Gailltir Versus Saint Rynagh’s Mark Two

When Gailltir and Saint Rynagh’s from Offaly come out of the dressing rooms under the Cusack Stand just after 1pm  on Sunday next carefully descending one lot of steps before ascending another and onto the hallowed turf of Croke Park to contest the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Camogie Final, they do so as sides that will know much about each other.

399 days earlier the same two sides last met in the penultimate round of games in last year’s championship, a game that the Sky Blues won on a 3-8 to 0-12 score line. The ladies from the barony would end the competition disappointed losing out by the smallest possible margin in the All-Ireland Final to Down champions Clonduff 0-10 to 0-9 at the same venue.

This time around Gailltir will be hoping that they can go that one step further and become the first Camogie Club side from the Déise County to win at G.A.A. Headquarters and only the second overall following on from Ardmore’s win in the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship in the spring of 2018.

When the sides met in last year’s All-Ireland Semi Final at Leahy Park in Cashel the commitment and effort shown by both sides could not be questioned and more of the same is expected this time around.

While it was the Offaly side that hit the first score off the stick of Gráinne Dolan it was the Waterford Champions that settled the better of the two sides.

The Sky Blue’s first score was a telling one, one that resulted in the raising and waving of a green flag. Róisín Flood was the player to get on the score sheet for the Sky Blues after she reacted quickest to an initial shot from Clodagh Carroll was blocked.

And when Shauna Fitzgerald scored on ten minutes to put her side 1-2 to 0-2 in front it was beginning to look as maybe it would be the sky blues day, making up for the disappointment of losing out to  Eglish from Tyrone at the same stage of the competition at Ashbourne two years ago.

It was known before the game that Siobhan Flannery was the player that Gailltir would have to keep a very close eye on in this game and she kept the side from the midlands in touch right throughout this game finishing with seven points behind her name on the score sheet, all from frees.

Two scores from the full forward kept the midlander’s within touching distance of Gailltir but they were followed up with a crucial score off the stick of Emer Walsh from a tight angle.

Kate Kenny and Áine Lyng swapped scores for their respective sides to keep Gailltir 1-4 to 0-5 in front with 20 minutes on the clock. 

The midlander’s piled on the pressure in the closing minutes of the opening half, but were not able to break down the Gailltir defence was proved to be water tight on the day, as they turned around with a 1-6 to 0-7 lead showing on the score board.

Gailltir brought in Aoife Fitzgerald for Róisín Flood at the start of the second half, and they began brightly as Clodagh Carroll saw an effort go just wide.

After an Áine Lyng free went just wide of the uprights just as in the first half the Offaly side hit the first score of the second half, not surprisingly from a Siobhan Flannery free.

After winning the resulting restart Kate Lynch played in Annie Fitzgerald who saw her effort for a second Gailltir goal deflected out for a ’45 from which Áine Lyng made no mistake.

Gailltir did not have to wait long for a second goal. With 40 minutes of the game played Annie Fitzgerald won her side a penalty. Áine Lyng saw her effort saved but Ann Corcoran was on hand to fire to the net to put her side 2-7 to 0-8 in front.

Siobhan Flaherty fired over once more for Saint Rynagh’s to keep them in sight of Gailltir but the game was effectively over when Clodagh Carroll finished to the net for a third goal for the Sky Blues.

Gailltir pointed on 45 minutes through Annie Fitzgerald which proved to be her side’s last score of the game.

At the other end of the field Saint Rynagh’s created chances and were able to pick off some late scores but the goal that they needed to bring them back into this game never came their way.

Gailltir sent on Trish Jackman for the last few minutes of this game, a nice touch from the clubs management team considering all that she has achieved within in the game over a long number of years.

In stoppage time Saint Rynagh’s won a penalty which if converted would have proved to be a consolation score, but Ciara Jackman, a younger sister of Trish and a brilliant young goalkeeper was equal to the effort fired at her and was able to keep the shot of getting past her.

Gailltír: Ciara Jackman; Emily Mahony, Margo Heffernan, Claire Dunne; Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche, Hannah Flynn; Shauna Fitzgerald, Áine Lyng; Clodagh Carroll, Ann Corcoran, Kate Lynch; Roisin Flood, Annie Fitzgerald, Emer Walsh.

