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)