No Joy for Waterford in Birr, But This Side Is Heading In the Right Direction

In big games in the last few years Waterford Ladies Footballers have often had to settle for second best when they play Ulster opposition, and the same happen again this afternoon at Birr when Cavan had three points to spare in the Division Two National League semi final clash between the two counties.

In previewing this game during the week I pointed out that when two sides meet twice in the matter of a short few weeks, its often that the side that lose the first day comes out on top on the second meeting as it is often that they have learned the most from the first game, and saying this might have appeared to be a curse down on the Waterford side as the Ulster side had lost heavily when the two met at the WIT Arena in Carriganore recently.

But in truth, this is not the case as it was a great start for the Ulster side in both halves that proved to be the difference between the sides, coupled with some unladylike luck for Waterford at times over the course of the game.

The Ulster side played with a strong wind at their backs in the first half of this game and in the opening ten minutes of this game they made full use of it, as they opened the scoring inside sixty seconds from Aisling Doonan and added to their early lead two minutes later through Bronagh Sheridan.

Eimear Fennell had a chance to pull a score back for the Déise County but she saw her effort from a free go just wide of the upright.

Both sides continued to create chances. Cavan took one when Bronagh Sheridan made it 0-3 to 0-0 after seven minutes before Geraldine Power again shot just wide for Waterford.

Cavan went four in front when Aisling Doonan hit her second score of the game. At the other end Waterford continued to make chance and on thirteen minutes a Lauren McGregor effort was well blocked down by Rachel Doonan.

Waterford did get off the mark on nineteen minutes when Maria Delahunty put over from play, but it was quickly cancelled out with an effort from Aisling Doonan, who put her side 0-5 to 0-1 in front.

Evelyn Baugh made a brilliant double save from Geraldine Power and Eimear Fennell three minutes from the break, but Waterford would add to their tally before the turn around when Maria Delahunty got her second of the game on the half hour mark and in added time at the end of the thirty Lauren McGregor got her name on the score sheet which left the Déise Ladies trailing 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Waterford came out and scored straight from the restart, Eimear Fennell cutting the Lake Land Counties lead to one.

But Waterford were dealt a blow soon afterwards as the Ulster side hit the next two scores, Sinead Greene hitting a point on thirty two minutes and less than sixty seconds later Catherine Dolan burst through the Waterford defence and finished past Gráinne Kenneally to give her side a 1-6 to 0-4 lead.

This was when he saw how good this Waterford side is, as they hit back with the next three scores, all from the boot of Maria Delahunty frees to cancel out Dolan’s goal to leave Waterford trailing 1-6 to 0-7 with thirty nine minutes played.  

For Waterford it was important to get the next score and to exert real pressure on the Ulster side, it was the side in Royal Blue that struck the next two scores from Aisling Doonan and Bronagh Sheridan to put them more comfortably four points to the good.

Credit this Waterford side however, even with time ticking down they continued to go in search of the scores that might give them something from this game, but they found it hard to get past what was a near water tight defence on the day which was superbly marshaled by wing back Sinead Greene and full back Laura Fitzpatrick.

Waterford did manage a late score from substitute Liz Devine but it proved to be a mere consolation score.

Cavan now advance to the league final where they will be hoping to go one better than last year when they lost out after a replay to Westmeath, and in that final their opponents will be Tipperary who proved too strong for Armagh and will be looking to put back to back promotions together when the pair clash in the final.  

For Waterford, this had been a terrific league campaign, when you consider that this time last year they finished in seventh position and with a score difference over seven games of plus one point.

Pat Sullivan and his side will now begin the hard work that needs to be put in for the Munster and All-Ireland Championships. Last year Waterford reached the Munster Final where they narrowly lost out to Kerry in Mallow but they will know that to reach the same stage this year could well be a more difficult task as not only will Cork and Kerry will be involved this year, so too will be Tipperary who won last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate title.

Waterford last year bowed out of the All-Ireland Championship at the quarter final stages of the competition when they lost out to Dublin, but they will know that while the Munster and All-Ireland Championship’s will be difficult asks this year, they are a much more experienced side now than they were this time last year and will feel that they can achieve more than they did last year, and who knows what might happen if they can put together a good result or two in the Munster Championship because as we all know winning can become a habit.

CAVAN: Evelyn Baugh; Rachel Doonan, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Joanne Moore; Sinead Greene, Mona Sheridan, Neassa Byrd; Catherine Dolan, Donna English; Gráinne McGlade, Bronagh Sheridan, Aisling Sheridan; Róisín O’Keeffe, Aisling Doonan, Ciara Finnegan.

Subs: Catriona Smith for Ciara Finnegan, Sinead O’Sullivan for Róisín O’Keeffe, Ailish Cornyn for Aisling Sheridan.

Scorers: Aisling Doonan 0-4 (1f), Bronagh Sheridan 0-3, Catherine Dolan 1-0, Sinead Greene 0-1.