Subs: Aoife Fitzgerald for Roisin Flood (half time), Trish Jackman for Ann Corcoran (56).

Scorers: Roisin Flood 1-1, Annie Fitzgerald 0-3 (0-2f), Clodagh Carroll, Ann Corcoran 1-0 each, Áine Lyng 0-2 (1 ‘45), Shauna Fitzgerald, Emer Walshe 0-1 each.

St. Rynagh’s: Ellen Gilligan; Roisin Daly, Linda Sullivan, Trish Nugent; Ann Daly, Roisin Egan, Elaine Sullivan; Helen Dolan, Louise Mannion; Kate Kenny, Mairead Daly, Grainne Dolan; Sarah Pearl, Siobhán Flannery, Louise Flannery.

Scorers: Siobhán Flannery 0-7 (7f), Grainne Dolan 0-3, Kate Kenny 0-2

Referee: John McDonagh (Galway).

Agnes O’Farrelly to Make Return to the Déise County after Six Years

When Gailltir and Saint Rynagh’s from Offaly come out of the dressing rooms under the Cusack Stand just after 1pm  on Sunday next carefully descending one lot of steps before ascending another and onto the hallowed turf of Croke Park to contest the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Camogie Final, they do so as sides that will know much about each other.

399 days earlier the same two sides last met in the penultimate round of games in last year’s championship, a game that the Sky Blues won on a 3-8 to 0-12 score line. When the two sides last met there was no silverware on offer but what was on offer between the two sides was a place in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club final against Down champions Clonduff at G.A.A. Headquarters.

This time around there the stakes are much bigger for the winner if there is to be one on the day will take home with them the Agnes O’Farrelly Cup and should it be Gailltir they will become only the second Waterford Club to win it following on from Lismore in the spring of 2014 and the first to do so at Croke Park.

When the sides met at Cashel in their previous clash Gailltir emerged winners 3-8 to 0-12 and will be more than happy to take the same result this time around.

They come into this final on the back of a good string of results.

Last May the Sky Blues won retained the County Senior Camogie League title beating arch rivals De La Salle in the final 3-21 to 3-17 at the WIT Arena in Carriganore. In the early autumn the two sides clashed in the final of the All-Ireland 7’s in Dublin where the result was reversed, but back playing within the country boundaries the side in Sky Blue and Navy were at their very best once more recording a big 1-17 to 2-3 win over Cappoquin in the first round of the County Senior Championship and received a walk-over from Dungarvan in Round two.

In the quarter finals it was West Waterford opposition again for the Sky Blues and once more they had little difficulty beating An Rinn 5-21 to 1-7. We might have seen how strong this Gailltir side were when they beat a very good Saint Anne’s side 3-13 to 1-9 in the County Semi Final at the WIT Arena and at the same venue in the County Final proved too strong once more for Cappoquin beating the Corner-Stone Club 1-19 to 0-4.

In the Munster Championship Gailltir made the mammoth journey from deepest East Waterford into far West Cork to play Newcestown in the Munster Semi Final but it was a worthwhile Journey as they would return home with 3-11 to 2-5 win under their belts but more importantly a place in the Munster Final for the third time in four years.

Tipperary champions Toomevara were Gailltir’s opponents in that game and again Gailltir faced a long journey this time to Cappamore in Limerick but again made it a worthwhile journey making the return Journey as Munster Champions for the third time in four seasons after a 2-17 to 1-11 win.

Now into the All-Ireland Final it was a Clonduff side from Down that proved to be the opposition at Clane in County Kildare where the side in Sky Blue gained revenge for last year’s narrow 0-10 to 0-9 loss in the All-Ireland Final at a freezing cold Croke Park this time winning 2-13 to 0-11.

Just like Gailltir, Saint Rynagh’s have come through to this stage of the competition in an impressive manner. After coming through a tough championship in Offaly that faced Clara from Kilkenny in the Leinster Quarter Finals, a game they won in Banagher on a 6-9 to 2-12 score line. In the Leinster Semi Final the Saints had a hard fought 2-10 to 1-9 win over Na Fianna of Meath at Baconstown and maybe the best indication as to how strong the Offaly side might be came in the Leinster Final when they beat a strong Camross side from Laois on a 4-23 to 0-4 score line in Ashbourne. In the All-Ireland semi final on the same day as Gailltir were playing Clonduff the Saints had a 2-13 to 0-13 win over Carnmore in Ballinasloe.

