Emer is climbing The G.A.A. Administration Ladder in Waterford

Anybody that knows me will know that I am not in favour of the gender quotas introduced during the lifetime of the last government. I am the sort of person that believes when it comes to electing people to positions we should be electing people that are best suited for the job that needs to be done, and whether they are male or female, black or white, gay or straight should not matter so long as the best person is elected to the job.

When it comes to the G.A.A. I am all for the involvement of women. I would love someday sooner rather than later see the Ladies Football Association and the Camogie Association come directly under the umbrella of the G.A.A.

I would love to see the Ladies Football and Camogie All-Ireland’s played on the same day and the same venue as the Football and Hurling All-Ireland Finals. I would also love to see the Ladies Football and Camogie County Finals played alongside the Senior Hurling and Football finals in each of the 32 counties of Ireland.

I would love to see a female referee to take charge of major hurling and football inter county games, and one day to be involved at Croke Park on All-Ireland Final Day and ultimately taking charge of the biggest games of the year when it comes to the G.A.A.

I am also in favour of women assuming the major positions within the G.A.A. when it comes to the administration side of things.

Four years ago Tyrone made G.A.A. history when they became the first county to elect a female Chairperson of their County Board when they elected Roisin Jordan of the Eglish club after she previously served as the vice chairperson for five years before that. Previous to this she had filled the position of secretary.

The first female to hold a top position in the G.A.A. was Noreen Doherty who served as the Donegal County Secretary for 14 years between 1991 and 2005 before she was elected as a full time administrator to the county board back in 2010.  

A year earlier she became the first woman to be elected as a Central Council representative. Donegal elected a second female county secretary in 2005 when they elected 22 year old Crona Regan to the position.

A third female was elected as secretary in 2014 in Aideen Gillen who has retained the position to this point.

History was created again in Donegal in 2011 when the three main officers elected at the A.G.M. of the Aodh Ruadh Club were all female as they elected Betty McIntrye as Chairperson, Emma Gaughan as Secretary and Catherine McKee as Treasurer.

A little closer to home the Cork County Board elected Tracey Kennedy from the Killeagh Club as its Chairperson just over 12 months ago, having previously served as P.R.O. for a number of years.

Like so many her road to reaching the number one administration position in the Rebel County began with her club.

She served as secretary to the Juvenile Club in Killeagh before she took up the same position with the adult section of the club.

Her abilities with the club were spotted by many others and from there she was elected as P.R.O. and Secretary of the Imokilly Division before she became PRO for the County Board which she brought into the 21^st century making full use of social media to promote the association locally and nationally.

In her time as PRO in Cork she would have met up with fellow female PRO’s from Kerry, Limerick and Waterford at Munster Council and worked alongside them when the need arose.

To see women climb the administration ladder is something pleasing to see, well it is for me anyway, but I know deep down some will not like to see it happen but they won’t say so too loud.

Back in 1999 when I got involved in Bord na nÓg in West Waterford one of the first people outside of the committee that I got to know was Emer Barry from the Lismore Club.

While in the 20 years since then I have lost contact with many of those that I had to work alongside from within the Clubs, Emer is someone that I have always remained in contact with. Maybe it is because the two of us were born less than a year apart and many of the others I was working alongside were much older.

In this time I have seen Emer steadily climb the administration ladder. When I first got to know her she was secretary and P.R.O. of the Lismore club. She is still involved with the Lismore Club as their Oifigeach na Gaeilge Official.

She soon joined the Communications and Publications Committee of the County Board and worked with a number of different P.R.O’s and eventually became P.R.O. herself succeeding Joe Cleary and served in the position for a number of years.

Emer has served as an Assistant Secretary and P.R.O of the Western G.A.A. Board as is the current Development Officer of the County Board. Emer is the first female elected officer of the County Board in Waterford.

On the Munster Council she is part of the Development Committee as well as the Health and Safety Committee where locally she is responsible for ensuring that there are stewards available for all games where they are needed.

At the recent County Board Convention Pat Grant who had been elected to serve a fifth term as Chairman of the Western Board a week before the meeting, was elected as one of the Munster Council Representatives and so immediately stood down as Chairman of the Divisional Board.

The clubs in the west were asked for nominations to fill the position and opted to elect vice chairman Neil Moore as the new chairman meaning that a vacancy became available on the Board.

The final date for receipt of nominations as closed and it has been learned that there was only one name submitted that of Emer Barry and so will be officially named as vice chairperson at the next board meeting, making Emer the first female to hold such a position within the county.

As someone that is all for women putting themselves forward for positions on different boards and proving themselves to be the best person for the job, I have to say knowing Emer with two decades that I am delighted that she has been or at least will be elected to the position of vice chairperson. I know that she will continue to give her all for the clubs of West Waterford in the position, and who knows; maybe Emer has not reached as high up the administration ladder that she has climbed over the past number of years and if she wants to go further will succeed.

