Forget Rocketman – It’s All about Rockett Woman

            The talk amongst film lovers in recent weeks is all about the Dexter Fletcher directed film Rocketman, a biographical musical film based on the life of British musician Elton John, but for those that saw Waterford record a first win in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship at Walsh Park on Saturday, the talk was not about Rocketman, but Rocketwoman.

            Anybody that is following the fortunes of the Waterford Camogie scene in recent years will only be too well aware that great work is being done within the game in the Déise County and that within the county there are players who can hold their own with anyone within the game, including those that play with what some would call the traditional super powers within the game.

As an example of this last year when Waterford narrowly missed out on a place in the National League semi finals and reached the All-Ireland quarter finals where they lost out to a more experienced Tipperary side, it was no real surprise to see Waterford with four players (Áine Lyng, Lorraine Bray, Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton) named as All-Star nominations. Maybe it was somewhat a bit of a surprise that Waterford had only four nominations, and it certainly was a surprise to some that Waterford had only one player (Beth Carton) named in the overall team of the year.

Last weekend it looked as if Waterford were going to record a memorable victory when they lead Tipperary with four minutes of normal time to play in the opening game in this year’s All-Ireland Championship, only for the game to be abandoned because of a serious injury to a Tipperary player. Had Waterford won that game it would have given the side coached by Donal O’Rourke plenty of coverage going into the remaining games in the group stages of the competition.

Because that game was not finished, (it will now take place next Saturday in Nowlan Park with the game having a 3pm start), it was imperative that Waterford against Dublin got their campaign off to a winning start and the side did so in an impressive manner.

On the day the Dublin defence kept a close eye on Waterford All-Star Beth Carton. This is something that most sides set out to do, and when they do and in a way succeed in what they set out to do, it gives the other players the chance to shine and be the Waterford Hero and on Saturday afternoon one player that really stood up to the mark was team Captain Niamh Rockett.

The brilliant Saint Anne’s player finished the game with 1-2 behind her name and could well have finished with more as she was involved in a lot of what Waterford did in the Dublin half of the field. Those that have read media reports in the last number of years will know that the brilliant Saint Anne’s player is lucky to be playing the game as she was told some years back that Injuries could force her to give up the game that she loves, but sometimes when you get news like this it can make you become more determined and it obviously has for Niamh.

But she was not the only Waterford player to impress on the day. While the Dublin backs were able to restrain Beth Carton somewhat from play by not allowing her to break free of their shackles she still finished the game with eight points behind her name.

Other Waterford players that stood out on the day were Brianna O’Regan on the day, Trish Jackman who is back in the side this year after three years away and at times her experience was clear to be seen, duel star Caoimhe McGrath was once again impressive, while Lorraine Bray and new comer this year Sarah Lacey also impressed, while veteran Áine Lyng covered a lot of ground before she was replaced in the second half.

Dublin had first use of the strong wind which blew from the city end of the ground, but it was the home side that had the better start as Niamh Rockett put over a fine score from the sideline on the bank side of the field with just 17 seconds played which was followed with an effort from Orla Hickey on two minutes and a delightful score from a tight angle off the stick of Beth Carton just second later.

Aisling Maher opened the visitors account on nine minutes and they followed it up with an effort by Orla Beagan on 16 minutes. Niamh Rockett however would stretch Waterford’s lead just seconds later following some good work by Beth Carton in the build up.

The game’s first goal came on 24 minutes. A high ball in around the Waterford goal was broken by Brianna O’Regan but she was not able to catch the dropping ball which fell to Kerrie Finnegan who made room for herself by moving out field with the sliotar from where she beat Brianna O’Regan with a well placed effort into the corner of the net.

This proved to be the last score of the half at the end of which the visitors retired to the dressing rooms at the break holding a 1-2 to 0-4 lead.

Waterford just as they had in the first half started the second half brightly with Beth Carton putting over a brace of frees inside three minutes of the restart to go one on front.

Aisling Maher levelled matters from a free on 35 minutes and two minutes later Dublin went back in front with an effort from Kerri Finnegan.

Beth Carton from a free pulled the sides level on 39 minutes and five minutes later she put Waterford in front from which point Donal O’Rourke’s side never trailed.

Aisling Maher levelled matters with 12 minutes left on the clock, but this was to prove to be the visitors last score of the game.

With eight minutes of the hour remaining a Trish Jackman sideline cut landed in around the Dublin goal which was broken down and Niamh Rockett was in the right place to collect and send the ball to the Dublin net giving Waterford a 1-8 to 1-5 advantage on the score board.

Beth Carton from a free four minutes later and then from a ’45 three minutes further on gave Waterford a 1-10 to 1-5 advantage, but with considerable time to be added by Cork Referee Cathal Egan there was still time for the visitors to get something from this game, that is of course they could get through what was a watertight like Waterford defence.

The visitors however were unable to break through the Waterford defence and four minutes into added time Waterford secured the win and at the same time helped improve their score difference on the league table in case that should come into play at the end of the round robin section of the competition, with an eight point off the stick of Beth Carton.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Kate Lynch, Iona Heffernan, Caoimhe McGrath; Sibheal Harney, Trish Jackman, Áine Lyng; Emma Hannon, Lorraine Bray; Niamh Rockett, Annie Fitzgerald, Keeley Corbett-Barry; Beth Carton, Orla Hickey, Sarah Lacey.

Subs: Claire Whyte for Áine Lyng (36), Clodagh Carroll for Keeley Corbett Barry (39), Mairead Power for Sibheal Harney (51), Aoife Landers for Annie Fitzgerald (63), Clara Griffin for Niamh Rockett (65).

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-8 (6f, 1 ’45), Niamh Rockett 1-2, Orla Hickey 0-1.

Dublin: Ciara Tierney; Deirdre Johnstone, Eve O’Brien, Orla Gray; Emma O’Byrne, Gráinne Quinn, Róisín Baker; Laura Twomey, Aisling Carolan; Ali Twomey, Aisling Maher, Ellen McGovern; Sinéad Wylde, Kerrie Finnegan, Orla Beagan

Subs: Martha O’Donoghue for Orla Gray (23), Siobhan Keogh for Ellen McGovern (41), Alex Griffin for Sinead Wylde (47), Emma Flanagan for Emma O’Byrne (62).

Scorers: Kerrie Finnegan 1-1, Aisling Maher 0-3 (3f), Orla Beagan 0-1.

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)