If Saint Rynagh’s were to select along the lines that beat Camross which was possibly their best game in the campaign the Saint’s will show a number of changes to the side which lost to Gailltir in last year’s semi final.

There will however be a number of players which Gailltir be very familiar with. Siobhan Flannery and Kate Kenny in the full forward line will take some watching and if presented with chances will take them. Elsewhere in the team the Gailltir side will know all about the likes of Ellen Gilligan in goal, Roisin Daly, Elaine and Linda Sullivan in defence, Helen Dolan and Róisín Egan in the middle of the field and Grainne Dolan and Louise Mannion in attack.

Gailltir too are expected to show a number of changes to the side which beat Saint Ryanagh’s last year, but maybe not as much as their opponents. Aoife Fitzgerald and Trish Jackman who started last year’s game on the bench would be expected to start this year, while Ciara O’Sullivan who did not feature in the last big game between these two sides but did come on in the All-Ireland as a sub has won a place in the steam from the off this year and big things would be expected of her in the years ahead.

Elsewhere in the team there could well be some very familiar faces in the starting line up with Ciara Jackman in goal, Leah Sheridan, Margo Heffernan, Hannah Flynn and Emma Roche in defence, Kate Lynch in the middle of the field with Shauna Fitzgerald with Shauna’s cousins Annie and Aoife in attack along with the likes of Emer Walsh, Áine Lyng and Anne Corcoran, while the likes of Hannah Flynn, Clodagh Carroll, Róisín Flood, Sorcha Cantwell and Emily Mahony all fighting for a place in the team from the off.

It is often said that in the world of G.A.A. be it in the men’s or women’s games that you sometimes have to lose a final to win one. Nobody will be more disappointed to lose last year’s final that the players that were part of that final for Gailltir and they clearly have shown signs that they have learned from that loss. They have come back a stronger and better side and will make the journey up the M9 on Sunday firmly believing that they can make up for last year’s. All involved with Gailltir however will be respecting the challenge they face against Saint Rynagh’s and will not need any telling how strong they can be.

Camogie has come on a great deal in Waterford and each big win regardless of whether it comes at Club, Colleges or Inter County Level is strengthening the game further regardless of what level or grade they come at. A win for Gailltir on Sunday will give the game another boost, not just in their catchment area but right throughout the county. Will it be Gailltir’s year this year? I have told a number of people associated with the game in the county that I feel it will and don’t see any point in changing my thinking at this stage.

Long Serving Áine Lyng to Lead Gailltir Up Hogan Stand Steps

I have often said be it rightly or wrongly that interest we see in Camogie right now in the Déise County began with Waterford reaching and winning the Under 16 ‘B’ (then a minor grade) All-Ireland Final against Armagh at O’Moore Park in Port Laoise in the summer of 1993.  

Work on that team had gone on for some time, but for that particular Championship work began the previous October in Bunmahon when the players that formed that panel were brought together. Between that day and the day the All-Ireland winners trophy was raised aloft tremendous work was put in a club venues in Lismore, Aglish, Dungarvan, Abbeyside, Kilmacthomas, Kill, Tramore, Saint Saviours in Ballybeg, De La Salle and Roanmore in Clayboy, Ballygunner and the Waterford Crystal Grounds on the Cork Road on the way out of Waterford City.

Little was left to the imagination to get that team ready and Championship or Challenge games were played at home or away against neighbouring counties like Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork, as well as those further away like Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kildare.  

It was clear to see that the work was put in and as happens when this happens the business people of the city and county put their money where their mouths were when it came to supporting the side and they were not to be left disappointed.

The selectors that year as pointed out came up with a good panel. There was a brilliant young goalkeeper in Aisling O’Brien from the Lismore Club. She had fellow Lismore players like Shelly Keane, Patricia Broderick, Tanya Morrissey, Kate Heneghan and Jenny Houlihan with her in the panel. Laura Buckley was also involved and was the team captain.

