South East Derby at Walsh Park

Waterford welcomes National League Champions and near neighbours to Walsh Park on Saturday evening for their second game in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.

Both sides have just one game each played so far in this year’s competition.

Kilkenny began their campaign with a 2-18 to 0-11 win over Limerick at Bruff in the first round of games in the competition, while Waterford having got a bye in round one made the trip to Athenry for their round two game against Galway, where Donal O’Rourke’s side lost out on a 4-12 to 0-8 score line.

That result hardly gave a true reflection on this game as Waterford played much of that game with a numerical disadvantage having had Aoife Landers sent off on seventeenth minute, becoming the second player in a week to be sent off playing against the side from the western province, for a incident involving the same player on both occasions, after the Galway player in both incidents struck the player sent off before any action was taken by the officials.

This will be the second time that the two sides from the South East have clashed this year.

The pair clashed previously in the National League at Conahy where the home side ran out winners on a 1-14 to 0-8, but on that occasion Waterford were short the services of a number of players that normally would be expected to feature in the team from the off, and with a much stronger team likely to start this game, they would be expected to push their near neighbours much harder.

The Kilkenny side which Waterford will face on Saturday afternoon is a vastly experienced one.

Of the eighteen players which played a part in the recent win over Limerick, fifteen were used in the league final win over Cork earlier this year and fourteen were used in last year’s All-Ireland Final defeat to Cork at Croke Park.

The Cats will be able to call on players like Emma Kavanagh in goal, Collette Dormer, Catherine Foley, Michelle Teehan, Claire Phelan, Anne Dalton and Davina Tobin in defence, while the centre field pairing of Meighan Farrell and Denise Gaule will need no introduction to anyone that follows the Camogie scene.

In attack Kilkenny are really strong and will be able to call on the likes of Katie Power, Julie Ann Malone, Shelly Farrell, Anna Farrell, Michelle Quilty, Miriam Walsh, Danielle Morrissey and Edwina Keane will all take some watching by the Waterford defence.

Waterford have made great strides in recent years in the world of Camogie and Donal O’Rourke’s side will be well prepared for this game and will not go into the game fearing Kilkenny with all they have won, but will very much respect them.

At Full strength Waterford will be picking between Brianna O’Regan and Ciara Jackman in goal. Either of these two young keepers would walk onto any side and the Waterford management team will have to decide which gets the nod in this game.

Because of Aoife Landers red card in the game against Galway, it would be expected that Claire Whyte will come into the side for this came in the half back line, while Mairead Power, Iona Heffernan, Sibheal Harney, Shauna Kiernan and Áine Lyng would be expected to fill the other positions in defence.

In the middle of the field Lorraine Bray and Niamh Rockett could well feature. These is a pairing that would put fear into most sides, with both having very impressive years up to now.

In attack Beth Carton is the player that often makes the headlines with her scoring ability, but the side are by no means dependant on her for scores as in the lines of Catriona McGlone, Fiona Morrissey, Deirdre Fahey, Kate McMahon, Annie Fitzgerald, Kaiesha Tobin, Aisling Power, Claire Murphy etc. Waterford has players of some ability.

Kilkenny will go into this game as the favourites to pick up a second win in the competition, but Waterford will not fear them.

It could be argued that Waterford pulled the two longest straws when this year’s championship fixtures were made out playing Galway and Kilkenny in their first two games.

But it could also be argued that Waterford drew the shortest straws as well as after this game they have Limerick and Clare to play, and should Waterford win both of these two latter games, then they should finish with enough points to win a place in the quarter finals of the championship, as three teams from the group of five advance to the knockout stages of the competition, and if Waterford were to do this, they would enter the knockout stages of the competition on a high and who knows what could happen after that.

Farney Men Prove Too Strong For Waterford in Dungarvan Sunshine

            The gulf between Division’s One and Four in the National Football League was clear for all to see at Fraher Field today as Monaghan who narrowly missed out on reaching the League Final earlier this year proved too strong for a Waterford side playing its third championship game this year and who were denied the chance of playing out their National League campaign by those holding power in the corridors of Croke Park who earlier this year declared Waterford’s game with Leitrim null and void when it was twice called off owing to weather conditions on the weekend the game was to be played.

            Over 3,000 people made their way to Fraher Field for this game, easily the biggest attendance at the venue in some years, many travelling down from Ulster for the weekend spending time in Dungarvan, Waterford City or Clonmel generating unexpected funds to the local community.

            Many turned up at the venue to see Conor McManus, Monaghan’s best player in the last number of years at close hand, but they would be left somewhat disappointed on the day as he was gunned down by Waterford’s Thomas O’Gorman easily one of the best man markers in the county, as he held the Monaghan man scoreless from play and was withdrawn from the action with a quarter of an hour to play, but it must be said that at this stage the game was well and truly over from a Waterford perspective.

