Waterford Edge Closer To Knockout Qualification

Waterford are within touching distance of reaching the knockout stages of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship for the second year in a row after Donal O’Rourke’s side recorded a comprehensive win over Meath at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon last.

Donal O’Rourke’s sides ability to hit the back of the net in this game proved to be a major difference between the sides as they scored four in the opening half and turned around holding a 4-6 to 0-6 advantage on the scoreboard after Waterford put in a brilliant shift in the opening quarter in particular, but the home side did manage to draw closer in the second quarter.

With next Saturday’s home game with Clare now a very much win at all costs scenario when the sides clash at Walsh Park on Saturday with the game won from an early stage, the Waterford management team opted to take a number of key players off here, saving them having to play the full sixty minutes with next Saturday’s game in mind.

Waterford had a great start to this game with Fiona Morrissey, Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton putting over very early scores. The home side however would hit back with a Jane Dolan free and an effort from open play by Aoife Maguire to leave just the one between the sides with eight minutes on the clock.

Beth Carton hit the first of Waterford’s goals on nine minutes which put the visitors five in front and from there, there was no turning back.

The De La Salle player added a point from a free on 11 minutes before Annie Fitzgerald, one of the rising stars of the game within the Déise County netted a second goal for Waterford two minutes later which put sent the visitors into a commanding 2-4 to 0-2 lead.

Jane Dolan from a free reduced Waterford’s lead marginally on 16 minutes but with the next attack Waterford netted a third goal in this game as Gailltir’s Annie Fitzgerald got for herself her second of the afternoon.

The home side for the next ten minutes had the better of the exchanges when it came to scoring as Jane Dolan nailed two placed balls with Grace Coleman hitting one in between which left the home side trailing 3-4 to 0-6 with four minutes of the first half remaining.

Waterford however would finish the half strong as Sarah Lacey whose grandfather helped Waterford win the 1959 All-Ireland Final and who is making a name for herself in her first year playing senior inter county Camogie having from through from successful underage teams split the posts on 27 minutes and moments later Beth Carton netted her second and Waterford’s fourth goal of the game. The same player just before the break split the post to give Waterford a four clear goal cushion at the break.

The home side began the second half with Jane Dolan firing over three minutes after the restart and moments later Waterford had a chance to stretch their lead when Fiona Morrissey won a penalty, but Beth Carton saw her effort from 20 metres was stopped on the line.

Fiona Morrissey extended the Waterford lead with a point before Niamh Rockett who is playing the captain’s part to perfection this year netted Waterford’s fifth goal after 37 minutes.

After Beth Carton was replaced Niamh Rockett took over free taking duties and she split the posts with eight minutes remaining, but the home side would have finish slightly the better of the two as Jane Dolan and Megan Thyme split the posts before Niamh Rockett again split the posts from the 45 metre line with the hour played. Meath however would hit one more score from Aoife Minogue.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Kate Lynch, Iona Heffernan, Mairead Power; Caoimhe McGrath, Shona Curran, Lorraine Bray; Áine Lyng, Claire Whyte; Niamh Rockett, Fiona Morrissey, Ashling Power; Beth Carton, Annie Fitzgerald, Sarah Lacey.

Subs: Aoife Landers for Iona Heffernan, Áine Power for Annie Fitzgerald, Clodagh Carroll for Beth Carton.

Scorers: Beth Carton 2-3 (0-1F), Annie Fitzgerald 2-0, Niamh Rockett 1-3 (0-1f, 0-1 ’45), Fiona Morrissey 0-2, Sarah Lacey 0-1.

Meath: Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Claire Coffey, Maeve Clince; Áine Keogh, Cheyenne O’Brien, Louise Donoghue; Aoife Minogue, Aedin Slattery; Lisa Foley, Grace Coleman, Áine McNerney; Megan Thynne, Kane Dolan, Kristina Troy.

Scorers: Jane Foley 0-6 (0-4F, 0-1 ’45), Megan Thynne, Aoife Minogue 0-2 each, Grace Colman 0-1.

Referee: Fintan McNamara (Clare).