From Saint Anne’s Charlotte Raher was involved. She would go on to have a brilliant career with Club and County in the years that followed. Jenny Simpson would later play at Club and County Level with Charlotte at the time was a member of the now disbanded Ardkeen Club. Also from the Ardkeen Club were Orla Heffernan, Róisín Heylin, Róisín Delaney and Ciara Kehoe. Other clubs to disband since are Saint Saviours and Roanmore. From Saint Saviours was Martina Cashin and from Roanmore were Vicki Gaffney, Susan Finn, Aimee O’Sullivan and Louise O’Dowda. There were also players from Portlaw and Tramore. Áine Breathnach was from Tramore and Alice Moore was from Portlaw.

Another club had a number of representatives on the panel – Gailltir. Claire Hartery and Emma Tallon were two of the five players from Gailltir involved. The other three were Margot Heffernan, Trish Jackman and Áine Lyng.

When Gailltir run out from under the steps of the Cusack Stand on Sunday afternoon in this year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final against Saint Rynagh’s the last three named players above will be running onto the famous Croke Park sod in the Sky Blue and Navy shirt with the latter player as this year’s captain given the honour to lead the side out and receive the applause and roars of the assembled support that they will generate on the day.

The Dungarvan Leader in its edition in the lead up to the 2003 All-Ireland Final success gave over almost a full page to previewing the game in Port Laoise and contained some short notes on each player in the panel.

The compiler of the piece told us that Margot Heffernan was a quality defender who was also able to play in attack. Nearly seventeen years on if notes were to be compiled on the players in that year’s panel right now on their career since then we would surely be told that she is still a quality defender who has achieved so much in her career.

Of Trish Jackman we were told that she was the youngest player in the panel. She too has proven to be a great player since then adding to her collection of All-Ireland Final winners medals since and would surely love to add one or two more to her collection of honours in the coming years starting this coming weekend. Trish took some time away from the game in recent years as she took time out to complete her studies but has come back an even better player than she was before she took a break.

Emma Hannon who is now Emma Roche (but still the same person) we were told in 2003 was going to be “a key player for the Déise” and the same could apply here for the Sky Blues. Once more she is a player that has achieved so much in the years in between and her influence playing and working alongside younger players coming through the ranks at club and county levels is un-measurable.

Another player to have taken a break from the game for a while is Áine Lyng. Back in 2003 she played a major part in helping Waterford win the All-Ireland Final. And like so many others involved in that year’s All-Ireland winning squad she has had a hugely successful career.

In the white and blue of Waterford she helped the county win a league title before taking a break from the game before coming back in recent years showing that she had lost none of the class that she showed in her earlier career making her way onto the County Senior team and getting nominated for All-Star’s in each of the last two years.

I have to hold my hands up here and admit I do not know Áine Lyng but I would guess that if she had any regrets from her time playing Camogie (than might not be the correct word to use, but I am sure you know what I mean) it would possibly be missing out on the 2011 All-Ireland Junior Final win over Down after helping Waterford reach the finals in the two previous year’s losing both to Offaly in 2009 and Antrim after a replay a year later. She would also miss out on the 2015 Intermediate All-Ireland Final win over Kildare but since returning to the inter county scene she had made a huge impact.

On the club scene she has also had some glorious days. Before taking a break from the game she won the first of her two senior county titles. In her underage days she also helped the Sky Blues to win under 14, under 16 and minor championships. In the last few years she has been at her very best for the club helping Gailltir to win three of the last four County Senior titles, going on to win Munster Intermediate titles a few weeks after winning county medals to go with the Munster Junior medal she won previously and was part of the side which narrowly lost in last year’s All-Ireland Final against Clonduff who Gailltir knockout out of this year’s competition in January in the semi final stages.

Former Liverpool and Scotland centre back Alan Hansen once famously said on Match of the Day in August 1995 that “you can’t win anything with kids”. Some would argue that he was proven wrong when Alex Ferguson lead Manchester United to win the Premier League. While Alex Ferguson in his championship winning side that year did have what may well be described as kids with the likes of Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Simon Davies, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, David Beckham etc in the team, but there was also some very experienced players some of whom were leaders in the team such as Peter Schmeichel, Paul Parker, Denis Irwin, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Eric Cantona, Brian McClair, Roy Keane and Andy Cole involved. Often the difference between success and otherwise is finding the right balance between youth and experience like what Alex Ferguson did after what Alan Hansen had to say.