WATERFORD: Gráinne Kenneally; Kate McGrath, Michelle McGrath, Rebecca Casey; Mairead Wall, Keeley Corbett, Megan Dunford; Karen McGrath, Katie Murray; Aoife Murray, Geraldine Power, Lauren McGregor; Maria Delahunty, Eimear Fennell, Aileen Wall.

Subs: Sinead Ryan for Lauren McGregor, Kelly Ann Hogan for Aoife Murray, Liz Devine for Eimear Fennell.

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 0-5 (4f), Lauren McGregor, Eimear Fennelly, Liz Devine 0-1 each.

Referee: Garryowen McMahon (Mayo).

Believe and anything is possible

Camogie in Waterford is alive and well and let nobody try and tell you any other wise.

Sharing a few words with the Waterford Senior Camogie Manager Donal O’Rourke before this Munster Championship game played in glorious sunshine and on a well prepared field in Modeligo, the Cappoquin club man told me we are up for it.

Speaking shortly afterwards to the team secretary Majella Pollard she told me that she has been telling the players that Cork who happened to be All-Ireland Champions and were recently beaten in this year’s National League Final are just another team, and over the course of an hour in this game if you knew nothing about the game of Camogie and wandered in off the road to see what was happening, it would have been hard to tell which side has won a record number of All-Ireland Final, including three in the last four seasons, and have won a record number of National League finals, appearing in three of the last four finals, and which side is playing in the top flight of Camogie with the past three years.

Anybody that reads what appears here on a regular basis will know that I seldom have a go at the referee in any game. I am sure while I am writing on this blog you will find that I have only had a go at a referee for his performance on only a handful of occasions, but this is one such occasion when it would be remiss of me not to make mention of the performance of referee Mike Flannery.

It is worth noting that the Camogie Association at National Level have failed to give charge of any game in the National League across all three divisions and in the All-Ireland Minor Championship in its two divisions any game this year and it quickly became obvious at the Modeligo venue today that he was refereeing at a level way above his ability to do so, and it was clear as to why he has not taken charge of any major inter county Camogie fixtures to date this year.

Both of these two sides fought out a very clean contest with hardly a dirty deliberate stroke pulled over the near seventy minutes played, but if this was a game where there was history between the sides, then some player or even players could have ended up with a very serious injury.

Over the course of the game for whatever reason the match referee who showed up without umpires or any sideline officials persisted in giving the visiting side free after free often for the most minor of incidents while any free that Waterford were awarded they were very hard won and often when what some might call a soft free was given to Waterford it was well outside the compass of any free taker on the field in putting the ball anyplace near where any danger could be caused.

Great credit must go to the Modeligo club for the way they hosted this game. In addition to the tri-colour getting flown they also had the white and blue of Waterford on display and the red and white of Cork.

The pitch was well line and a scoreboard was erected in the corner of the field. The area where the management teams and subs were using were well presented and had anyone turned up to see the game who might not be able to stand for the hour, they were offered a chair to sit on if needed, while the club also had a P.A. System in place to play the National Anthem before the game.

Nobody could fault what the Modeligo Club had done on the day and it would be great to think having seen at firsthand what they did to stage this game that maybe more games would be awarded to the club in the future, as it is always nice to recognise clubs that go out of their way to ensure that fixtures can go ahead.

Eight starting members of the Cork side which dethroned Kilkenny as All-Ireland Champions last September and thirteen members of the Cork starting team which lost to the Cats in this year’s National League Final at Nowlan Park earlier this month started for Cork in their Munster Championship opener at glorious Modeligo and were pushed all the way by Waterford.

The reigning All-Ireland Champions finished this game with fourteen players but the sending off of wing back Aileen Sheehan came four minutes into stoppage time at the end of the second half after the Inniscarra player picked up her second yellow of the game, but game too late for Waterford to use their numerical advantage to the full.

The two sides over the course of the hour proved to be evenly matched and on another day it would not have come as a surprise if the home side advanced to the next phase of the competition.

Another nice touch by the Modeligo club for this game was the fact that they and neighbours Cappoquin had their under 12 teams present, both togged out very smartly in their club colours and formed a guard of honour for the two sides as they entered the field, something that no doubt will live in the memories of those young players for some time to come, and also while the two sides were in the dressing rooms during the break the two side played a game between the two sides which kept the big attendance well entertained.

In the first half the sides were locked together on the scoreboard three times and even in the second half the All-Ireland Champions could never break free of the Waterford challenge and never really capitalised on hitting the game’s only goal as you would have expected.

It was Cork that opened the brighter of the two sides with points from Orla Cotter and Orla Cronin by the seventh minute but Waterford hit back with a brace of frees by top scorer Beth Carton within sixty seconds of each other to draw the sides level.

Cronin and Carton swapped scores in a three minute spell either side of the mid way point in the first half, but Cork would add the next two scores through Amy O’Connor and Orla Cronin from a ’45 to put the Rebellettes two in front with under ten minutes of the first half remaining. .

But Waterford would finish the half strong and two more Beth Carton frees on twenty six and twenty eight minutes ensured that the sides would head to the dressing rooms locked at 5 points each.

