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,