This year’s Gailltir panel has that blend of youth and experience. There is young players in the likes of Leah Sheridan, Hannah Flynn, Clodagh Carroll, Kate Lynch, Ciara O’Sullivan as well as Annie and Aoife Fitzgerald to name but a few who have already won so much. You have players who are slightly older the likes of Ciara Jackman in goal, Shauna Fitzgerald, Anne Corcoran, Emer Walsh, Roisin Flood and Emily Mahony who are part and parcel of the set up with the last number of years and gained so much experience.

Then you have the older more experienced heads in Margo Heffernan, Emma Roche, Trish Jackman and Áine Lyng who would add to any team which they are involved in and will all play a big part in side they are involved in. All four are leaders. All four will be giving it there all on Sunday next.

If Gailltir are to win on Sunday fifteen leaders, captains, call it what you want will be needed on the field of play and if and when players are introduced from the bench the same will be expected of them. Should Gailltir win (and I think they will) one of those leaders or captains will lead the side up the steps of the Hogan Stand be presented with the Agnes O’Farrelly Cup by Kathleen Wood’s the President of the Camogie Association. For longevity and for what they have achieved in the game, I for one can’t think of a better person that Áine Lyng to be that player.

Annie’s on Song

If we are to go on what we have seen in their last seven games come Sunday afternoon next scoring should not prove to be a problem for the Gailltir Players when they take on Saint Rynagh’s in this year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final at Croke.

In games against An Rinn, Saint Anne’s and Cappoquin in the County Championship, followed by games against Newcestown from Cork and Tipperary Champions Toomevara in the Munster Champions and then in beating last year’s All-Ireland Champions Clonduff in the All-Ireland Semi Final earlier this year, the sky blues have hit a massive 18 goals and 109 points, an average of just over 27 points a game, a massive tally at any level, while at the other end of the field it would well be argued despite playing in rules that make it so easy to score goals by where a player can hand pass the ball to an opponent’s net, Gailltir have proven extremely difficult to break down conceding just 7-49 in their last seven competitive games an average of just 10 points per game.

Free taker Annie Fitzgerald not surprisingly is the sides top scorer in the sides last six games hitting a very impressive 3-34 for the sky blues, 0-20 of which have come from frees while one of her scores has come from a ’45.

Her cousin Aoife Fitzgerald is the side’s next highest scorer with an impressive 6-13 all of which have come from play. One has to wonder what is been eaten in the Fitzgerald households but whatever it is, it is working and if the Offaly side are to stop Gailltir from winning on Sunday next they will first have to stop these two players and if they were to bring the veil of form into this game that they have shown up to now, then the Offaly side will be in for a torrid time on Sunday.

But when it comes to scoring the Sky Blues do not over rely on the Fitzgerald Cousins. Áine Lyng one of the longer serving players in this side has hit 2-10 in here side’s last six games. Anne Corcoran a player who has proven to be a very valuable player to the Sky Blues has hit 2-8, Emer Walsh has hit 2-4 and Trish Jackman another long serving player in this panel has hit 0-8 and is a player that will prove to be a valuable tool in the Gailltir box on Sunday afternoon possibly playing in defence and as an accurate shooter from long range frees.

Since they played An Rinn in the County Quarter Final the Sky Blues have also had scores from Kate Lynch (1-3), Ciara O’Sullivan (0-4), Clodagh Carroll (1-1), Shauna Fitzgerald (0-2) and Leah Sheridan (0-1).

Mayo Beat Waterford, Hail and Storm Dennis in Low Scoring Game

Waterford’s Senior Ladies Football team braved the elements in Swinford on Sunday afternoon but would make the long trip home empty handed as they suffered a second defeat in this year’s National Football League against a Mayo side that had beaten Donegal and lost to Dublin in the opening fixtures in this year’s competition.