Waterford started the second half brightly with a Beth Carton free inside sixty seconds to give Waterford the lead for the first time.

Points from Orla Cronin and Deirdre Fahy followed before Cronin put two over in a three minute spell to put Cork back in front.

On forty one minutes Amy O’Connor went to the ground as she made her way towards the Waterford goal. From the sideline it looked as if she stumbled and the referee vexed the Waterford support by giving a free but then changed his mind and outstretch his hands to give a penalty which goalkeeper Aoife Murray finished to the net to give her side a 1-8 to 0-7 lead.

Waterford hit back with points from Beth Carton, Deirdre Fahy and another from Carton to leave just a point between the sides with 8 minutes to play. 

Cork however hit the next three scores, two from Cronin and one from O’Connor to pit them 1-11 to 0-10 in front with the hour played.

Waterford however refused to throw in the towel and Beth Carton made it a one score difference with a converted free on sixty one, but Cork ensured that victory would be theirs as Orla Cronin put over the last score of the game six minutes into stoppage time.

Before leaving the field this afternoon while team secretary Majella Pollard tidied up around where the Waterford subs and mentors were gathered, she pointed out that if this present panel of players believe anything can happen.

This year the side have shown on more than one occasion that they can be a match for most sides. Both Kilkenny and Cork right now would be the two strongest sides in the country and Waterford have pushed both to the max when they played them this year. When Waterford played Kilkenny in the league earlier this year Majella Pollard pointed out something that I was aware of, that Waterford were short about half their strongest team that day and still ran the Cats to nine points, and when Kilkenny played Cork in the final just the one point separated the sides.

What was said to me is correct. I know some of the panel read what appears on here, and when mistakes are made and are pointed out by some around the team it is appreciated.

So any member of the panel reading this, or indeed anyone involved with the panel any way, please, please, please believe, believe in yourself, believe in your team mates, believe in those over the team, believe in the county board officers, because having seen this group of players a few times this year and in the last couple of years, this is an exciting group of players and yes Majella Pollard is correct, anything is possible with this group of players, including playing in Croke Park on the biggest day of the Camogie year.

Waterford: Ciara Jackman; Mairead Power, Iona Heffernan, Sibeal Harney; Aoife Landers, Áine Lyng. Claire Whyte; Shauna Kiernan, Lorraine Bray; Niamh Rockett, Deirdre Fahey, Fiona Morrissey; Annie Fitzgerald, Beth Carton, Kaiesha Tobin.

Subs: Caithriona McGlone for Fiona Morrissey (46), Aisling Power for Annie Fitzgerald (50), Kate McMahon for Claire Whyte (51), Orla Hickey for Aoife Landers (58).

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-9 (8F), Deirdre Fahy 0-2.

Cork: Aoife Murray; Leanne O’Sullivan, Pamela Mackey, Libby Coppinger; Siobhan Hutchinson, Gemma O’Connor, Aileen Sheehan; Orla Cotter, Ashling Thompson; Amy O’Connor, Orla Cronin, Katrina Mackey; Linda Collins, Lauren Homan, Niamh McCarthy

Scorers: Orla Cronin 0-8 (6F, 1 ’45), Aoife Murray 1-0, Amy O’Connor 0-3, Orla Cotter 0-1.

Referee: Mike Flannery (Limerick).

 

Waterford Ladies are Sixty Minutes From League Final

Twelve months ago Waterford’s senior ladies football team finished seventh of eight teams in the second division of the Ladies National Football League.

Twelve months on, carrying on from a successful championship in 2017 where Pat Sullivan’s side beat Kerry and Cork in the group stages of the competition, losing out narrowly to Kerry in the Munster Final and going on to serve up an excellent performance against Dublin who went on to capture the All-Ireland Final, at the quarter final stages of the competition, Waterford topped the group after the group stages of this years National League, recording six wins from their seven games, topping the group by virtue of beating Tipperary in the last game two weeks ago at the WIT Arena at Carriganore will this Sunday take on Cavan in the Semi Finals at Birr.

The Ulster side finished fourth after the group stages, finishing level on points with Armagh who topped the pair by virtue of having raised more white flags over the course of seven games that what Cavan raised.

The last few seasons have seen Ladies Football grow and grow within the Déise County and there is a feeling that this present side are not far off the great team of the 90’s. This present side might not ever win as much as the side that Michael Ryan guided to so much success, but if they were to win a portion of that side in the 90’s it could be regarded as equalling or bettering what that great time achieved as the game now a days is much stronger with far more sides competing for the major honours.

Waterford appeared in two League finals losing to Armagh and Sligo before they beat Tipperary after a replay at Semple Stadium in 2016 and won the All-Ireland Intermediate final the previous year, having reached the finals in 2010 and 2012 but lost out to Donegal and Armagh in those finals respectfully.

It could well be argued that the standard in Ladies Football between most counties is growing and the gulf between the top sides is getting smaller and smaller.