Before anyone gets onto me telling me that I am wrong in what I am saying here, I am more than aware that females in Waterford have held top positions on the different boards that exists in Waterford down the years, but none to now have held the position of Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of a Divisional or County Board at ADULT level until now.

The GAA and Me

For some the G.A.A. in recent years has become big bucks. Take a look at any of the Daily or Sunday Newspapers and you will find at least one former inter county hurlers or footballers writing articles on a regular basis.

Tune in RTE, Sky Sports or TG4 and even local radio for any inter county game that they might be covering on a given day and you will find former inter county players or managers filling the role of co-commentator or analysis.

To be honest I don’t know what these players, former players and managers are getting paid to give their views but I am sure most are not doing so for nothing.

There is other that has found other ways of boosting their weekly income through coaching.

There once was a time when the local team was coached by a former player from the club who would work alongside others that he might have played with or played under, but in recent times this has become something of a thing of the past as more and more clubs are bringing in outside coaches, men from other clubs even from outside the county in the bid to win some silverware for the club.

When someone has to travel some distance to attend training sessions often two or three times a week and maybe a match at the weekend, it is only right that they are compensated, but you have to wonder about some of the expenses that you hear that some are getting and then think about the return the club is getting. I am sure some clubs are starting to wonder are they better off getting a former player from within their own club to coach their team and maybe plough their money into other areas, maybe into their local school or underage teams, or maybe even to provide better facilities at the club grounds.

But for those that are doing well out of the games in one way or another, there is many who are involved in the G.A.A. for the love of the games.

For those that don’t know me, but who have decided to follow what I have to say on social media about the G.A.A. or whatever else is on my mind at times, let me tell you a few things about me.

I am someone that never played hurling or football, well not competitively at any level anyway. The reason for this is I was born with Spina Bifida.

Spina Bifida is a term that is used to describe a series of birth defects that affect the development of the spine and central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain, nerves and spinal cord. The spinal cord runs from the brain to the rest of the body and consists of nerve cells and bundles of nerves that connect all parts of the body to the brain.

During the first month of life, an embryo (developing baby) grows a primitive tissue structure called the neural tube. As the embryo develops, the neural tube begins to change into a more complicated structure of bones, tissue and nerves that will eventually form the spine and nervous system.

However, in cases of Spina Bifida, something goes wrong with the development of the neural tube and the spinal column (the ridge of bone that surrounds and protects the nerves) does not fully close. Spina Bifida is a Latin term that means split spine.

All this means that many people born around the time I was born and before I was born in 1973 as well as some after me are confined to a wheelchair or have to use crutches to get about. I regard myself as one of the lucky ones and can get around using crutches.

Thankfully, in more recent times because of the advancements made in medicine medics can now work on a mother to be who is known to be carrying a Spina Bifida child and many of those born in more recent times have a much more normal way of living and are able to get around without any of the aids needed by older people who have Spina Bifida.

Despite having Spina Bifida I have never tried to let things stop me doing from what I want to do, and I have from a very young age have had an interest in the G.A.A.

Some of my earliest memories are heading off in the back of my father’s car on a Sunday with my brother Pat, my father Michael and his sister Joan to games in Fraher Field, Cappoquin, Walsh Park or any other venue where the local Sliabh gCua/Saint Mary’s G.A.A. Club were playing.

The first port of call after getting to the ground was to the mobile shop that was always to be found at the ground, be it in the back of a van parked close to the dressing rooms in Fraher Field or plank of timber on top of milk creates in Cappoquin most of the time and then heading to the bank side of Fraher Field opposite to the stand which was a grass bank back then or in the case of Cappoquin on the bank opposite the dressing rooms which did not exist back then. Instead the players togged off in one of the local pubs up down and then jogged to the venue in time for the game.

When there was no shop at the Cappoquin venue for matches a visit was always made to Uniacke’s shop in Cappoquin, who happened to be double cousins to my Father.

A must for me going to matches as i got older was a pencil or biro and an empty box of my mother’s fags which had four equal side boxes on the inside of it, and the names of the two teams playing marked on it, each club given two boxes each, one for the goals they would score the other for the points, and each score was marked with a stroke. When I started to do this first at games it was a very important task in my eyes for those around me, just in case the referee or umpires made a mistake and I had the correct score to give to those that might ask, which would happen at times when you were four or five and older people knew what you were at.

In primary school in Touraneena we had a Kilkenny man Joe Devoy as principal, and like all other Kilkenny men he loved his hurling, but unlike other Kilkenny men he allowed us to play football. He always took great joy in getting onto those that had a real interest in the G.A.A. when his native side would beat Waterford in the National Hurling League, which happened fairly frequently in the late 70’s and early 80’s, but thankfully Kilkenny played in the National Football League back then so we got to have a go back at him.