This game was to be played a week earlier at the same venue but was called off less than 24 hours before it was played owing to Storm Ciara but both sides would have wished that came would have gone ahead as on Sunday last as Storm Dennis battled through the country, conditions at time were near impossible to play in, as great credit must go to the players on both sides for actually completing the game.

Waterford played with the aid of a gale at their backs in the opening half but while the wind can often be a help it can also prove to be somewhat of a hindrance and it was no side to go in at the break locked at two points each on the score board.

Rachel Kearns who top scored for the Green and Red opened the scoring when she put over a free. Caoimhe McGrath who is one of the longer serving players in the current Waterford panel equalised for Waterford but Kearns restored the home sides lead when she put over from play. Waterford however would go in at the break on level terms when Chloe Fennell split the home side uprights from a free.

Waterford playing against the wind in the second half played better than they did in the first half but found it very difficult to kick into the wind. Such were the horrendous conditions in this game referee Siobhan Coyle from Donegal decided to stop the game at one point and order all thirty players off the field to allow a hail storm to pass through the mid county town.

Ciaran Curran’s side failed to score in the second half of this game but this should not be held against them. The side did create chances but they found it hard to break down a side that was well marshalled by Danielle Caldwell and Kathryn Sullivan both from the nearby Castlebar Mitchels club.

Sinead Cafferky put the home side in the lead early in the second half when she put over the head of Rosie Landers from play and when Rachel Kearns followed up with a brace of points from frees it was looking as if it was not going to be Waterford’s day unless a goal was found and against players like the already mentioned Danielle Caldwell and Kathryn Sullivan that on the day was going to be a difficult task.

When the players came back on after their unexpected calling off the field Natasha Gaughan secured the win for Mayo when she put her side four up with seven minutes remaining.

Next up for Waterford is a home game against Tipperary this coming Sunday where a win for Waterford could go a long way towards securing their place in Division One again for the 2021 league.

Waterford: Rosie Landers; Megan Dunford, Róisín Dunphy, Rebecca Casey; Mairead Wall, Caoimhe McGrath Kate McGrath; Emma Murray, Chloe Fennell; Aisling Baumann, Maggie Boylan, Aileen Wall; Katie Murray, Liz Devine, Aoife Murray.

Subs: Kelly Anne Hogan for Aoife Murray (h-t), Róisín Tobin for Aisling Baumann (h-t), Abbie Dalton for Maggie Boylan (42).

Scorers: Caoimhe McGrath, Chloe Fennell (f) 0-1 each,

Mayo: Aisling Tarpey; Nicola O’Malley, Noirin Moran, Danielle Caldwell; Kathryn Sullivan, Ciara McManamon, Ciara Whyte; Allannah Duffy, Sinead Cafferky; Fiona Doherty, Maria Reilly, Lisa Cafferky; Jennifer Cawley, Rachel Kearns, Amy Halligan.

Subs: Mary McHale for Amy Halligan (15), Lisa Reid for Jennifer Cawley (15), Maria Cannon for Lisa Reid (h-t), Eilis Ronayne for Mary McHale (h-t), Róisín Durkin for Maria Reilly (40), Tamara O’Connor for Ciara McManamon (42), Natasha Gaughan for Lisa Cafferky (45), Clodagh McManamon for Maria Cannon (53), Grainne O’Neill for Rachel Kearns (54), Niamh Casey for Kathryn Sullivan (56), Dayna Finn for Allannah Duffy (58).

Scorers: Rachel Kearns 0-4 (2f), Sinead Cafferky, Natasha Gaughan (f) 0-1 each.

Referee:  Siobhan Coyle (Donegal).

Championship Draws Made In East Waterford

The draws for this year’s championships in the East of the County took place at a Divisional Board Meeting on Wednesday last.

Eleven sides will compete in this year’s Intermediate Hurling Championship split into two groups, one of five the other of six.

Reigning Champions Ballygunner are in Group One and will play Ballyduff Lower, Dunhill, Portlaw, Saint Saviours and Erin’s Own.

