3 All-Ireland’s Won 25 Years Ago Recalled

The 25^th Anniversary of Waterford winning a second Senior Ladies Football All-Ireland Final was marked recently with the team that beat Laois on October 4, 1992 presented to the crowd during the programme of events at this year’s final at G.A.A. Headquarters which was attended by over 46,000 people.

25 years ago there was just over 3,100 in Croke Park to see Waterford beat Laois for the second year running.

1992 was a good year for the G.A.A. in Waterford and in particular the opening weeks of the final third to the year.

In hurling Waterford had reached the Minor Hurling All-Ireland Final where they lost out to Galway. A few weeks later Waterford drew with Offaly in the Under 21 Final at Nowlan Park and at the same venue at the end of January Tony Mansfield’s side emerged victorious.

And the counties ladies could do what the men could do as along with the Senior All-Ireland Final, the Counties Under 16 team be Wexford and the Under 14 side beat Monaghan either side of the win over Laois.

On September 19 Waterford and Wexford’s under 16 teams assembled at Walsh Park where Waterford would emerge 3-10 to 4-4 winners.

In a terrific game played between two evenly matched sides, the assembled attendance was kept spell bound right to the end.

Waterford with Player of the game Claire Ryan who kicked 2-6 of her sides tally, twice came from behind to eventually win this game. And while the Ballymacarbry Club lady was the side’s best player on the day, Waterford also had solid performances throughout the game from Julie Ann Torpey at centre back, Rebecca Hallahan and Catherine Walsh in the middle of the field and also from Ruth Ahearn in attack.

Wexford had a great start to this game going two goals up early in the game, but Waterford soon settled and his back with an Evelyn Mooney goal. But this score was to be a mere rest-bite in the Model County’s early onslaught as they kicked 1-1 without response to go seven points up with ten minutes played.

Slowly things began to change as Julie Ann Torpey began to show dominance at centre back ably assisted by wing backs Ann Harney and Denise Nugent.

Waterford also began to win a lot of ball around the middle of the field while in attack Claire Ryan and Ruth Ahearn began to torment the Wexford defence.

Claire Byrne, Catherine Walsh and Martina Beresford all hit points for Waterford, as Waterford trailed by six with 18 minutes played.

The remaining 12 minutes of the half were dominated by Waterford. Moreover, they were able to convert their evident superiority into the hard currency of scores, and by the half time whistle they were 3 points ahead.

Waterford in the remaining time in the first half proved to be the better of the two sides and went in at the break deservedly leading 3-6 to 3-3 at the break.

Catherine Walsh and Claire Ryan hit points before Claire Ryan hit a fantastic goal for the home side. Catherine Walsh and Deirdre O’Rourke combined to set up the Ballymacarbry player who showed great vision as she rounded her own marker and then took on two more defenders before planting the size 4 in the Wexford net and soon afterwards she notched her second goal of the game, this time set up by Evelyn Mooney. Waterford through Deirdre O’Rourke landed the last score of the half to go in leading by three.

Wexford began the second half scoring 1-1 to go one in front, but this was to be their last score of the game.

Waterford however finished the game strong as player of the match Claire Ryan kicked four further scores for Waterford who richly reserved this victory.

The Waterford team that beat Wexford that day was Mary Walsh (Na Déise); Sinead Hennessey (Kill), Karen Denn (Na Déise), Edel Lonergan (Na Déise); Denise Nugent (St. Pat's), Julie Ann Torpey (Kill), Ann Harney (Kilrossanty); Catherine Walsh (St. Pat's), Rebecca Hallahan (Ballymacarbry); Martina Beresford (St. Pat's), Claire Ryan (Ballymacarbry), Leah Murphy (Old Parish); Deirdre O'Rourke (Clashmore), Ruth Ahern (Kill), Evelyn Mooney (Kill). Subs. Anna Lisa Crotty (Ballymacarbry) for Mary Walsh, Naomi Flynn (Dunhill), Josephine Terry (St. Garvan's), Jenny Hallahan (Kilrossanty), Rachel Kiely (Kill), Carolyn Ahem (Kill), Gillian Denn (Na Déise), Suzy Kenneally (Kill), Sinead Wall (St. Pat's), Sarah Hickey (Brickey Rangers), Nollaig Sheehan (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty), Triona Whyte (Kilrossanty), Siobhan O'Regan (Ballymacarbry).

A number of this panel went on to make a name for themselves in the years that followed, playing at a higher grade, winning many honours. On a sad note, the Waterford goalkeeper Mary Walsh would die at all a too young an age a few years after this game.

October 4 must be a lucky date for Waterford when it comes to the G.A.A. for this was the date in 1959 when Waterford won the Liam McCarthy Cup for the second time and it was the date in 1992 that the Brendan Martin Cup came to Waterford for the second time.

The meeting of Waterford and Laois for the second year in a row was one that many looked forward to, especially as when the sides clashed in the All-Ireland final the previous year the game proved to be a thrilling contest.

To reach the final Waterford had to beat Kerry for the second year in a row in the Munster Final, which they done on a 0-8 to 1-1 score line. Kerry had dominated the game for a decade and that great team was beginning to break up, but a great team (and that what Kerry were) does not become a bad team over night, and deserved great credit for the way they beat the Kingdom’s finest.

Laois were no push over side either. They were no bad team either. In 1992 they were appearing in their fourth final in five years and in their third in a row, but had the misfortune of coming up against two fine fines in Kerry and Waterford in these finals.