It would not be allowed to happen nowadays, but back in the 70’s and 80’s on a Monday afternoon from 2 to 3 O’Clock the girls in the school went to one of the female teachers and they were taught how to sew and knit while the boys were brought to the principals classroom where for about 25 to 30 minutes they were allowed to do whatever homework they had to do that evening and for the last half hour were brought out in the school yard where they played in football or hurling leagues.

Everyone was expected to take part and I was no different. When it came to hurling I was told to stand in goal for one of the teams and had one of the better players play fullback on my team to give me some protection. After a score went past me or the ball was pucked wide I was instructed to take the puck out but was to pass it to the full back who was not to be marked for the puck out but once he had the ball normal rules again came into place.

These leagues went on for maybe eight weeks or so and at the end of the league each player was given a medal for taking part. The teams were the same each week, and the winning team was the team that won most games over the course of the league.

When it came to football or soccer which was played during the lunch breaks I played at Corner Forward, even in soccer and I was to cause as much hassle in front of the opposition goalkeeper often swinging my crutches around like a madman when the ball came my way and was allowed to score with them even in soccer and even though they were in my hands.

For the West Waterford School League I did not take part but was not left out. I was brought to the games and given a jersey just like all others in the classes taking part, and was often given the important task as an umpire, and should the school reach the final of a competition, whether Touraneena won or lost I was given a medal just like everyone else and still have a number of these somewhere.

In 1993 I took up a year long position of School Secretary in Touraneena which lasted just over 15 years. In those years I got to know many of the children very well and loved to see them playing hurling and football and even handball for a while, and encouraged as many as possible to play the game regardless of how good they were, just as I was encouraged ten years or so earlier.

I have to admit in my time at the school to see the girls playing gave me particular enjoyment. In the mid’s 00’s it gave me lots of joy one day when a group of girls came to me and tell me that they were bored. I asked them did they ever think of playing Camogie. Two of them said to me shur we be useless at that to which I said you never know till you give it a go. Heading to where the hurleys were stored they got some each and a tennis ball and began to hit it along the ground to each other.

After a while they got the confidence to try and strike it out of their hand and at first attempts failed and I remember them saying to me ‘see we are useless’ but I told them to keep at it and they will get it.

Over the next week more and more girls joined with them and in a matter of days it was clear they were enjoying themselves in what they were doing and they were asking me would I ask the teachers if they would enter them into the Camogie School Leagues. It’s not all the coaching that the girls got over the course of a few weeks, but they were made to believe that they were nowhere near as poor as player they thought they were and it worked as they reached the final of the league and the semi finals of the mini sevens competition, something that no-one would have thought was possible that day they came to me telling me that they were bored.

A decade earlier I got involved in the administration side of the association.

Late in 1995 while attending the AGM of the Sliabh gCua/Saint Mary’s Club during the election of officers, nobody was willing to take up the position of PRO. I had initially refused to take up the position, but when nobody was after taking it the second time I was asked, I said to myself take it so that the meeting could move on.

I remained in the position for two years, resigning when I took up the position of Chairman of the Na Déise Ladies Football Club.

In early 1996 I joined the committee of the Naomh Brid Club and a year later I became Assistant Secretary and PRO and became the Secretary the following year.

          The G.A.A. to some is known as the Grab All Association and to a small few people it is known as the Gammy Archeries Association. I first heard the latter in 1998 when the then secretary and treasurer of Western Bord na nÓg suffered heart complaints. Eddie O’Shea the then secretary at the end of 1998 indicated that he intended to stand down as both secretary of Western and County Bord na nÓg.

          While a replacement could be gone in Catherine Tuohy for the County Position, no-one was willing to allow their names to go forward for the position in the west.

I was approached off the record and asked would I take up the position. I said I would but said only if Eddie would stay on as an Assistant Secretary which he agreed to.

A year later I became PRO when Eddie O’Shea became Chairman and remained in both positions for a number of years, and also became an Assistant PRO at County Bord na nÓg level working with John O’Leary for a number of years before succeeding John in the position.

In November 2008 I decided to step back from my position in the school in Touraneena on health grounds having twice having to go to South Tipperary General Hospital with chest pains a few weeks apart.

I intended to do nothing for a while. After standing down from my position in the school at the end of December, I got an email out of the blue in January 2009 asking me would I be interested in becoming a reporter on matters relating to the G.A.A. with the Munster Express.

This is the side of the G.A.A. that I love most and jumped at the chance, believing it to last only a few weeks.