De La Salle are the only second string side in Group Two and will be up against Butlerstown, Ferrybank, Saint Mollerans and Fenor.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarter final stages of the championship and will be seeded. The third placed team in Group One will advance to the quarter final draw but will not be seeded. The remaining play off to see who will be the sides that make up the quarter final draw with the third placed team in Group Two playing the sixth placed team in Group One with the fourth placed teams playing the fifth placed team in the opposite group.

Eight teams will compete in the Junior ‘A’ Championship including a number of second string sides and Ballygunner’s Third string side. Ballydurn who won this competition last year will be looking to retain their title in 2020. They will be up against Ballygunner, Dunhill, Kilmacthomas, Micheál MacCraith (Tramore), Mount Sion Passage and Roanmore. The top two sides will contest the semi finals where they will be seeded in the draw with the next four sides contesting the quarter finals with the third placed team playing the sixth, while the fourth placed team plays the side that finishes in fifth position.

Seven sides are involved in the Junior B Championship, Clonea, De La Salle, Erins Own, Mount Sion, Naomh Pól, Passage and Saint Mollerans. The top two sides will advance to the semi finals where they will be seeded while the next four sides contest the quarter final stages of the competition.

In the Junior C Hurling Championship, seven sides will once more be involved, Ballyduff Lower, Butlerstown, Ferrybank Micheál MacCraith (Tramore), Portlaw, Roanmore and Saint Saviours. Once more the top two sides advance to the semi finals where they will be seeded with the next four sides playing in the quarter final stages.

In Intermediate Football, seven sides will battle it out to see if any can follow in the footsteps of Kilmacthomas and Saint Saviours in the last two years and move up to the Senior Grade.

Ballyduff Lower, Bunmahon, De La Salle, Kill, Micheál MacCraith (Tramore), Newtown and Portlaw all do battle against each other. The top side will advance to the semi finals with the other six sides contesting the quarter finals where the second placed side plays the side that finishes bottom, the third placed team plays the sixth placed team and the sides that finishing in fourth and fifth places playing each other.

Eight sides will contest the Junior A Football Championship split into two groups which are drawn up geographically, one Rural and one Urban.

In the Rural Group Bunmahon, Butlerstown, John Mitchells and Saint Mollerans do battle against each other, while the Urban Group contains Ferrybank, Mount Sion, Naomh Pól and Roanmore. All four sides advance to the quarter finals with the winners of the two groups playing the bottom side in the opposite group and the two second placed sides playing the third placed side in the opposite group.

Just three sides will contest the Junior C Football Championship – Gaultier, Kill and Portlaw with the two top sides contesting the final this competition will be a 13 a side competition.

Lady Luck Elutes Waterford in Cork

Fergal O’Brien’s Waterford Senior Camogie side had to settle for second best at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday evening in the opening round of games in this year’s National Camogie League, running out victors with ten points to spare at the end of an entertaining hours action.

The home side lined out without the likes of Aoife Murray, Gemma O’Connor. Orla Cotter, Julia Whyte and the Mackey sisters all regulars in the red and white shirt in recent years, while Waterford fielded without any member of the Gailltir club as they prepare for their All-Ireland Final appearance against Saint Rynagh’s from Offaly in Croke Park in the coming weeks.

While all involved with the Waterford set up will be somewhat disappointed with the ten point loss in this game, the management team will take much from this game. Waterford created a number of good goal scoring chances which on another day at least one would have come off, while the Waterford attackers saw a number of chances fall into the hand of Amy Lee in the Cork goal or went just wide of the uprights.

It was Fergal O’Brien’s side that started this game the brighter of the two sides as Beth Carton knocked over two early points inside the opening two minutes of the throw in - the first from a free. Waterford could have hit a goal on two minutes. Caoimhe McGrath who earlier in the day played with the Waterford Senior Footballers in their loss to Donegal at Fraher Field saw her effort cutting in from the main stand as she attacked the Blackrock end of the ground come crashing off the crossbar and when the rebound fell to Orla Hickey she saw her effort go just wide of Amy Lee’s post.

That chance proved to be a wakeup call for the home side. Orla Cronin and Aisling Thompson pointed to level matters with five minutes played.

The game’s only goal came on six minutes. A long free from Chloe Sigerson looked to be going wide but it was kept in by Saoirse McCarthy. She worked the ball into the danger zone in front of the Waterford goal and when Linda Collins was able to take it out of a ruck, she managed to find Saoirse McCarthy who gave Brianna O’Regan no chance with a well placed shot.