This game in fact was over for Waterford well before Derek O’Mahony who made the short journey from Ardfinnan to take charge of this game blew his half time whistle.

The visiting side had fifteen different scorers in this game had six points on the scoreboard before Kieran Power opened Waterford’s account on the quarter of an hour mark.

 Colin Walshe opened the visitors account in the first minute and they added further scores from Vinny Corey, Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, Conor McManus and Darren Hughes before the talent Dungarvan Club footballer scored.

Gavin Crotty and Jack McCarron swapped scores for their respective sides before the visitors hit the first of their goals on 21 minutes when Conor McManus beat Stephen Enright from the penalty spot after Ryan McAnespie was fouled inside the Waterford box.

Ryan McAnespie, Rory Beggan, Conor Murray and Jason Curry all swapped scores by the twenty-ninth minute keeping the visitors well in front (1-9 to 0-4), but they would finish without easing up and conserving energy in the scorching heat.

Karl O’Connell took on three defenders before blasting for a second Monaghan goal three minutes from time. Niall Kearns and Darren Hughes kicked points before Fintan Kelly finished to the net for a third Monaghan goal just before the break at which point his side held a 3-13 to 0-4 lead.

The third quarter proved to be an even contest. Conor Boyle and Jason Curry swapped early scores before Jack McCarron gave his side a 3-13 to 0-4 lead.

Jason Curry put over a brace of frees to eat slightly into the Monaghan lead, but sadly for Waterford this was as good as it got.

Conor McCarthy and Dessie Mone before the latter player finished to the net on fifty two minutes for a fourth goal for the visitors but not before Michael Curry had twice bravely blocked down the ball in the build up.

Niall Kearns, Conor McCarthy and David Garland added points for the side playing in a changed blue strip before Shane Carey who entered the game at the break palmed the ball to the net for a fifth goal for the visitors from a Conor McCarthy pass.

Jack McCarron, David Garland and Rory Beggan hit late scores for the visiting side, with Stephen Prendergast and Jack Mullaney hitting consolation scores for the home side before the final whistle in this game.

While it has to be accepted that the present day inter county players are not in favour of a two or even three tier All-Ireland Football Championship one has to wonder what seeing the county suffer a twenty seven point loss to Monaghan today and last night’s mauling by Kerry of the Counties under twenty side will do for the county going forward when it comes to football, as surely some of the talent young footballers coming through from the under 14, 16 and minor ranks will be asking questions of themselves as to whether it’s worth donning the White and Blue shirt in the years to come.

We have different tiers in hurling and it works and we also have different tiers in the ladies codes. In Ladies football for example there is just twelve teams competing this year for the Brendan Martin Cup and in truth on a given day any of the twelve sides are capable of beating the other, or at least give each other a game. Can we say the same about the men’s game of football right now.

Surely someone will have to decide to push for the hard decisions to be made. Maybe if counties don’t want to play in a Tommy Murphy style competition for the so called weaker counties, they could as in Camogie and Ladies Football grade teams in accordance to how they fared over the last number of years and play off a championship as Junior, Intermediate and Senior teams and make counties earn the right to play in the top flight against the stronger sides and the better players, by winning their way through different competitions.

It should not always be what is best for the players right now, but for the game going into the future. I know many will not agree with my line of thought, but maybe it is worth debating where we as a county and indeed other counties are going in the meeting rooms up and down the county with the associations members.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Barry Kerr, Conor Boyle, Drew Wylie; Fintan Kelly, Colin Walshe, Vinny Corey; Niall Kearns, Darren Hughes; Conor McManus, Dermot Malone, Karl O’Connell; Conor McCarthy, Jack McCarron, Ryan McAnespie.

Subs: Shane Carey for Drew Wylie (H-T), Ryan Wylie for Vinny Corey (H-T), Dessie Mone for Colin Walshe (44), Neil McAdam for Darren Hughes (44), Kieran Duffy for Barry Kerr (44, BC), David Garland for Conor McManus (55).

Scorers: Conor McManus (1-0 pen, 1f), Dessie Mone 1-1 each, Jack McCarron 0-4 (3fs), Karl O’Connell, Fintan Kelly, Shane Carey 1-0 each, Conor McCarthy 0-3, David Garland (1f), Rory Beggan (2fs), Niall Kearns, Darren Hughes 0-2 each, Vinny Corey, Ryan McAnespie, Barry Kerr, Colin Walshe 0-1 each.

Waterford: Stephen Enright; Brian Looby, James McGrath, Aidan Trihy; Shane Ryan, Michael Curry, Thomas O’Gorman; Tommy Prendergast, Kieran Power; Gavin Crotty, Dylan Guiry, Conor Murray; Jack Mullaney, JJ Hutchinson, Jason Curry.