While I had given up all positions with Bord na nÓg at the time I was still keeping very much up to date with what was happening within the G.A.A. as I was involved with the Publications Committee on the County Bord during the time that Joe Cleary who I had worked with in Bord na Óg was PRO.

Before this I had served alongside Joe on the County Youth Committee, organising a number of Youth Conventions in Dungarvan and also the County Awards Night where the winners of the Man of the Match Awards from the Bord na nÓg Finals were presented with their awards.

In the last decade through my involvement in the Munster Express I have got to write for a number of other local papers who might have needed reports for games played in Waterford and were not sending a reporter themselves.

I have also reported for a number of Daily and Sunday papers as well as for a number of websites.

In 2012 I began to report on all things relating to the G.A.A. for both the Men’s and Women’s games on my own blog page. I know that what I put on this blog page is not entirely a blog, but the page does allow me to post reports free, and is at times widely read.

Through this page for a number of years was a regular on the G.A.A. Programme on Community Radio Youghal giving details of the different Western and County Championship games and got to mention a number of Ladies Football and Camogie Games that were taking place, something that was important to me, as I enjoy the Ladies games as much as the men’s games, and at times even more so.

The G.A.A. to me is something that can be enjoyed by everyone, and for everyone with an interest in the games a roll can be found. The G.A.A. is not just about playing.

There is need for administrators, coaches, referees, members of management teams, reports etc.

And it is not just about men involved in the men’s games and women in the ladies games.

In Cork for example we have a woman as Chairperson of the County Board. Can it happen here in Waterford at divisional or county level? I would love to think it can.

In 2019 we will see a woman as the main presenter of The Sunday Game. Can we see women involved in other positions? Could we see someone like Anna Geary become regular analysts for big games or doing co-commentary? One thing is for sure, I love listen to the former Cork player speak about the games.

Could we see a woman take charge of a major inter county hurling or football game, even an All-Ireland Final. Well there is Maggie Farrelly from Cavan who is moving in the right game and has taken charge of some secondary competition games.  

Whether some wants to admit it or not, within the G.A.A. there is a place for everyone that wants to be involved.

Down the years me, a disabled man has helped a number of positions. Right now I love what I am doing. Will I go for any other positions in the years ahead? Right now I have no plans to do so, but who knows what the future will hold.

Queens of Munster

          I have said it many times and will say it many more times these are very interesting times for the game of Camogie in Waterford.

          There sadly is some who will not go and see the game being played for whatever reason, but if they were to back off and come down off whatever horse they are on and take the time to go and see the game being played they might be pleasantly surprised by the standard the game is at within the county.

On Sunday afternoon the game got another boost when Gailltir won a second Munster Intermediate Club Championship beating Cork Champions Éire Óg at Leahy Park in Cahir.

For any club to win a first such title is always going to be special and remembered by those that saw the game or who enjoyed the celebrations for a long time. This second win for Gailltir is also going to be special, as from the side which won the first title just two years (three seasons) ago there was wholesale changes to the starting team, many of those coming in no doubt spurred on by what they say the girls of 2016 do.

This year is a special one for Gailltir as they are celebrating the 60^th Anniversary of their formation back in 1958 and this win as the years draws closer to an end is the perfect way to round off a year of celebration.

The side in sky blue will now go on to represent both Waterford and Munster now in the All-Ireland series of games and no doubt with so many players in their ranks who have played on the big stage for Club, County or College in the last few years will be looking to do what Lismore did back in the spring of 2014 and win the All-Ireland Final, and will be hoping to become the first Camogie Club and the second Waterford Club (Ardmore earlier this year were the first, winning the All-Ireland Junior Club Final) to win on All-Ireland Final Day at Croke Park.  

But before that can happen Gailltir will have another hurdle to get over, and no doubt while they will celebrate yesterday’s win they will be back on the training field once more in the coming weeks preparing for what would be a Fairy Tale finish to a significant anniversary in the clubs history.

The weather conditions did not allow for the game to be played as most would have liked, but sometimes you have to battle the elements as hard as you battle the opposition and this is exactly what Gailltir did.

They played with the first use of a stiff breeze behind them in the opening half on a field that was hard to play on after a heavy shower which fell before the game started.

With the elements at their backs in the opening half, Gailltir used them to their advantage as best they could and they turned around with a 1-7 to 0-2 advantage showing on the score board. And such was the dominance of Gailltir in the opening half they escaped with shooting seven wides, something on another day could have proved costly. At the other end of the field playing into the breeze Éire Óg scored just two points and no wide, and seldom got into the Gailltir half of the field to cause the winners any worrying moments.

The Cork side did however open the scoring with a Meadbh Ellen Desmond effort in the first minute, but once Gailltir got into their stride there was only going to be one winner of this game.