Orla Cronin helped put Cork in front by four on ten minutes but almost straight away Beth Carton cancelled out the Enniskeane Club players effort with a fine free struck from distance.

Hannah Looney extended Cork’s lead on 11 minutes. From the restart Waterford went up field. Beth Carton shot from the river side of the field but lady luck was not with her as she saw her effort come crashing off the crossbar. The rebound made its way out to Caoimhe McGrath who’s effort was blocked down and went out for a ’45 from with Beth Carton made no mistake in splitting the Cork uprights.

Cliona Healy, Orla Cronin and Ashling Thompson followed up with scores for the home side putting them 1-7 to 0-4 up with 22 minutes played. Aisling Power got her name on the score sheet with a good score before Beth Carton again split the posts from play on 24 minutes leaving just four between the sides.

Linda Collins extended the Rebellettes lead on 26 but Waterford refused to bow down to the Cork pressure. Shona Curran hit a long range free which was broken down by her Lismore club mate Catriona McGlone and fell to team captain Niamh Rockett but the Saint Anne’s Club player saw her effort go just wide.

Another converted free from Orla Cronin put Cork 1-9 to 0-6 up with the thirty allotted minutes also up, but there was three added minutes to be added which was stretched to four. Waterford in this time outscored the home side as Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton from a free both landed scores with Cliona Healy landing one for the home side in between which gave them a 1-10 to 0-8 lead at the break.

Scoring in the second half was not as plentiful but still both sides created their share of chances.

Linda McCarthy opened the scoring within sixty seconds of the restart and the same player extended the home sides lead a minute later when she converted a 45 when Brianna O’Regan was adjudged to have come outside the box when restarting the game, and when Saoirse McCarthy pointed on 34 minutes Cork were in a strong position leading 1-13 to 0-8.

Beth Carton put over Waterford’s first score of the second half on 36 minutes and followed it up with another three minutes later. Lauren Homan got her name on the score sheet on 41 minutes to put her side 1-14 to 0-10 in front.

Waterford still refused to panic and on 47 minutes another good chance was created. Caoimhe McGrath played a ball in towards the right hand post as she looked in a the city end of the ground which looked to be going wide. Orla Hickey threw herself at the ball stretching out her Hurley in a bid to get a touch on the ball and to put it past Amy Lee but the initial effort by Caoimhe McGrath had just a little too much on it for her.

Orla Cronin pointed for the home side before Waterford won a 20 metre free eight minutes from time. Beth Carton went for goal from her effort but she saw her effort kept out by the Cork backs. Chloe Sigerson put Cork 1-16 to 0-10 in front with five minutes to play, but her effort was quickly cancelled out when Beth Carton put over a 45.

Orla Cronin put overt two quick scores for Cork just as the hour was about to elapse but Waterford still were not throwing in the towel. Niamh Rockett had an effort saved by Amy Lee in added time at the end of the hour and soon afterwards Beth Carton for her tenth score of the evening with another converted free.

Cork however knowing that Score difference could well prove to be very important at the end of the campaign hit the last score of the game when Amy O’Connor became the sixth starting forward for the Rebellettes to get her name on the score sheet.

WATERFORD: Brianna O'Regan; Kate McMahon, Iona Heffernan, Claire Whyte; Sibheal Harney, Shona Curran, Lorraine Bray; Caoimhe McGrath, Jenny McCarthy; Caitriona McGlone, Fiona Morrissey, Niamh Rockett; Orla Hickey, Beth Carton, Aisling Power.

Subs: Keeley Corbett Barry for Kate McMahon (33m), Aoife Landers for Fiona Morrissey (40m), Clara Griffin for Jenny McCarthy (48m), Claire Murphy for Orla Hickey (55m).

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-10 (6f, 2 from 45s), Aisling Power, Niamh Rockett 0-1 each.

CORK: Amy Lee; Leanne O'Sullivan, Laura Treacy, Niamh O'Callaghan; Hannah Looney, Laura Hayes, Chloe Sigerson; Libby Coppinger, Ashling Thompson; