colin Ryan and Darach Honan hit points to leave just one between the sides with a minute of added time played.

But there was still time left. Tony Kelly made no mistake from a controversial free in the second minute of added time to level matters once more after it appeared that Jamie Barron had won a free for Waterford seconds earlier and had the game ended like this nobody would have complained and let what ever will be will be in the added two extra ten minute periods. But from the restart Clare won the sliotar and Kelly split the posts to put the Banner men in front for only the second time in the game to the annoyance of the Waterford support.

Clare: Patrick Kelly; Cian Dillon, Patrick O’Connor, David Fitzgerald; Jack Browne, Conor Cleary, Brendan Bugler; David Reidy, Colm Galvin; Tony Kelly, Conor McGrath, Podge Collins; Darach Honan, Aaron Cunningham, Shane O’Donnell. Subs: Colin Ryan for Colm Galvin (43), Cathal O’Connell for Podge Collins (54), Aaron Shanagher for Shane O’Donnell (64).

Scorers: Tony Kelly 1-6 (0-1f), Conor McGrath 0-8 (0-5f), Darach Honan, Colin Ryan (0-1f) 0-2 each, Patrick O’Connor, David Fitzgerald, David Reidy, Aaron Cunningham, Podge Collins 0-1 each.

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors, Shane Fives; Darragh Fives, Kevin Moran, Philip Mahony; Tadhg De Búrca, Jamie Barron; Michael Walsh, Austin Gleeson, Shane Bennett; Jake Dillon, Patrick Curran, Tom Devine. Subs: Colin Dunford for Tom Devine (45), Brian O’Halloran for Jake Dillon (56), Maurice Shanahan for Shane Bennett (67), Thomas Ryan for Michael Walsh (70)

Scorers: Patrick Curran 1-9 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Austin Gleeson 0-3, Jake Dillon 1-0, Jamie Barron, Shane Bennett 0-2 each, Kevin Moran, Darragh Fives, Brian O’Halloran 0-1 each.

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)

Late Delahunty score gives Waterford Second chance in League Final

A late point from Maria Delahunty means that Waterford and Tipperary will have to do it all over again to see who will take this years National Ladies Football League Division 3 crown and with it promotion to Division two for next years league.

This was a game that both sides will have felt they could have won but at the end of the hour the fairest result all round was served up.

The two sides will now meet at Parnell Park in Dublin at 2pm on Saturday afternoon next to see who will come out on top.

What a pity however that the Ladies Football Association passed up a possible chance to have this game on the replayed National Hurling League Final replay 24 hours later at Thurles.

It awaits to be seen how many people will make the journey to Dublin from the two counties on Saturday morning from the game from the South East. A rough guess at this stage would suggest that a few hundred from both counties will be inside the ground that is likely to see a figure in the low thousands pass through the turn styles for three games at the North Dublin venue.

How many will be in Thurles on Sunday next also waits to be seen, but a rough guess would suggest that between fifteen and twenty thousand will descend on Thurles.

Had the Waterford and Tipperary game been pencilled in before the hurling game, not all of this number would be in to see the whole of the ladies football game, but if the majority were inside the ground for much of the second half then it would have given the game a fantastic atmosphere as it reached its conclusion and maybe get people to see how skilful the game is and as a result get new players involved in the game as players, coach’s referee’s and Administrators.

Waterford for much of this game were in control of proceedings and at one stage held an eight point advantage on the score board as the first half drew to a conclusion.

Four times in total Waterford were five points or more up in the opening half and at one stage in the second half went six in front.

The G.A.A. down the years have followed the road of other sports in introducing new rules into hurling and football and those involved in drawing up new rules should begin to look at how the Ladies Football Association do things.

Those that know me or who follow what I say here will no that I am no fan of the black cards which have come into play in the G.A.A. in recent years.

I am a fan however of the way the Ladies Football Association does things. When a player in Ladies Football is issued a yellow card they have to sit out the next ten minutes of the game and it is in this time that games are often won and lost.