All-Star nominee Áine Lyng hit her sides first score on three minutes before Annie Fitzgerald hit a brace of scores between the fourth and the twelfth minutes to open up a two point lead.

Player of the Match landed her second of the game on thirteen minutes from a long range free and Annie Fitzgerald hit her third of the game on twenty-one minutes to open up a favourable lead for Gailltir.

Gailltir hit their first goal on twenty two minutes. Áine Lyng following a brilliant run picked out Aoife Fitzgerald on the edge of the square and in such a position she had only one thing on her mind and made no mistake in beating Rachel Murray to open up a 1-5 to 0-1 lead.

Áine Lyng and Margaret O’Herlihy swapped scores inside sixty seconds and the act of hitting the last score of the opening half fell to Clodagh Carroll who helped her side to a 1-7 to 0-2 lead at the break.

The question on the lips of those present was if the lead built up by Gailltir would be enough now that the Cork side would have the elements behind them in the second half. Those with such questions need to have no fears.

Although Éire Óg came out a more determined side in the second half they found it hard to get past what was a strong Gailltir defence.

With eight minutes of the second half played the Cork side had not put any further scores on the board and when the ball was at the other end Gailltir’s next score proved decisive as Annie Fitzgerald, one of a number of players we have to keep an eye on in the coming years finished to the net to extend the side in sky blue shirts half time lead by three.

          Éire Óg responded with a brace of Margaret O’Herlihy scores both from frees in the 38 and 40 minutes.

          These scores were cancelled with points from Shauna and Annie Fitzgerald to keep Gailltir well in front.

          Margaret O’Herlihy pulled a point back for Éire Óg with five minutes remaining but it was cancelled out with a sweat effort by Áine Lyng one of a number of players in Sky Blue including Ciara O’Sullivan, Annie and Aoife Fitzgerald, Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche and Hannah Flynn, three minutes later.

          The Cork side through Margaret O’Herlihy, who along with Meadbh Ellen Desmond and Isobel Sheehan, brought the days scoring to a close in added time at the end of the sixty minutes.

Gaultier: Ciara Jackman; Emily Mahony, Margo Heffernan, Claire Dunne; Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche, Hannah Flynn; Kate Lynch, Shauna Fitzgerald; Aine Lyng, Ciara O’Sullivan, Annie Fitzgerald; Emer Walsh, Aoife Fitzgerald, Clodagh Carroll. 

Subs: Anne Corcoran for Shauna Fitzgerald, Róisín Flood for Emer Walsh, Emma Flynn for Emily Mahony, Eilish Cullinane for Hannah Flynn, Hannah Hutchinson for Clodagh Carroll.

Scorers: Annie Fitzgerald 1-3, Áine Lyng 0-4, Aoife Fitzgerald 1-1, Clodagh Carroll, Shauna Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Eire Óg: Rachel Murray; Katie McCarthy, Aileen Hennessy, Aine Barry; Emma Quigley, Marie Gleeson, Aoife O’Callaghan; Emma Crowley, Isobel Sheehan; Ruth Murphy, Siobhan Hutchinson, Meadbh Ellen Desmond; Grace Collins,  Margaret O’Herlihy, Gillian Murphy.

Subs; Niamh Twomey for  Grace Collins, Orla Meaney for Emma Crowley, Aideen Buckley for  Katie McCarthy, Ciara Sheehan for Gillian Murphy.

Scorers: Margaret O’Herlihy 0-5, Meadbh Ellen Desmond 0-1

Referee: Kevin O'Brien (Limerick)

The Nire Bow Out In Controversial Game at Fraher Field

St Joseph’s Miltown Mallbay are through to a first ever Munster Senior Club Football final after overcoming the challenge of Waterford Champions The Nire at a soggy Fraher Field in Dungarvan on Sunday last.

The Saint Joseph’s Miltown Malbay management team gave a vote of confidence to the team that beat Ennistymon 0-14 to 0-8 in the county final for this game and it was they that got off to a great start in this game racing into a three point lead inside ten minutes while playing with a strong wind at their backs in the opening half.

It was the home side however playing a fourth game in four weeks that opened the scoring with a point from Tom Barron point. The younger brother of Inter county hurler Jamie was on hand to finish a move that saw them win a Sean O’Brien restart after Darren Guiry who was Man of the Match in the Waterford county final two weeks ago kicked wide from a free, second’s earlier.

The visitors however responded with points from Eoin Cleary on four minutes from a free, Kieran Malone, Cleary with another free and then wing back Colin Hehir on ten minutes to go 0-4 to 0-1 in front.

The Nire steadied somewhat after this and were quickly into their stride as Jamie Barron, Shane Ryan from a free and Conor Gleeson kicked points in a row to level matters at four points each with 18 minutes played.