Subs: Stephen Prendergast for James McGrath (42), Joe Allen for Dylan Guiry (42), Mark Cummins, for Brian Looby (54), Joey Veale for Jason Curry (57), Eoin O’Brien for JJ Hutchinson (65), Michael Kiely for Aidan Trihy (70)

Scorers: Jason Curry 0-4 (4fs), Jack Mullaney, Stephen Prendergast, Kieran Power, Gavin Crotty, Conor Murray 0-1 each.

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).

Difficult Task for Waterford Footballers

Fraher Field is set to have a bumper capacity tomorrow afternoon when Tom McGlinchey’s Waterford Senior Football team take on Monaghan in the second round of qualifiers in this year’s All-Ireland Football Championship.

When the draw for the first round was made, Waterford certainly drew one of the shorter straws when they were paired with Wexford, even if they had to travel to play the game in the Yellow Bellies own back garden, but after the brilliant win in that game they drew one of the longer straws in this round of the competition.

Few if any will give Waterford any chance in this game, and why would they after all.

The Ulster side played in the first tier of the National Football League earlier this year and narrowly missed out in a place in the final, despite drawing with Mayo in their first game and recording wins over Kildare, Kerry, Tyrone, Donegal and most famously Dublin along the way.

That win over Dublin in the last round of games, albeit an under strength Dublin side was their first over the Sky Blues since 2006 and their first ever win over them at G.A.A. Headquarters.

In the Ulster Championship they recorded a win over Tyrone (1-18 to 1-16) in the Ulster Quarter Final but were surprised in the semi final when they lost out to Fermanagh on a 1-8 to 0-10 score line.

Monaghan are the second most successful side in Ulster when it comes to winning the Ulster Championship with sixteen wins, twenty one wins behind run away leaders Cavan on the Roll of Honour, with their most recent win coming in 2015 when they beat Donegal 0-11 to 0-10, and come to Dungarvan having named a very strong starting fifteen for the game.

They have played nine competitive games in league and championship this year and goalkeeper Rory Beggan and Centre Field player Niall Kearns having played in all of these games, while the other thirteen players that they have named have played a part in seven or eight of the nine competitive games played, so have a very settled look to the team.

In defence they have named Kieran Duffy at right corner back with Drew and Ryan Wylie named at full back and left corner back respectfully.

The Monaghan half back line of Dessie Mone, Vinny Corey and Karl O’Connell look a strong unit as does Niall Kearns and Darren Hughes in the middle of the field.

In attack Ryan McAnespie, Dermot Malone and Fintan Kelly will look to cause the Waterford half back line problems while the inside forward line of Cormac McCarthy, Jack McCarron and Conor McManus looks very dangerous.

The importance of a disciplined performance by Waterford cannot be highlighted enough as with the visitor’s site they have a number of quality free takers including goalkeeper Rory Beggan who has amassed some impressive tallies on the score sheet so far this year when kicking placed balls.

At the time of compiling this piece, no Waterford team is named, but it could be envisaged that most if not all of the side that started in the win over Wexford will start this game.

That will mean Stephen Enright starting between the posts, with Aidan Trihy, Stephen Prendergast and James McGrath playing in front of him with Brian Looby, Michael Curry and Shane Ryan completing the back line.

Should the team that started against Wexford get the nod to start this game, then that will mean that Tommy Prendergast and Kieran Power will line up in the middle of the field, while in attack Gavin Crotty, Dylan Guiry and Conor Murray starting in the half forward line with Jason Curry, JJ Hutchinson and Jack Mullaney starting in the inside forward line.

However many would expect Thomas O’Gorman to get a run from the start in this game somewhere in defence. The tough tattling Nire man is one of the best man markers in the county and could well be asked to come in and make life difficult for one or more of the Monaghan forwards, while Joe Allen who replaced Gavin Crotty the last day after he picked up a black card might also be expected to start as he kicked a crucial goal in that win following some good work by Tommy Prendergast.  

While many will give Waterford no chance to get something from this game, I for one will know that playing Dungarvan at Fraher Field is never easy for any side.

I know I for one have said on more than one occasion that there should be at least two tiers of football in the championship, and I am hoping and praying that I will not have to make similar claims again after this game.

God knows, Waterford football needs a good showing and needs a big win over one of the bigger and better footballing sides to show that football in Waterford is nowhere near as poor as some claim it is.

Will that win come in Fraher Field tomorrow. I am hoping more than expecting that it will happen, but who knows, if Waterford can get a huge local support into the ground and to roar this team on, then who knows what will happen.

There is some that claimed that the win over Wexford in the last round of the competition, but I would not make such claims, as I expected Waterford to win that game, playing against a side that were of equal strength to Waterford. If Waterford were to win tomorrow in Fraher Field and advance to the next phase of the competition, then that would be a shock result.

Will it happen, well as i said I am hoping more than expecting that it will happen, but then again I know playing in Fraher Field can be a daunting task for many sides and let us hope from a Waterford perspective that it can happen.