Eleven minutes into the second half of this game on Saturday afternoon Waterford were five up when Michelle McGrath was flashed a yellow card for what looked an accidental clash. When she returned to the field just over ten minutes later that lead was wiped out. How different would many men’s games finish if the same rules applied.

Both sides had contrasting starts to this game. Tipperary lost Niamh Lonergan before the game and it was only seconds old Claire Carroll had to leave with an injury.

Waterford on the other hand started with a Katie Murray goal on three minutes. The build up to the goal began with a long ball out of defence from Mairead Wall to Sinead Ryan who brought Liz Devine and Aileen Wall into the action before the latter found Katie Murray with a delightful cross field pass and she blasted to the net to give Waterford an early lead.

A magnificent point from a Maria Delahunty ’45 followed before Aisling Moloney hit the Premier Counties first score on six minutes. Another good score from Katie Murray this time resulting in a white flag followed for Waterford on nine minutes but it was soon cancelled out with an effort from Gillian O’Brien.

Points from Maria Delahunty and a beautiful score from Sinead Ryan and one from Liz Devine followed to give Waterford a six point advantage with thirteen minutes played and it was looking as if it was going to be Waterford’s afternoon.

Aisling Moloney pulled a point back for Tipperary on fourteen minutes and from the restart after the score Waterford attacked up field and were unlucky not to kick a second goal as an effort from Michelle Ryan was cleared from the Tipperary goal mouth. The ball was quickly played down field and Gillian O’Brien lobed the Waterford full back line and found Aisling Moloney who got inside them and she found Edel Hanley who finished to the net despite the best efforts of Katie Hannon and Linda Wall to keep the ball out.

Now leading by two Waterford hit the next three scores through Katie Murray, Sinead Ryan from a free and Caoimhe McGrath to go five up once more. Eimer Hayes and Sinead Ryan swapped scores before Aileen Wall crashed the size four off the Tipperary crossbar.

Waterford did manage to kick a second goal two minutes from the break. Katie Murray was fouled on the 45 metre line and when the advantage did not work out for her, the play was called back and a free awarded. Maria Delahunty was brought out to kick off the ground and she found plenty of elevation in her attempt which looked to be sailing over the heads of the Tipperary defence but dipped at the last second and with the help of Patricia Hickeys finger tips dropped into the Tipperary net to give Waterford a 2-9 to 1-4 lead.

But that score was soon wiped out as almost straight away Tipperary had the ball in the Waterford net as Mairead Morrissey and Catriona Walsh linked up with Aisling Moloney who when she got one on one with Katie Murray gave her little chance of keeping the ball out the net.

Maria Delahunty and Aisling Moloney swapped early second hand scores before the latter looked to have a legitimate score ruled out following some uncertainty between the umpires.

Waterford lost Michelle McGrath on 41 minutes following a challenge on Catriona Walsh and while Waterford were a player down, the Premier County kicked 1-4 as opposed to two points for Waterford to wipe out the five point advantage that Waterford held at the time.

Three minutes after the sin binning a shot from Ann O’Dwyer was parried by Katie Hannon but before she could get a firm grasp on the ball Aisling Moloney was in to rob her and to kick from close range for her second goal of the game.

Aisling McCarthy and Gillian O’Brien followed up with points to level matters on the score board before Moloney put Tipperary in front for the first time on 47 minutes.

Sinead Ryan and Roisin Tobin kicked points for Waterford to give the Déise side the lead once more but an Edith Carroll effort on 52 minutes soon had the sides level again and with it the numbers on the field as Michelle McGrath returned for the closing minutes.

Three minutes from time Sheelagh Carew sent Tipperary back in front and it looked as if it was going to be heartbreak for Waterford in a league final for the third year in a row, but 41 seconds from the end, after Maria Delahunty was fouled, she and Sinead Ryan debated as to who would kick from about 30 metres out and it was agreed that it should be the Abbeyside player who made no mistake to send the game to a replay this coming weekend.