However it was the visiting side to the not so sunny south east that enjoyed the better of the remaining minutes of the opening half as Oisin Looney, Kieran Malone, Conor Cleary and Colin Hehir kicked points between the 18 and 29 minutes to go 0-9 to 0-4 in front.

The Nire playing on familiar ground gave themselves hope going into the second half as the rain poured down just before the break when Conor Gleeson pointed from a free to leave four between the sides as they headed to the dressing rooms, to enjoy underage sides from the two clubs their chance to play in the driving rain during the interval.

Shane Walsh, Eoin Curtain and Dylan Guiry swapped early second half scores for their respective sides in the opening nine minutes of the second half as The Nire cut the Visitors lead to three, but a minute later the visiting side notched the first goal of the game when Conor Cleary played in a long ball which was won by Cormac Murphy who slipped past his marker and blasted past Diarmuid Murphy to put his side 1-10 to 0-7 in front.

Two points in four minutes edged The Nire a little closer but it was goal’s that they needed, and when another goal did come two minutes later it was at the other end of the field.

Substitute Sean Malone was only on the field three minutes when he connected with a loose ball in front of The Nire goal and finished past a wrong footed Diarmuid Murphy to put his side 2-10 to 0-9 in front.

The Nire had good claims for a penalty two minutes later when Tom Barron was hacked down in the area but referee Padraig O’Sullivan clearly felt that the young Nire number six made the most of the challenge.

With the game all but over the Kerry referee sent The Nire wing back James McGrath off presenting him with a yellow and then a red card to the dismay of the attendance of over 2,000 inside the ground. Darren Guiry the wing back on the other side of the field went straight away to the referee saying that it was he and not McGrath that he had booked earlier, but he was not prepared to listen as McGrath went and stood on the sideline. However some made the referee have a rethink and went to the sideline and invited McGrath back onto the field for the three added minutes played at the end of the hour.

The winners in the second of these minutes kicked the last score of the game through Eoin Cleary and now have a meeting with Kerry kingpins Dr Crokes in the Munster Final on November 25.

All afternoon referee Padraig O’Sullivan from Kerry was the topic of conversation and none more so than when patrons were leaving the ground.

Few if any were talking about the fact that the Clare side were through to a first ever Munster Final as they spilled out onto the Shandon Road. Instead it was all about the referee.

Over the course of the hour, he made some very strange calls, with some of the more strange calls coming in the last ten minutes of the game.

With six minutes remaining Tom Barron looked as if he had a clear cut penalty when he was knocked inside the box, but for whatever reason, one only known to the referee and those he might have since shared his reasons with, he waved play on.

There was no guarantee that if he had outstretched his arms that the resulting one on one kick would have hit the net, and even if it did, The Nire would have had to find four more points plus the one extra that they conceded in stoppage time to get something from the game, sending it to extra time at a minimum

But the strangest call was on the hour mark when as a result of whatever rush of blood went to his head, he issued James McGrath correctly it must be said a yellow card for the concession of a foul, but he followed it with a red card, but in the eyes of McGrath and in the eyes of almost everyone else inside the ground, he was had not been booked earlier in the game.

To his credit James McGrath after making his protest went and stood on the line, even if he was not happy to do so, but within a short space of time the Kerry referee went to the line and invited James McGrath back into the game. It was like being in a school play ground and a teacher spotting some rough play by a child while they played with others and pulled him or her out of the game to reflect on their actions before sending them back in to play with the rest of their classmates and friends.

Those that are regular readers of what appears here will know that I seldom criticise referees in my writing of games, but have done so on a few occasions. On this occasion I think it would be right not to make mention of the Kerry man in charge of this game and the way he officiated. In doing so, I take no pleasure in doing so, but feel that on this occasion it is correct of me and anyone else reporting on the game impartially do comment on the referee’s performance.

The Nire: Diarmuid Murphy, David Meehan, Thomas O’Gorman, Michel Moore, Tom Barron (0-1), James McGrath, Darren Guiry, Tholom Guiry, Craig Guiry, Jamie Barron (0-3), Dylan Guiry (0-1), Shane O’Meara, Shane Ryan (0-1f), Conor Gleeson (0-2, 0-1f), Shane Walsh (0-1).

Subs: Dermot Ryan for Tholm Guiry (37), Conal Mulcahy for David Meehan (46), Ciaran Walsh for Shane O’Meara (56)

Scorers: Jamie Barron 0-3, Conor Gleeson 0-2 (1f), Tom Barron, Dylan Guiry, Shane Ryan (F), Shane Walsh 0-1 each

St Joseph's Miltown Malbay: Sean O'Brien; Aidan McGuane, Enda O'Gorman, Eoin O'Brien; Colin Hehir, Gordon Kelly, Jamesie O'Connor, Oisin Looney, Conor Cleary, Eoin Curtin, Brian Curtin, Kieran Malone; Eoin Cleary, Darragh McDonagh, Cormac Murray.