 

 

This Is Not the End, it’s Only The Beginning

“This is not the end, it’s only the beginning” the words of Waterford Captain Shauna Kiernan in the Sunday Game’s Round up of the events on Camogie this past weekend.

With an attitude like this you can only feel that this Waterford team will learn and are willing to learn from each game they play in a bit to become a better side.

Regular readers of what I have to say on this site will know that i recently said that if this Waterford Camogie Team believe in their own ability anything is possible, and I think that they showed this here on Saturday evening.

The first half did not go the way of Waterford. Questions have to be asked of what happened in those opening thirty minutes, not of Waterford it must be said, but once team Manager Donal O’Rourke who has in the past number of months added greatly to this panel, got his charges together, to rethink things through, to reshape the team as best they could, in the second half the Déise Ladies were more than a match for their more experienced opponents.

All of the talk on that same Sunday Game programme centred around how Kilkenny and Galway are the best two teams in Group A of this year’s Senior Camogie Championship, and they possibly are, but the talk was also how Clare and Limerick would be fighting it out for the third place in the group, and therefore winning a place in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals, but maybe people even at this early stage are writing off Waterford who in all honesty are more than capable of fixing it with both Clare and Limerick, and could also cause problems for Kilkenny in the sides next game, which is due to be played at Walsh Park at the end of the month.  

There was no joy for Waterford in their first game of this year’s All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship as they went under to a strong Galway side at Kenny Park in Athenry on a 4-12 to 0-8 score line.

The home side had the added advantage of a game a week previous to this game, when they overcame the challenge of neighbours Clare at Pearse Stadium, winning by ten points on the day, while Waterford were without a competitive outing since running Cork close in the Munster Championship at Modeligo back in April, but Donal O’Rourke’s side did manage to get a number of challenge games in after that game in the run up to their All-Ireland Championship opener on Saturday last.

Waterford played the majority of this game with a numerical disadvantage after Aoife Landers received a straight red on seventeen minutes from County Cork referee Cathal Egan after the An Rinn Club player who is by no means a dirty player hit back at Aoife Donohue had struck the Déise player.

It was interesting to learn that there was an incident with the same player in the Tribes Ladies when over Clare, as she apparently again hit out at an opponent but was not caught by the officials, but when the Clare player decided to hit back she was caught by the officials.

The home side were always on top in this game and were best served by Carrie Dolan a member of their minor side last year who finished the game with 1-8 behind her name and is clearly a player that many will be keeping an eye out for in the years to come.

She opened the scoring for her side on ninety second and they added further scores from Aoife Donohue and Dolan would add another score on three minutes, this time resulting in a green flag being waved, before Niamh Rockett pointed for Waterford on Five minutes.

Dolan scored again on six minutes before Ailish O’Reilly netted a second goal for the home side on thirteen minutes.

Two minutes later Orlaith McGrath again finished past Ciara Jackman, shortly before the controversial sending off of Aoife Landers.

The second quarter of this game proved to be an even enough contest, but it was no real surprise to see the home side with their numerical advantage, extend their lead by the break.

Ailish O’Reilly and Beth Carton from a free traded score’s for their respective sides before the home side landed to late scores through Aoife Donohue and Carrie Dolan to send their side in at the break leading 3-6 to 0-2.

Waterford started the second half brightly as Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton hit scores inside four minutes of the restart, with Carrie Dolan pulling one back in between.

Carrie Dolan and Beth Carton swapped scores from frees, before Carrie Dolan and Áine Lyng did likewise, followed with another exchange between Beth Carton and Beth Dolan.

There was another exchange of scores between Beth Carton and Niamh McGrath, before Carrie Dolan pointed deep in stoppage time to give her side the points on offer in this game.

Galway: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, Sarah Dervan, Tara Kenny; Róisín Black, Heather Cooney, Lorraine Ryan; Anne Marie Starr, Catriona Cormican; Niamh McGrath, Rebecca Hennelly, Aoife Donohue; Carrie Dolan, Orlaith McGrath, Ailish O’Reilly.

Scorers: Carrie Dolan 1-8 (0-6F), Ailish O’Reilly 1-2, Aoife Donohue 1-1, Orlaith McGrath, Niamh McGrath 0-1

Waterford: Ciara Jackman; Mairead Power, Iona Heffernan, Sibheal Harney; Shauna Kiernan, Áine Lyng, Aoife Landers; Niamh Rockett, Lorraine Bray; Catriona McGlone, Deirdre Fahy, Kate McMahon; Beth Carton, Annie Fitzgerald, Kaiesha Tobin. Sub: Kate Lynch for Mairead Power, Claire Whyte for Kate McMahon, Orla Hickey for Sibeal Harney.

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-5 (5F), Niamh Rockett 0-2, Áine Lyng 0-1 (F)

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)

Historic Day for the Brick

            Sometime after tomorrow’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship game between Waterford and Cork at Thurles, Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh is expected to announce that he has played his last every competitive game of hurling for the county that he has served so faithfully for a decade and a half.