WATERFORD: Katie Hannon; Linda Wall, Michelle McGrath, Emma Murray; Mairead Wall, Megan Dunford, Louise Ryan; Grainne Kenneally, Katie Murray; Caoimhe McGrath, Michelle Ryan, Maria Delahunty; Sinead Ryan, Liz Devine, Aileen Wall. Subs: Ciara Hurley for Grainne Kenneally (23), Grainne Kenneally for Liz Devine (37), Roisin Tobin for Michelle Ryan (42), Aisling Mullaney for Grainne Kenneally (51).

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 1-4 (1-2f, 0-1 45f), Katie Murray 1-2, Sinead Ryan 0-4 (1f), Caoimhe McGrath, Liz Devine, Roisin Tobin 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Patricia Hickey; Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert, Sinead Delahunty; Anne O’Dwyer, Jennifer Grant, Claire Carroll; Lorraine O’Shea, Sheelagh Carew; Catriona Walsh, Mairead Morrissey, Eimear Myles; Aisling Moloney, Gillian O’Brien, Edel Hanley. Subs: Bernie Ryan for Claire Carroll (1), Aisling McCarthy for Bernie Ryan (h.t), Edith Carroll for Catriona Walsh (44), Kelly Hackett for Edel Hanely (54).

Scorers: Aisling Moloney 2-4, Edel Hanley 1-0, Gillian O’Brien 0-2, Sheelagh Carew, Eimear Myles, Edith Carroll, Aisling McCarthy 0-1 each.

Referee: Gavin Corrigan (Down).

Shanahan rescues draw for Waterford.

Waterford and Clare will have to do it all over again at Semple Stadium on Sunday next after the two sides drew after extra time in Thurles yesterday in this year’s National Hurling League Final.

In what was billed as a pre-championship meeting clash of the two sides which is to take place in early June both sides will be happy to get a second bite of the apple as neither side deserved to loose this game.

It had been predicted ahead of the game in some circles that this game might not be the prettiest game in the world and so it proved to be.

Neither side looked as if they were ever going to raise a green flag but did have chances but when they did come about the attacking players came up against goalkeepers in Stephen O’Keeffe and Patrick Kelly who both were hard to beat.

Over the course of the ninety plus minutes played in this game, the two sides shared thirty nine wides and for long periods of time with the lack of goals on the day it looked as if these wides could have cost one side dearly.

Conor McGrath opened the scoring with a free inside two minutes of the game starting but it was cancelled out with a similar effort from Patrick Curran.

Former Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly had Clare back in front on six minutes, and they extended that lead a minute late when Conor McGrath put over another free for the Banner Men. 

Waterford had a chance of hitting a goal on twelve minutes but Patrick Curran saw his effort deflected for a ’65 and from the resulting stroke the young Dungarvan man saw his effort go just wide. Seconds later however Waterford did cut the Clare lead to one when Colin Dunford split the posts. 

With the game entering the closing stages of the first quarter Waterford went back on level terms when Austin Gleeson sent over a free, but Clare were soon back in front as Conor McGrath put over a brace of points with Peter Duggan putting one over in between McGrath’s efforts.

Patrick Curran put over a free on 22 minutes to leave just two between the sides, but Waterford had to wait another eight minutes before they scored again from a Shane Bennett free and the Ballysaggart man put over another four minutes later to level matters, but Clare would head to the dressing rooms under the old Stand one to the good as Conor McGrath put over another free for his side, the ninth place ball to go between the posts in the opening half.   

Clare began the second half as they ended the first as Conor McGrath out over a free giving his side a two point advantage. Patrick Curran pulled one back for Waterford only for McGrath to give Clare a two point advantage once more. 

Patrick Curran made it a one point game when he put over from play, but Conor McGrath soon doubled Clare’s lead once more and the same player made it a three point game when he put over a free.