Subs: Sean Malone for Darragh McDonagh (47), Euan Reidy for Jamesie O’Connor (53), Graham Kelly for Eoin Curtin (56), Michael Murray for Oisin Looney (61).

Scorers: Cormac Murphy 1-1, Sean Malone 1-0, Eoin Cleary 0-3 (3f), Colin Hehir, Kieran Malone 0-2 each, Oisin Looney, Conor Cleary, Eoin Curtain 0-1 each.

Referee: Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry).

Gailltir Seek Second Munster Title

          Sixty years ago this year a Camogie Club was founded in the Gailltir area of County Waterford. In those sixty years many players at different levels have worn the sky blue and navy shirt which the club wears, some of whom have gone on to achieve great things in the game.

The club recently went between 2008 and 2015 without winning a county senior title in the Déise County but in this time the club began to undertake work in promoting the game amongst the youth of the areas from which they draw their players and it has began to pay off now with interest.

A brilliant group of young players all came along together helping the club achieve many honours in different grades including some titles won at National level winning a number of Féile titles in the last number of years.

Back in 2016 some of the older players coming through from successful underage teams were grouped with some of the more experienced players in the club and it was no real surprise to see the club capture a first senior county title since 2008, beating Lismore in the final, something that was no mean achievement as Lismore had appeared in two All-Ireland Club titles, winning one after a replay in the three years before this final and the side from the west of the county were able to call on a great deal of the players that helped them achieve what the club had against Gailltir.

After winning the County title and celebrating the win, the side went on to represent Waterford in the Munster Intermediate Club Championship beating Nenagh Éire Óg in the final at Cahir, but were to lose out in the All-Ireland semi final.

Last year Gailltir once more reached the County Final but this time they had to settle for second best against a Lismore side that would go on to win the Munster Final a few weeks later, but they like Gailltir the previous year would bow out of the competition at the All-Ireland Semi Final stage of the competition.

This year Gailltir were back in the final once more. They were minus the services of some of the side that help them win the title two years ago, but in their place were some more of the brilliant young prospects that are making a name for themselves in the game.

Earlier this year the side from the Barony area had won the County League Final against De La Salle at Ferrybank and a few weeks back they won the County Senior title against the same opposition this time at the WIT Arena.

In between many of the players that won League and Championship honours helped St Angela’s Ursuline School to Junior and/or Senior All-Ireland finals, meaning that when Gailltir run out at Leahy Park in Cashel on Sunday against Cork side Éire Óg they do so an experienced side.

Strangely when Gailltir take to the field on Sunday it is a possible that only five of the side which won the Munster Final back in 2016 will start, Ciara Jackman, Emma Roche, Áine Lyng, Shauna Fitzgerald and Kate Lynch. The fact that only five of the 2016 might start this coming Sunday does indeed say a lot for the work that the Gailltir are putting in with their underage players and the talent they have available to them.

Eire Óg has played three times since Gailltir last played a competitive game. The Cork side proved too strong for Aghabillogue in the Cork County Final at the Castle Road grounds in Cork on a 1-10 to 0-8 score line and two weeks ago they proved too strong for Tipperary Intermediate Champions Cashel King Cormacs winning 2-7 to 0-4 and in between they won the Cork Senior Summer Cup beating Ballincollig 1-8 to 1-6.

The Gailltir mentors no doubt will have taken the chance to do their homework on the opponents this weekend and won’t need any telling how dangerous the challenge that they face this weekend.

Siobhán Hutchinson at centre back is the team’s captain and possibly their best player. She was part of the Cork Intermediate panel this year and last weekend was nominated for a Soaring Star, the All-Star awards presented each year to those that play in the Intermediate and Junior grades of Inter county Camogie.

In attack the Cork side will put it up to the Gailltir defensive unit and they will to be at their best to keep them at bay.

The wing forwards Emma Crowley and Meabh Ellen Desmond if given the chance will cause heartache to most sides they take on while Margaret O’Herlihy in between the pair can be a real score getter, while in the inside forward line Aoife O’Callaghan flanked possibly by Grace Collins and Gillian Murphy will also take watching.

Most locals watching the game of Camogie will not need any telling of what Gailltir can do.

Some terrific work has taken place in the promotion of the game in the clubs catchment area in the last number of years and it is not starting to reap the rewards of that hard work.

The club has won its quota of underage titles in recent years both locally and nationally, most notably a number of Féile na Gael titles.

Players like Emer Walsh, Aoife and Annie Fitzgerald, Ann Corcoran and Emer Walshe to name but a few were involved in some of those underage successes in recent years and will be looking to add to their collection of medals this weekend.