            But it might not be really be a surprise to find out that there is no fanfare announcement.

            In recent times many inter county players in both hurling and football when they take time away from the game or decide to call a day to their playing career issue a carefully crafted statement through their county board, announcing that ‘Player X’ has decided following consultation with the county manager that he intends to travel for some while, or is taking time out to finish his studies, while some of told us that following much deliberations ‘Player Y’ has told their county manager that they no longer want to be considered for selection for whatever reason, often because of having young families and the time they spend away from them when you are an inter county player.

            But not all players go down this road. Some players seem to bow out of the inter county scene and indeed the club scene without any fanfare. Yes, many people will know that they are calling time on their inter county or club playing careers, but there is no big announcements.

            It would be no real surprise to see the Stradbally club man decide to go down this road, should Sunday be the last time we see him in the White and Blue of Waterford in a competitive game for the last time.

            Whenever the Stradbally club man does call time on his inter county career, he and indeed the thousands of people that have seen him hurl for Waterford over the past fifteen years can look back on what was a marvellous career.

            In his time as a Waterford senior hurler we have seen him win three Munster Senior Hurling winners medals, two National League Medals, play in two All-Ireland Finals, and win four Hurling All-Stars.

            Before winning any of these titles, the Stradbally club man who completed his education he helped Waterford Institute of Technology win three Fitzgibbon Cup titles (2003, 2004 and 2006) while studying Business and Finance.

            In may come as a surprise to some that the Stradbally man was part of the Waterford Senior Football Set up before he was invited to the hurling panel by the then Waterford Manager Justin McCarthy in 2003 having seen something special in him.

            He played two championship games for the Déise County goals in both games, first against Clare and later against Roscommon.

            In 2003, he won his first honours in a White and Blue shirt and again it was in football as he helped his side win a Munster Under 21 Championship, beating a Kerry side that included Colm Cooper, Bryan Sheehan, Declan Quill and Declan O’Sullivan in the Provincial Final. Sadly for football in Waterford, no great work was done after this win to really promote and push football in the Déise County. In the All-Ireland semi final, Waterford had to settle for second best against Dublin.

            It was in 2003 that he made his championship debut for Waterford coming on as a sub for Tony Browne in a win over Kerry. Twelve months later he helped Waterford win a Second Munster final in three years, this time against Cork in Thurles in what has often being described as the best ever Munster Senior Hurling final.

            In 2007 Justin McCarthy named the Stradbally man as his captain, and Waterford under his leadership won a first National League Final since 1963. Waterford also won the Munster Final again that same year and played Limerick in the All-Ireland semi final, but playing three weekends in a row, two against Cork in a quarter final and a replay many claim took a lot out of Waterford for that game against Limerick who went on to win the game.

            The Stradbally man would help his side go that one step further in 2008 and contest an All-Ireland Final against Kilkenny, but Waterford on the day were to suffer a heavy loss to their near neighbours.

            The Stradbally man would however get to contest one more All-Ireland as he was instrumental in helping Waterford reach last year’s final against Galway, but again defeat was to be Waterford’s lot on the day.

            There would be some that would say that the tactics used in both finals were to be Waterford’s downfall and had Waterford been able to play hurling as they can, then the Stradbally man would have at least one All-Ireland medal in his collection now.

            In between his two All-Ireland Final appearances Michael Walsh won another Munster Medal, helping Waterford under the guidance of Davy Fitzgerald to win the final of 2010 after a replay and the first to finish under the floodlighting at Semple Stadium.

            While it is expected that this weekend will be the last time we will see him play a competitive hurling game in the White and Blue, we can be certain that he will be playing in the Red and White of Stradbally for some time to come.

            He is a key player for the Covesiders since his teenage years and has helped his side to win ten County Senior Football Championships since the turn of the Millennium.

            His club currently site joint top of the roll of honour with Dungarvan for Championships won (19 each) and should he help his side win again this year it will make them the most successful football side in the Déise County ever. But he and his teammates will know that there will be a lot of clubs that will want to make them wait that little bit longer yet before that can claim that accolade.

            For many years former Cork great Christy Ring made the most championship appearances for his county, playing for the rebels sixty five times between 1940 and 1962.

            Since then, thanks in no small part to a restructuring of the championships and giving players at least two games to play each year, players like Tony Browne who hurled for Waterford between 1992 and 2014 equalled the record set by the Cork man, while Kilkenny great JJ Delaney between 2001 and 2014 played one more game than Christy Ring and Tony Browne, another Kilkenny great Henry Shefflin made seventy one championship appearances between 1999 and 2014, two short of the current record held by former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins between 1995 and 2013.

            But on Sunday afternoon when the ball is thrown in at Thurles Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh who equalled the Tipperary mans appearance record last Sunday will become that player that made most championship appearances for his county when he lines out for the seventy fourth time.

            Should the Stradbally club man bow out of the game at this level after Sunday’s game, it’s fair to say that we will do so not just as a Waterford hurling legend, but as a hurling legend in general.

Waterford Ladies Begin Quest To Reach Croke Park

The following appeared in the Munster Express this week with some editing done here.

 

Waterford Senior Camogie Team begin their quest for All-Ireland Glory this coming Sunday when they make the long journey west to take on what will be a much fancied Galway side.

This is Waterford’s third year playing in the top flight of Camogie after winning the Intermediate All-Ireland Final back in 2015 against Kildare at Croke Park.

In that time Waterford have done remarkably well in that time, making progress each year, but there is something different happening this year.

In the past two campaigns Waterford were more fighting relegation to the second tier of the National League again after playing in the top flight since winning the Division two final in 2015 against Laois at a very wet Dr Cullen Park, but in this past league under the guidance of Donal O’Rourke his charges challenged strong and missed out on a place in the semi finals of the league on score difference, having drawn with Limerick the second side from the group which they contested to reach the knockout stages of the competition, in the last round of games.

If you were to ask anyone associated with the panel or who have seen them playing at any time since he took over the reign’s they will tell you that the Cappoquin club man has the side completely playing within their comfort zone, and playing a brand of Camogie which gets the best out of the side.

In the last number of years there have been many changes of management and each manager tried to bring into the group of players something new, which all players will possibly tell you that not everyone bought in to, but each and every one of the players seem to be rowing in the one direction under O’Rourke.

As pointed out Waterford had an excellent league campaign in 2018 losing just one game a defeat away to Kilkenny, on a day when over half of the first choice team were missing for different reasons.

Wins were recorded over Meath and Dublin and draws were recorded against Clare and Limerick.

Since the league finished Waterford have worked hard and played Cork in the Munster Championship at Modeligo where they played some brilliant Camogie against the All-Ireland Champions and the side beaten by Kilkenny in the League Final a few weeks before this game, but had to settle for second best.

Nobody in the Waterford camp will be talking about winning the championship at this point, but it’s fair to say and think that all will think that it is possible.

For that to happen Waterford will have to finish in the top three in their group in the championship which depending on where they finish up will give them an All-Ireland Quarter Final place if they finish second or third or an All-Ireland Semi Final placing if they were to win the group.

For now Waterford will know to reach the knockout stages of the competition would be seen as progress made again this year and with a youthful look to the side, can only give the side plenty of hope for the years ahead.

And if Waterford were to reach the knockout stages of the competition, in a knockout game anything is possible.

Nobody will need telling that in Galway they have a very difficult opening game.

The Tribes Ladies reached the semi final of the league earlier this year where they lost out by four points against Kilkenny.

To reach that semi final Galway lost one of their four games in the round robin section of the competition, a 0-13 to 1-3 loss to Cork in the first round of games but managed to beat Tipperary, Offaly and Wexford in their following games.

Since then, unrest in the panel saw Tony O’Donovan removed as manager just days after his side lost to Kilkenny, after losing a no confidence vote by the players, thereby forcing his resignation.

In addition to reaching the League semi finals earlier this year, Waterford’s opponents this Sunday reached the All-Ireland semi final last year where they lost out to a Cork side who went on to beat Kilkenny in the decider.

Donal O’Rourke and his charges will know that there is plenty of talent in the Galway camp and they will have to work hard to get something from the game.

Noreen Coen, Aoife Donohue and Ailish O’Reilly could well feature in a very dangerous Galway full forward line. In the round robin section of last year’s Championship, Galway were the top scorers with the above three players sharing 6-43 between them.

But there is plenty of talent in other sections of the field as well. Sarah Dervan is an excellent full back, Róisín Black is excellent in the half back line, in the middle of the field Ann Marie Starr and Finola Keely work very hard together while in attack the likes of Rebecca Hennelly, Niamh McGrath and Maria Cooney will also test Waterford.

It will be interesting to see what fifteen that Waterford will start with. In the league and the Munster Championship Brianna O’Regan and Ciara Jackman shared goalkeeping duties.

In defence the likes of Aoife Landers, Claire Whyte, Mairead Power, Iona Heffernan, Áine Lyng and Sibeal Harney are all likely to feature in defence while in the middle of the field team Captain Shauna Kieran and the every liable Lorraine Bray could once more team up.

In attack Waterford are somewhat spoiled for choice. Beth Carton is almost certain to start. Another player that you would expect to start is Niamh Rockett who is having an absolute brilliant year for club and county. Kaiesha Tobin and Annie Fitzgerald are relativity new to this standard of Camogie but they would be more than capable of serving up a big performance if asked to play, while the likes of Deirdre Fahey, Fiona Morrissey, Caithriona McGlone and Aisling Power could also feature in the opposition half of the field.

This Waterford panel of players and the mentors that work with it, as well as those that have seen the players in action in recent times will know that they face a big ask to win this game, but no stone will be left unturned in a bid to do so, including an overnight stay away from home the night before the game to cut down the travelling on the day. But this is a game that Waterford could win and to see them do so would not be the surprise it would have been a year or two ago.

I am expecting Waterford to push Galway hard and firmly believe that a result can be obtained in this game.

Full marks must go to all that made it possible to send the team on their way this evening to cut down travelling tomorrow. Right now there is a great Waterford County Board, and even greater management team and an even greater still panel of players, who for many years are giving their all for the white and blue shirt of Waterford, and the work that they are putting in often goes un-noticed by many. They deserve all the help and support they can get each time they play and those that turn up to support them on the field and in the different fundraisers that they hold to raise funds to prepare different teams also deserve great praise.

Waterford Panel:

Gailltir Players: Ciara Jackman, Áine Lyng, Annie Fitzgerald, Kate Lynch, Shauna Fitzgerald, Clodagh Carroll, Emma Roche

Saint Anne’s Players: Sibeal Harney, Niamh Rockett, Claire Whyte,

Ferrybank Players: Iona Heffernan,

Piltown Players: Mairead Power, Áine Power,

Lismore Players: Shauna Kiernan (Captain), Caithriona McGlone, Marie Russell,

An Rinn Players: Aoife Landers, Deirdre Fahy, Fiona Morrissey,

Cappoquin Players: Lorraine Bray, Aisling Power, Jenny McCarthy,

De La Salle Players: Beth Carton, Briana O’Regan,

Dungarvan Players: Kaiesha Tobin, Orla Hickey,

Butlerstown Players: Kate McMahon, Sadie Mai Rowe,

Tramore Players: Ciara Griffin,

Modeligo Players: Mary Kate Curran,

Limerick trounce disappointing Waterford

            Waterford’s interest in this year’s Munster and All-Ireland Hurling Championship has come to an end with one game to play after they failed to win for the third championship game in a row this year, going under to what is a very strong Limerick side that had thirteen points to spare at the end of the seventy minutes.

            Overall 2018 has proven to be a hugely disappointing year for Waterford’s senior hurling side.

            Just last September Waterford ran Galway to within three points in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park, and knowing that the bulk of that panel and maybe with one or two new faces added to the panel, hopes were high with many that maybe 2018 might just see Waterford’s long famine without an All-Ireland Final win dating back to 1959 come to an end.

            But while some had high hopes of Waterford ending their long run without an All-Ireland, a period in which we saw all of Waterford’s Munster Rivals win at least one final at Croke Park since Waterford last won on All-Ireland Final day, there was and there is a sizeable amount of longstanding Waterford supporters who had deep reservations about the direction were going, and to a degree those that had such reservations have been proven right, even if that might not go down well in the eyes of some supporters.

            To hear the manager of the side after confirming that he would be staying on after last year’s All-Ireland Final say that he would not live in fear of being relegated from this year’s league very much angered many of the Waterford support and further supported their views that maybe the squad was not being moved in the right direction, despite the panel having some fine players, many of whom had won Minor and Under 21 All-Ireland medals, Munster under 21 medals and also Munster and All-Ireland Colleges medals from some years back.

            To see Waterford relegated the way the side were earlier this year was hugely disappointing to many supporters. In the eyes of many the towel was thrown in far too early, and the way some games were lost was hugely disappointing.

            Each year sides can win two pieces of silverware at a National Level, and the league is one of them, (the All-Ireland being the other), and it would have been nice to see Waterford go out to win the competition.

            Last year Galway won a clean sweep, winning the Walsh Cup (early season competition in Leinster), the League, the Leinster Championship and the All-Ireland, and I am sure that they will be the first to admit that each win, in each competition, spurred them on to win the next game and the next competition. Winning after all can become a habit, one that helps increase confidence in a side.

            We might be told one thing in public, and another in private, but I would love to know what the confidence was like in the Waterford set up when this year’s Munster championship started. I have a feeling that it might not be as it should have, when you consider that the side were relegated from the league a few weeks earlier and there is no guarantee that they will come straight back up next year.

            Injuries I know did not help Waterford this year, but we cant really use them as an excuse for Waterford bowing out of the competition so early this year, when you take into consideration that some of us speak so highly of the amount of talent we have in reserve.

            I would put Waterford’s early exit from the championship down to the fact that with the past number of years, Waterford are using a sweeper system, one that has not gone down well with many of Waterford’s longest supporters.

            Yes, this system was brought in for a particular purpose and it worked to an extent, but since the system began to be used only two players Tadhg Bourke and Darragh Fives played the role of the free man, and when both got injured in the same game and had to leave the field, Waterford were going to be in trouble as they had no readymade replacement to fill the role, even though they had a number of players who can play centre back.