Shane Bennett followed up with point for Waterford and the Ballysaggart man followed up with another to leave just one between the sides and he made it three in a row for him to level matters as it began to look as if it was going to be anyone’s game for the taking.

Austin Gleeson put over a massive free for Waterford as the clocked ticked near the hour mark to give Waterford a one point advantage. The side that were the hungrier, the side least thinking of the clash between the two in June was now going to become champions for 2016.

McGrath levelled matters once more from another free, after which Podge Collins playing in a second league final in a week edged his side back in front.

McGrath put over another free for Clare and it was looking as if it was going to be their day but you can never write off any Waterford side.

Jamie Barron made it a one point game with a good score after which the impressive Shane Bennett levelled matters not for the first time in this game.

The impressive Bennett put the holders a point up with time fast running out, but we have seen Clare sides come back from such positions before and they would do it again here as deep in stoppage time Shane McGrath put over a pressure free to send the game to extra time.

Waterford began extra time in fine form as Brian O’Halloran and Thomas Ryan knocked over points and when Shane Bennett put over a free won by Tom Devine it was looking as if it was now going to be Waterford’s day.

But Clare would come back fighting once more as David Reidy, Tony Kelly and Conor McGrath from a placed ball knocked over points before the break in extra time to have the sides turn around locked at eighteen points each.

Clare began the second added ten minute period the better of the two sides as Colm Gavin edged his side one in front before Shane Bennett pointed once more only for Tony Kelly to send Clare back in front once more with six minutes of the game remaining.

Stephen O’Keeffe did well to keep Clare out in the final five minutes of the tie after which Thomas Ryan pointed to level matters at twenty points each.

Colm Galvin and Philip Mahony knocked over points for their respective side to keep the sides inseparable with two minutes remaining. Clare went back in front with a minute to play when Colin Ryan split the posts to the cheers of the Banner supports who were now dreaming of a first league title since 1978 but no game is over till the final whistle and in stoppage time at the end of the game, Waterford won a free inside their own half the field. Who better to bring back to take it that Lismore’s Maurice Shanahan and he made no mistake as he split the posts to send the game to a replay next Sunday at the same venue.

Waterford; Stephen O’Keeffe; Noel Connors, Barry Coughlan, Darragh Fives; Tadhg de Búrca, Shane Fives, Philip Mahony; Austin Gleeson, Jamie Barron; Michael Walsh, Shane Bennett, Kevin Moran; Patrick Curran, Colin Dunford, Jake Dillon. Subs: Tom Devine for Colin Dunford (45), Maurice Shanahan for Jake Dillon (57), Brian O’Halloran for Austin Gleeson (63), Conor Gleeson for Shane Fives (66),  Thomas Ryan for Patrick Curran (67), Colin Dunford for Shane Bennett (87), Pauric Mahony for Michael Walsh (88).

Scorers: Shane Bennett 0-9 (6f), Patrick Curran 0-4 (2f), Austin Gleeson (2f) & Tommy Ryan 0-2 each, Philip Mahony, Jamie Barron, Colin Dunford, Brian O’Halloran & Maurice Shanahan (f) 0-1 each.

Clare: Patrick Kelly; Oisín O’Brien, Pat O’Connor, Cian Dillon; Brendan Bugler, Conor Cleary, David Fitzgerald; David Reidy, Colm Galvin; Aaron Cunningham, Darach Honan, Peter Duggan; Podge Collins, Tony Kelly, Conor McGrath. Subs: Shane O’Donnell for Peter Duggan (45), Cathal O’Connell for Darach Honan (49, Colin Ryan for Aaron Cunningham (54), Aaron Shanagher for Colm Galvin (62), Jack Browne for Conor Cleary (77), Colm Galvin for Podge Collins (80+2), Seadna Morey for Brendan Bugler (84)

Scorers: Conor McGrath 0-13 (10f), Tony Kelly 0-3, Colm Galvin 0-2, Peter Duggan, Podge Collins, David Reidy & Colin Ryan 0-1 each.

REFEREE: Brian Gavin (Offaly)