They will be joined this weekend by some players who have amassed experience in the last number of years, the like of Ciara Jackman in goal, Margo Heffernan at full back, the vastly experienced duo of Áine Lyng and Emma Hannon while Kate Lynch who featured in 2016 will vital, while others like Clodagh Carroll who has won Munster and All-Ireland medals with the Ursuline School on the Folly already this year will also be important.

Gailltir will know that they face a stern test this weekend and also that the recent competitive games played by the Cork side will stand to them.

The Barony girls will have worked hard since their county final win over De La Salle and they will be showing great hunger to add to their roll of honour this weekend.

Waterford sides have a good record in the last decade when it comes to playing in finals at this level and Gailltir will be looking to extend that run of good results on Sunday.

Mount Sion and Shamrocks Battle In Last Big County Final Of 2018

          It seems right now you have to be careful what you have to say to some when it comes to the G.A.A. in Waterford, so hopefully nobody will take offence to what might be said here, as there is no intention to cause offence.

Tomorrow (Saturday) in Walsh Park this year’s County Junior Football Final will be fought out between two sides from opposite ends of the county, Mount Sion from the City and Shamrocks who pick players almost to the county boundary share with Cork at the opposite end of the ground.

For both clubs they began their campaign to reach where they are right now back on April 21, when Mount Sion beat Butlerstown 3-7 to 0-7 and on the same day Shamrocks proved too strong for Old Parish winning 2-9 to 0-12.

This final will be played a week before which ever sides wins out tomorrow take on Cork champions Dromtarriffe or Limerick Champions Kildimo-Pallaskenry who meet in the first round of the Munster Championship in Mallow an hour before the game in Walsh Park meeting that both sides if they wish to know should know who they are playing by the time they head to the dressing rooms for the break in Walsh Park.

On more than one occasion in recent years the winners of different championships have not got to represent the county in the Munster Club Championship because of the late running of the competitions, so praise must go to the County Board who did all in their power this year to ensure that Waterford’s Champions in both hurling and football in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior grades got to play in Munster, but one question has to be asked. How come it took from April 21 to November 10 to complete a championship where only four clubs took part in the west of the county and eight clubs took part in the east of the county, split into two groups of three meaning that all clubs had just three games to play before the commencement of the knockout stages of the championship.

You even have to ask how come the Western Final between Shamrocks and Old Parish was been able to be played on September 8, while the Eastern Final between Mount Sion and Ferrybank only took place last weekend, two full months later.

Whatever the cause for taking so long to complete the championship we are now where we are and it must be said that the two best teams in the county are taking part in this final.

Mount Sion are no strangers to taking part in games like this. They have appeared in their share of County Finals in recent years after winning the Eastern Final and even won the competition back in 2013 and played in the Intermediate Grade for a few years.

Back in the 80’s and 90’s the Knockanore based club were a bit of a force when it came to football and played in a higher grade than what they do now, contesting an Intermediate County Final in 1987 where they lost out to Saint Saviours who would go on to contest the senior final against Kilrossanty 12 months later.

Both clubs will believe that they can win this game and whichever side comes out on top will be worthy winners, with both sides containing some quality footballers in their ranks.

Shamrocks could well line out along the lines of their Western Final win over Old Parish.

That should mean that Richie Murphy and Tim Lenihan battling it for the number one shirt with Tom Donovan in front of him with Padraig Roche and Brian Harnady either side of him.

Shane Roche could well be at centre back with Cathal Herlihy and Adam Crawford either side of him and Stephen and John Paul Lucey could be in the middle of the field.

In attach Colm Roche could be at centre forward, Chris Murphy could well fall back as a third man in the middle of the field with the other positions taken up by Bernie Kelleher, Billy and Eddie Hynes and Padraig Ahearne.

Mount Sion might be best known as a hurling club but they also have within their ranks some fine footballers.

They too could line out along the lines of the side that won the Eastern Final last week which means that Nicholas Mackey will be in foal with Colm Kennedy, Shane Elliott and Craig Savage in the full back line with Barry Ryan, Michael Gaffney and Ian O’Regan in front of them.

Not many might be aware that Austin Gleeson has played football for Waterford and he could well be in the middle of the field for this game where he could be partnered by Owen Whelan.

Martin ‘Fish’ O’Neill could be at centre forward flanked by John Kennedy and Stephen Roche while the inside forward line could feature Richie Roche in the middle flanked by Ian Galgey and Eoghan Browne.  

So who will win? You can’t but feel that Shamrocks long layoff without a competitive game is not good for them. I have no doubt they will have got in a number of challenge games between then and now but all the challenge games in the world are nowhere near as good as a good competitive outing.

Taking this into consideration and Mount Sion having a run out last weekend, they get the nod to win here but it could be close.