This could seen through what Waterford have achieved in the last few years within the game and not just with Waterford as that Tipperary side which lost to Waterford in 2016 went on to win the Division three final last year and also won the All-Ireland Intermediate final and they too have reached this years semi finals in the league.

So competitive is this league this year, it’s worth remembering that while Waterford were winning the Division three final in 2016, Cavan were contesting the Division Two Final against Westmeath where luck was to desert them on the day while Armagh who won the Division three final in 2014 quickly worked their way up through the divisions and last season they were in a very competitive division one.

When these two sides met a few weeks back Waterford ran out 4-9 to 1-6 winners at the WIT Arena, and therefore some will be making them favourites to advance from this game and a competition decider against Tipperary and Armagh.

            But in Ladies Football, the result achieved by any side in one particular game does not mean that things will be the same next time around and nobody more than Waterford will know this.

            They will know that the Ulster side is packed with outstanding players who will cause any side problems.

            In the likes of Bronagh, Aishling and Mona Sheridan, Donna English, Sinead Greene, Laura Fitzpatrick, Aisling Doonan etc they have some quality players.

            Waterford too have players of some ability. Anybody that knows anything about Ladies Football will only have to look at the Waterford side and realise that there is an abundance of ability in the set up.

            Waterford manager Pat Sullivan and his management team have named a very strong team for this game with the likes of Gráinne Kenneally, Michelle and Karen McGrath, Rebecca Casey, Mairead and Aileen Wall, Lauren McGregor, Emma, Katie and Aoife Murray, Geraldine Power, Maria Delahunty, Eimear Fennell and Megan Dunford all named in the Waterford side for this game.

            It is also worth noting that the likes of Liz Devine, the Ryan sisters Michelle and Sinead, Aisling Mullaney, Keeley Barry-Corbett, Kelly Ann Hogan, Laura Cusack, Liz Devine and Kate Hahessy just some of the players that Waterford have used in the league to date are all kept in reserve in this game and what side would like to be able spring players of their ability from the bench as legs begin to tire as the game goes on.

            Which side will advance from this game? Something is telling me that this game will buck the trend that is often seen in Ladies Football, when the side that looses the first day is the side that learns most and comes out on top in the second game.

            Waterford for me are not far off the side of the 90’s and a win in this game, advancing to a League Final will do the game of Ladies Football in Waterford the world of good.

            For me, it’s a win for Waterford in this game, but expect it to be much closer than when the sides met a few weeks back.

            While this game is going ahead in Birr, the second semi final between Tipperary and Armagh goes ahead at Kinnegad in Westmeath, where for me Tipperary should come out on top and set up a mouth watering all Munster Final in a few weeks.

            Waterford: Grainne Kenneally; Kate McGrath, Michelle McGrath, Rebecca Casey; Mairead Wall, Emma Murray, Megan Dunford; Karen McGrath, Katie Murray; Aoife Murray, Geraldine Power, Lauren McGregor; Maria Delahunty, Eimear Fennell, Aileen Wall.

Cavan: Evelyn Baugh; Rachel Doonan, Laura Fitzpatrick, Joanne Moore; Sinead Greene, Mona Sheridan, Neasa Byrd; Catherine Dolan, Donna English; Grainne McGlade, Bronagh Sheridan, Aishling Sheridan; Róisín O’Keeffe, Aisling Doonan, Ciara Finnegan.

Referee: Garryowen McMahon (Dublin)

Munster Championship Fixture for Modeligo

After coming ever so close in securing a place in the knockout stages of this year’s National League, losing out to Limerick on score difference after the two sides drew their last game in the round robin section of the competition against each other, Waterford’s senior Camogie team are back in action again this coming Saturday when they take on Cork in the Munster Senior Championship at Modeligo.

The host club for this game are a relatively new club and since their formation a short few years back they have made great strides on the underage scene and the County Board playing a Munster Championship game on their superb field just off the main Clonmel to Youghal road and a short distance from both Cappoquin and Dungarvan will surly spur those working hard within the small club to keep going at what they are doing and maybe some of their better underage players who might attend this game might be inspired to have ambitions to play for the county at this level in the years to come.

Waterford is under new management this year, with Cappoquin club man Donal O’Rourke who has played underage Inter County Hurling between the posts for Waterford the man in charge of team affairs.

He might have come into the set up late in the day compared to other counties appointing their manager but it’s fair to say that since taking the manager’s job he has hit the ground running, putting together a panel of over 30 players together for the league recently and to say he got a response from the players he has brought together would be an understatement.

Since coming up to play in the top flight after winning the Division Two league title and All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship in 2015 Waterford have more than held their own, but what they have achieved so far this year tops what they have achieved in the last few years.

Throughout the league Waterford played a very attractive brand of Camogie and would have won many admirers from those that would have seen them playing.

Over the course of the league the Waterford management team gave all in their panel plenty of time to show what they do and each and every player that was given can time did impress.