Waterford under Michael Ryan prepared for this game well and were rewarded when they recorded a 2-10 to 3-4 win.

Waterford had a good start to this game as Caitriona Casey opened the scoring which was followed by a brilliant Áine Wall goal after she collected the ball after Bernie Ryan played a fifty metre pass over the Laois full back line, and anyone that remembers Áine Wall playing in the Waterford colours will recall that once she found herself in such positions there was only one place that the ball was going to end up.

But Waterford’s resolve was tested when Linda Brennan scored a first goal for the Midland County and then when Kathleen Murphy followed up with another major score for the Leinster champions.

But Waterford would finish the half strong as Áine Wall, Nóirín Walsh and Marie Crotty all landed points for Waterford as the sides headed to the dressing rooms under the now old Hogan Stand locked 2-3 to 1-6.

Waterford made full use of their strong second half wind advantage when Geraldine O'Ryan put Áine Wall through for their second goal three minutes after the re-start.

Marie Crotty kicked 3 great points, Claire Ryan made her debut when she came on as a substitute and Áine Wall had the final say to secure a memorable 2-10 to 3-4 victory.

Waterford — Patricia Butler (Ballymacarbry); Regina Byrne (Ballymacarbry), Martine O'Ryan (Ballymacarbry), June Whyte (Kilrossanty), Sinead Walsh (Ballymacarbry), Ann Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry), Cliona Walsh (Ballymacarbry); Bernie Ryan (Ballymacarbry), Nóirín Walsh (Ballymacarbry); Olivia Condon (Na Déise), Geraldine O'Ryan (Ballymacarbry), Caithriona Casey (Ballymacarbry); Fiona Crotty (Ballymacarbry), Áine Wall (Ballymacarbry), Marie Crotty (Ballymacarbry). Subs: Honor Lonergan (Na Déise) for Regina Byrne (Half time), Claire Ryan (Ballymacarbry) for Olivia Condon (40 mins.) Rest of the panel: Michelle Walsh (Ballymacarbry), Rosie Donnelly (Dunhill), Lorena Mooney (Kill), Julie Ann Torpey (Kill), Collette Whyte (Kilrossanty), Deirdre Wall (Ballymacarbry).

Scorers: Áine Wall 2-2 (1 free), Marie Crotty, 0-4 (3 frees), Caithriona Casey 0-2, Geraldine O'Ryan and Nóirín Walsh 0-1 each.

The Waterford mascots for this final were sisters Michelle and Louise Ryan who in the years that followed have gone on to have some great days in the Waterford shirt playing alongside younger sister Sinead.

Waterford completed a hat-trick of Ladies Football All-Ireland Finals in 1992 when the under 14 team recorded a 3-7 to 3-2 win over Monaghan at Timahoe in County Laois.

Just as was the case with the under 16 team a few weeks earlier, this was a side that had plenty of ability in it, some of whom went on to make a name for themselves on the bigger stage in the years to come. Also included were some of the under 16 panel that won at Walsh Park.

Waterford went into this game on the back of a good win over Kerry in the Munster Final and then Mayo in the semi finals, and were expected to do well against what was a good Monaghan side.

Rebecca Hallahan opened the scoring for Waterford in this game with a point on four minutes.

Waterford with Rebecca Hallahan and Carolyn Ahearn dominating in the middle of the field and with Deirdre O’Rourke, Sinead Kirwan and Triona Whyte in attack in fine form as Rebecca Hallahan kicked three further scores and Deirdre O’Rourke landed a goal to put Waterford in control.

Monaghan who had won the Junior All-Ireland Final the same day as Waterford beat Laois to win the senior decider with Jennifer Greenan playing a part, the Ulster side once more began to show the ability they had as they hit back with 2-1 in the closing minutes of the first half to go in at the break locked together on the score board.

Waterford began the second half going in from with Deirdre O’Rourke score after which Rebecca Hallahan extended the Déise Counties lead.

Monaghan to their credit did try and cause Waterford problems but they found Deirdre Nagle in goal as well as Sinead Hennessey, Sarah Hickey and Annalisa Crotty in the Waterford defence in fine form and found it hard to get inside them.

At the other end Paula Walsh scored two second half goals for Waterford which proved to be key scores, and while the Ulster side would hit 1-1 late on in the game, they proved to be mete consolation scores.

Waterford: Deirdre Nagle (St. Garvan's); Helen Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry), Sinead Hennessey (Kill), Fiona Sinnott (St. Garvan's); Sarah Hickey (Brickey’s), Edel Lonergan (Na Déise), Annalisa Crotty (Ballymacarbry); Carolyn Ahem (Kill), Rebecca Hallahan (Ballymacarbry); Triona Whyte (Kilrossanty), Deirdre O'Rourke (Clashmore), Aileen Walsh (Ballymacarbry); Sinead Kirwan (Kilrossanty), Fionnuala Barrett (Kill), Paula Walsh (Ballymacarbry). Subs. Claire Morrissey (St. Garvan's) for Fionnuala Barrett; Siobhan Ryan (Ballymacarbry) for Edel Lonergan; Catherine Prendergast (Kilrossanty), Ann Walsh (Ballymacarbry), Honor Flynn (Ballymacarbry), Michelle Donnelly (Kill), Aileen Crowley (Kill), Margaret Ronayne (St. Oliver’s), Lisa Lenane (St. Garvan's), Eilish O'Grady (Na Déise).