            As a result of this win for Limerick it guarantee’s them a place in the All-Ireland quarter finals at least, along with Cork and Clare who also fill the top three places in the Munster group of the Round Robin section of the All-Ireland Championship, and they will know that if they can beat Clare next weekend in Ennis they will contest the Munster Final next month, which if they win they will advance to the All-Ireland semi finals.

            This game did start good for Waterford. Tom Devine opened the scoring with a point, but it was soon cancelled out with an effort from Cian Lynch. DJ Foran and Darragh O’Donovan from a sideline swapped scores to tie the scoring and it was looking as if Waterford could record a first win in this year’s Championship.

            But a crippling injury list was to get longer when the side lost Shane Fives with an injury early in this game, to be replaced by Shane McNulty.

            But the home side soon began to get on top as Shane Dowling hit three points in a row to give his side a three point lead.

            And things would get better for the home side when Seamus Flanagan with a sublime pass found Gearoid Hegarty who buried past Stephen O’Keeffe to give the home side a 1-5 to 0-2 lead.

            If that goal was to prove to be a blow for Waterford, the next Limerick score proved to be an even bigger blow as a rare Stephen O’Keeffe mistake saw Graeme Mulcahy pounce and push the ball over the goal line for a second Limerick goal.

            Dowling and Cian Lynch added further scores for the home side before Waterford hit the next three scores, Pauric Mahony putting over a brace of scores with one from Stephen Bennett in between to leave Waterford trailing 2-7 to 0-5.

            This in fact was the only time in this game when the visitors would hit three scores in a row. Back came Limerick with the next six scores, Tom Morrissey scoring twice with Kyle Hayes hitting one in between and was followed up with a Hat-trick of scores from Shane Dowling which opened up a 2-13 to 0-5 lead.

            Pauric Mahony responded with a brace of scores for Waterford, but Cian Lynch finished the first half with the last score of the half giving his side a 2-14 to 0-7 lead at the interval.

            Waterford needed a good start to the second half to get back into this game and they restarted brightly as Pauric Mahony put over an early free which was followed with a score from play off the stick of Stephen O’Keeffe.

            Shane Dowling and Kyle Hayes cancelled out Waterford’s early scores with points for the home side.

            Waterford brought Thomas Ryan into the action at the break and it looked as if the move was going to pay off when the Tallow man got inside the Limerick defence and finished past Nicky Quaid to leave nine between the sides.

            But Limerick sure as Night follows day hit back and it was no surprise to see Shane Dowling send the umpire reaching for the white flag to wave once more, when he landed another brace of scores and Seamus Flanagan got one to extend their side’s advantage on the score board.

            Pauric Mahony put over two points in a row, but they were cancelled out with efforts from Shane Dowling and David Dempsey as Limerick now lead 2-23 to 1-12.

            Maurice Shanahan another sub used by Waterford at the break got his name on the score sheet with a point, but it was goals that Waterford needed and they never really looked like they were going to happen, not on this day anyway.

            Pauric Mahony and Shane Dowling swapped scores before the respective top scorers for their respective sides in this game repeated the act moments later, keeping the home side thirteen points up.

            Dowling got his fifteenth of the game and his sides last score of the game moments from the end of this game and while Mikey Kearney would later score for Waterford it put a mere gloss on the score board.

Limerick: Nicky Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Darragh O’Donovan, Cian Lynch; Tom Morrissey, Kyle Hayes, Gearoid Hegarty; Seamus Flanagan, Shane Dowling, Graeme Mulcahy. Subs: David Dempsey for Gearoid Hegarty (54); Barry Murphy for Graeme Mulcahy (60); Will O’Donoghue for Darragh O’Donovan (64); Paul Browne for Cian Lynch, Barry Nash for Seamus Flanagan (both 69)

Scorers: S Dowling (0-15, 0-13 frees); G Hegarty (1-1); G Mulcahy (1-0); C Lynch (0-3); T Morrissey, K Hayes (0-2 each); S Flanagan, D Dempsey, D O’Donovan (0-1 each.

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Conor Gleeson, Noel Connors, Shane Fives; Philip Mahony, Austin Gleeson, Michael Walsh; Jamie Barron, Stephen Roche; Kevin Moran, Pauric Mahony, DJ Foran; Patrick Curran, Tom Devine, Stephen Bennett. Subs: Shane McNulty for Shane Fives (4); Maurice Shanahan for Patrick Curran, Thomas Ryan for Stephen Bennett (both HT); Jake Dillon for Stephen Roche (52); Mikey Kearney for Jamie Barron (65)

Scorers: Pauric Mahony (0-10, 0-9 frees); Thomas Ryan (1-0); Stephen O’Keeffe, DJ Foran, Tom Devine, Shane Bennett, Mikey Kearney, Maurice Shanahan (0-1 each).

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).