Over the course of the league the players from the Lismore Club who won the County Senior League and Senior Championship last year, adding the Munster Intermediate Crown to their Roll of Honour missed much of the campaign as they were with their club preparing for their All-Ireland Semi Final, and while some of their players did manage to get some game time under their belts in the latter games of the league, no doubt since then they will have pushed those involved throughout the league hard in training and will be hoping to get a run in the team from the off in this game and in the upcoming All-Ireland Championship which begins in June.

Waterford’s opponents this weekend are no strangers to success in recent years, as Cork have contested their quota of finals in the different competitions that they have entered.

The Rebellettes reached the League Final this year where they were beaten by Kilkenny playing on home soil at Nowlan Park in a game that was a curtain raiser to the National Hurling League final between Kilkenny and Tipperary.

They reached that final unbeaten recording wins over Galway, Wexford, Tipperary and Offaly in the group stages of the competition and then beat Limerick 2-17 to 2-13 in the semi finals, before finishing second best to Kilkenny on a 0-15 to 1-11 score line.

They will bring a vastly experienced side with them to Modeligo and will include the likes of Hannah Looney, Ashling Thompson, Orla Cronin, Amy O’Connor, Orla Cotter, Aoife Murray, Gemma O’Connor, Rena Buckley, Amy O’Connor, Linda Collins, Libby Coppinger and Julia Whyte amongst others.

The Munster Championship would rank third in importance for most sides behind the National League and All-Ireland Championship and for this reason it remains to be seem will Cork field their best side from the off in this game or whether Paudie Murray will field a side made up of a mix of Cork’s most experienced players and some of their most promising underage talents or if they field a full strength side.

Waterford regardless of what fifteen is sent out to start the game would be expected to be strong, with maybe some of the newer players involved this year also expected to get some game time.

That could mean the likes of Brianna O’Regan or Ciara Jackman starting in goal with the likes of Iona Heffernan, Aoife Landers, Lorraine Bray, Fiona Morrissey, Niamh Rockett, Aisling Power, Beth Carton, Kaisha Tobin, Jenny McCarthy, Annie Fitzgerald, Claire Whyte, Shauna Kiernan, Marie Russell, Caithriona McGlone, Sibeal Harney, Becky Kavanagh, Mairead Power, Áine Lyng, Claire Murphy, Kate McMahon and Niamh Murphy all vying for positions out the field.

After serving up good performances in wins over Meath and Dublin, in the draws against Clare and Limerick and in the defeat to Kilkenny who relinquished their All-Ireland Crown to Cork last September, Waterford will feel confident going into this game, and will know that if they can get a competitive win or two under their belts before the All-Ireland Championship begins it will give the side plenty of confidence going into that competition.

Cork will travel to Modeligo as favourites and will be looking to get the effects of the league final defeat out of the system as quickly as possible, but Waterford will push them hard and who knows maybe even get a result that few might predict from this game. Something is telling me it might just happen.

Lots to Be Done To Bring Football in Waterford Up To the Levels of Cork and Kerry

Reading this week’s Waterford News and Star (sports section page 7) Tomás McCarthy in his report of the recent happenings at the most recent County Board Meeting has a piece on underage football and reports that Games Development Manager Eoin Breathnach revealed that there is no selectors in place for the counties under 16 team this year and also there is no selector in place for the counties under 12 and 13 panels.

That meeting was held in advance of last week’s heavy loss to Cork in the Munster Championship and I am sure having seen what happened in game despite having a management team working hard with the side over the past number of months, it could be even harder to get selectors to get involved with the panels that currently does not have anybody in charge.

Inter County panels at minor grade are now picked from players who are seventeen years or younger and in light of the heavy defeat to Cork recently you have to wonder how many if any of the players who are eligible to play in this grade again in 2019 will make the commitment to do so, and more over if they are drawn against either Cork or Kerry in the first round of the championship.

Let me say that I have huge respect for those that play football for Waterford and I have equal respect for those that take charge of the different football teams or a roll in the management teams. But if people were to opt out of playing for the county or from positions on the management team, I would fully understand their decision and back their judgement.

For those that travelled to Cork last week with the Waterford team the result must be very demoralising especially when you consider the amount of hours that they put in preparing for that game.

Here in Waterford we hear a lot about the time and energy that goes into preparing our County Senior Hurling team and indeed all hurling teams, and hear the calls to support the side in good times and not so good times, but we seldom if ever hear the same calls when it comes to the footballers who put in the same effort and maybe an even greater effort.

Maybe we don’t hear the same calls about our footballers because in the eyes of some it is not fashionable to play football for Waterford but as I have said, we must never forget that the efforts put in by the footballers is any less than what the hurlers put in.

There can be no disputing that a great deal of work has to go in to help promote football in Waterford, but is there anybody out there who can help make changes willing to do so.

At a national level in the last few years some people have made calls which would help develop football in Waterford and in a number of other counties playing at the same level as Waterford are.

There have been calls for a two or even a three tier football championship in the same way we have a five tier hurling championship right now. There can be no disputing that such a move would help promote football in the long term within Waterford, but each time such a move is made we have inter county players past and present coming out saying that they don’t want to see such a thing happen and make lots of noises about how they want to play against the best players at every opportunity.

When I hear this happen, maybe I am wrong and if I am I will hold up my hands, I can’t but feel that maybe it is some sort of a GPA thing where all players sing off the one hymn sheet, for forgetting maybe what damage counties like Waterford suffering heavy losses are doing for the game within the county in the long term.

When it comes to the All-Ireland Football Championship as things stand, no Waterford side are going to win an All-Ireland Final anytime soon. However if Waterford were to play in the second or even a third tier competition then Waterford would stand a chance of winning an All-Ireland Final at Croke Park in Football.

The current provincial style championship in football does nothing to promote football in Waterford. What does maybe a defeat well into the double digits do to promote the game and get players interested in the game if they lose to Cork or Kerry.

In Munster right now, Waterford would stand a chance of beating Limerick and maybe even Clare but might find the going somewhat tougher against the other three sides.

And right now if Waterford stands little chance of beating three sides in Munster, what chance do we have maybe in five to ten years time when young boys in their latter years of primary school or early years of secondary school right now come to play in the minor or adult grades. Is there a chance after seeing some of our present day sides suffer heavy losses decide that they don’t want to experience the same as the Waterford team did last week.

We here in Waterford can’t sit back and expect others to solve our problems when it comes to football. We have to start within the county and try and force change, which won’t be easy.

The question has to be asked whatever became of the idea of a Director of Football in Waterford. Like everything else it seems to be put on the back burner. I am sure that there is some within the county that have a vision for the development of football in Waterford who should be sounded out about taking such a position and be given a guarantee that they would be backed in whatever they come up with. And maybe the county should look outside the county to fill such a position if the need be.

To get matters improved within the county maybe instead of trying to fix things at the top of the stairs and working our way down, we should be starting at the bottom of the stairs and slowly working our way up.

Maybe instead of starting with the minor, under 21 or senior team we should be starting with the under twelve’s thirteen’s and fourteen’s.

Maybe for example we should be looking at how the Jim Power Under 14 Football Tournament is run.

I was involved in Bord na nÓg when the competition in its present format was brought into been, and at the time it sounded a great idea, but with the last few years I am beginning to wonder.

Before the competition became all Munster, the Power family and the Officers of Bord na nÓg were bringing in teams from Leinster, the likes of Wexford, Laois and Carlow, along with the other so called four weaker sides in Munster, and Waterford were able to hold their own and this level and were doing so up along through the ages, and some of the players that competed in these games helped Waterford win a Munster Under 21 title in 2003.

Maybe in the same way Jim Power a man who loved football is remembered each year, maybe the families of others who had a great interest in the development of underage football within the county could also be found and tournaments put in place at under 15 and 16 so that players can play in competitions in which the sides are perceived to be equal and all have an equal chance of winning.

As things stand with Cork and Kerry involved in competitions like the Jim Power tournament even with the counties split they are still too strong for counties like Waterford. And if this is the case with a split Cork or Kerry side, what chance would they have when they are picking players from across the whole county. When players suffer heavy defeats then you run the risk of losing them to the game forever, for because whatever people say, everyone likes to think they can win or at least compete on a level footing.

In the Dungarvan Observer each week we can read about games played in the past and often in the college’s competitions where Saint Augustine’s had teams regularly winning competitions. Right now no Waterford side look like winning one of the bigger colleges championships. Yes, I know Saint Declan’s Community School in Kilmacthomas did win a Munster Final this year, but it must be said that this was down the grades.

Maybe it might be possible with some thinking to maybe allow the Waterford minor football team to field in the Munster Senior ‘A’ Colleges Championship. Yes there would be some opposition to this happening, but I think that the stronger sides in Kerry and Cork would recognise that they would benefit from playing against a full strength Waterford side and most without any disrespect to any of the Waterford minors would be stronger than the Waterford side.

Another option open to Waterford and one that we can work on our own on is to have a specific football season.

He is often criticised and some have dismissed what he had to say without actually thinking through what was been said, but former Waterford County Board Secretary Timmy O’Keeffe over the past few years have come up with a number of very good ideas and earlier this year he proposed at a Western Board meeting to have a football and hurling season, playing football from February to June and hurling in the second half of the year.

Maybe if this was to happen, it could well help promote football in the county as there would be no crossover in the two codes which happens as things stand within Waterford and when it does, because hurling is to many the preferred game within the county will always have more time given over to it and football sides are given little is no time to prepare.

An example of this could well be after the recent two rounds of hurling at Senior, Intermediate and Junior the county senior hurlers went back training and had players who were due to play football for their clubs last weekend away from their clubs. When you see this happen, you have to wonder what chance has football in the county.

 

Déise Ladies Top Division Two National League after Round Robin Series of Games

Waterford Senior Ladies Football team will play Cavan in this year’s Division Two National League after they won the round robin part of this year’s competition by virtue of beating a previously unbeaten Tipperary side at the WIT Arena on Sunday afternoon.

This game was to be played a number of weeks back (Round 5) but was called off because of the weather conditions across the country that weekend.

This game was originally fixed for Sean Tracey Park in Tipperary Town but was switched to the Carriganore venue onto the Astroturf pitch early on Sunday morning.

The visitors will be delighted that they had their place in the last four booked ahead of this game, as just over 18 hours before this game threw in, the Premier Ladies were presented with the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship medals they won last September at Croke Park.

Both Waterford and Tipperary finished the campaign with a total of eighteen points each (3 points for a win in Ladies Football), but Waterford top the group by virtue of winning the head to head between the two sides.

Armagh and Cavan also finished level on points at the end of the league on thirteen points, but it is Armagh that top the two for third place using the third regulation used in Ladies Football when sides finish level on points after the sides drew the game between the two, and the two sides raised fourteen white flags each in the game between the two, Armagh were placed in third position having had a better score difference over Cavan over the course of seven rounds of games.

Early in the game it looked as if the two sides would fight out a very close battle and few could have predicted Waterford’s ten point winning margin at the end of the hour after ten minutes.

Maria Delahunty finished top scorer in this game, finishing with 1-6 behind her name on the score sheet and it was she that opened the scoring in the first minute with a point.

Caoimhe Condon quickly replied with a point for the visitors to the Carriganore venue, but Waterford would hit the next three scores through Eimear Fennell, Katie Murray and another from Maria Delahunty which put Waterford 0-4 to 0-1 in front with just eight minutes played.

The visitors hit back with scores from Aisling Moloney and Niamh Lonergan within a minute of each other to go within one of the home side, but this was as good as it got for the Premier Ladies.

Geraldine Power and Lauren McGregor followed up with points and Eimear Fennell had a brace of scores in between to stretch the Waterford lead to five with twenty two minutes on the clock.

Aisling Moloney made it a four point game seven minutes from the break, but Waterford wasted no time in further stretching their lead with points from Maria Delahunty, Katie Murray and Eimear Fennell with twenty eight minutes played.

In the first minute of added time, Maria Delahunty put the size four between the legs of Lauren Fitzpatrick in the Tipperary goal for the first goal game, but the visitors quickly responded with a goal of their own with the next attack which gave Waterford a 1-11 to 1-14 lead at the interval.

Waterford bossed things on the scoreboard in the third quarter as they outscore their opponents four points to none between the thirty-first and forty-fifth minutes.

Maria Delahunty was first to score with a brace of points on thirty-six and forty-one minutes and Katie Murray and Lauren McGregor added to Waterford’s tally.

Aisling Moloney hit Tipperary’s first score of the second half on forty six minutes, but Maria Delahunty and Kelly-Ann Hogan would score for the home side before the visitors would score again.

Substitute Mairead Morrissey would hit a second Tipperary goal four minutes from time as she reacted quickest to a ball that came off the metalwork and she was in the right place to palm the size four football past Gráinne Kenneally, and three minutes later Aisling Moloney would land Tipperary’s last score, a point.

Waterford would add to their tally before the final whistle as the Ryan sisters Sinead and Michelle would land late scores to give Waterford a double digit victory.

Michelle.

WATERFORD: Gráinne Kenneally; Aisling Mullaney, Megan Dunford, Kate McGrath; Michelle McGrath, Emma Murray, Mairead Wall; Karen McGrath, Katie Murray; Aoife Murray, Geraldine Power, Aileen Wall; Lauren McGregor, Eimear Fennell, Maria Delahunty. Subs: Keeley Barry-Corbett for Aisling Mullaney, Michelle Ryan for Geraldine Power, Sinead Ryan for Eimear Fennell, Kelly-Ann Hogan for Aileen Wall, Laura Cusack for Mairead Wall, Liz Devine for Aoife Murray, Kate Hahessy for Lauren McGregor.  

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 1-6 (0-3F), Eimear Fennell 0-4 (1F), Katie Murray 0-3, Lauren McGregor 0-2, Geraldine Power, Kelly Ann Hogan, Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Siobhan Condon, Maria Curley, Emma Buckley; Brid Condon, Samantha Lambert, Laura Dillon; Niamh Lonergan, Orla O’Dwyer; Kate Davey, Aisling Moloney, Caoimhe Condon; Jen Grant, Gillian O’Brien, Roisin Howard. Subs: Grainne Condon for Emma Buckley, Aoibhe O’Shea for Niamh Lonergan, Sarah Everard for Orla O’Dwyer, Mairead Morrissey for Laura Dillon, Anna Rose Kennedy for Kate Davey, Shauna Quirke for Caoimhe Condon.

Scorers: Aisling Moloney 0-4 (2f), Orla O’Dwyer, Mairead Morrissey 1-0 each, Caoimhe Condon, Niamh Lonergan 0-1 each.

REFEREE: Eamon Moran (Kerry)

Lots to Play For In Last Round of Games in Division Two of National Ladies Football League

The group section of this year’s Lidl Ladies National Football League draws to a conclusion this coming weekend when games which were called off a few weeks back owing to the bad weather conditions at the time are rescheduled.

For Waterford that means a game against table toppers Tipperary at Sean Treacy Park in Tipperary where the only thing to play for is to see which of these two terrific sides will top the table, as both sides in advance of this game secured their places in the semi finals, in which these two sides will be kept apart regardless of what happens in this game or in other games down for decision this coming weekend.

Tipperary go into this game with a one hundred per cent record from their six games played up to now, having recorded wins over Armagh, Laois, Tyrone, Cavan, Sligo and last weekend against Clare.

Waterford have dropped just three points in the league to date, that happening away to Tyrone in the opening round of fixtures, and since then they have beaten Clare, Laois, Sligo, Cavan and last weekend away to Armagh.

Had both sides not already reached the semi finals ahead of this game, going on this year’s result’s Waterford would have much preferred to have Tipperary travelling for the game.

While the Premier County side who won last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Championship have a one hundred per cent record in this competition, they have won their two games played at home to date by twenty one (Laois) and twenty four (Sligo) points, while they have found things much tougher on their travels, beating Armagh by two points, Tyrone and Cavan by three points and last time out against Clare by two points.

But Waterford are in fine form this year. In their only defeat to date they registered 2-11 on the scoreboard and in their other five games they again hit some impressive tallies winning by various margins from one point last weekend against Armagh scoring 2-9, the smallest tally they have registered this year to fourteen points which they beat Clare by in round two where the side scored 3-12.

The Premier County Ladies have impressed throughout the field this year. Their attacking players have hit an impressive fourteen goals and at the other end of the field the Premier Ladies have equally impressed conceding nine goals in their six games to date.

But Waterford has been equally as impressive. While Waterford have conceded four more goals that what Tipperary have, at the other end of the field Waterford have scored four more goals than what Tipperary have.

While Waterford has played at a higher grade than Tipperary in the last year or two, the two sides will know each other reasonably well.

The home side will have the likes of Mairead Morrissey, Jennifer Grant and Caoimhe Condon all from the Brian Borus Club, Sarah Everard and Niamh Lonergan from Moyle Rovers, Róisín Howard and Aisling Moloney from Cahir, Samantha Lambert from Ardfinnan, Brid Condon from Aherlow and of course Lauren Fitzpatrick who plays her club football with Ballymacarbry amongst their best players.

Waterford after a very good run last year in the championship where they reached the Munster Final where they narrowly lost out to Kerry at Mallow and put up a good showing against a Dublin side in the All-Ireland Quarter Final, a side that would go on to win the All-Ireland Final later in the Autumn.

Waterford will be looking to build on what they achieved last year and one way to do that would be to get out of Division Two of the National League this year and to play against the strongest sides in the country week in week out in the early part of year from next year on.

Waterford have a great mix of youth and experience in their set up with players like Gráinne Kenneally, Michelle and Karen McGrath, Michelle and Sinead Ryan, Emma, Emma, Aoife and Kate Murray, Aileen and Mairead Wall, Geraldine Power, Rebecca Casey, Megan Dunford, Kate McGrath, Maria Delahunty, Liz Devine, Lauren McGregor and Eimear Fennell who is in outstanding form for Waterford this year.

What sort of game will we see these two terrific sides fight out on Sunday afternoon in Tipperary town?

Right now it’s hard to tell. With both sides already through to the semi finals and with the possibility that they could meet again in the final will both sides want to show their full hand to the other this weekend.

Tipperary might want to end the campaign with a perfect record, and if this was to happen, one thing is for certain Waterford won’t be too put out, as they will know that when two sides meet in quick succession in Ladies Football and indeed the same happens in Camogie, the side that lose the first day is often the side that wins the second day, and this is something Waterford would much prefer, as would Tipperary if they were to lose on Sunday afternoon.

But in saying this, all sides would like to go into the knockout stages of a competition on the back of a win, and for this reason the question has to be asked, will there be any shadow boxing happening in this game.

A win for Waterford would see them head the group at the end of seven rounds of games by virtue of winning the head to head between the two sides as they both would finish the campaign on eighteen points each. Anything other than a Waterford win would see Tipperary finish the round robin section of the competition as table toppers, finishing four or six points better than Waterford.

A defeat for Waterford this weekend a win for Tyrone at home to Cavan would see Waterford drop to third place as Tyrone would top the pair by virtue of winning the head to head between the two sides.

Should Cavan beat Tyrone and as expected Armagh prove too strong away to Clare, then it would mean that Tyrone would drop out of the semi final positions, as both would finish with thirteen points while Tyrone would finish with twelve.

While Tipperary and Waterford to some degree might well prove to be a dead rubber game of sorts, elsewhere in the Division there is plenty to play for, including at the bottom of the table anything other than a win for Sligo at home to Laois would see them relegated and even a win might not save them from relegation as of Clare lose to Armagh all three sides would finish on three points, and the Connacht side have the inferior score difference by some distance if this was to happen.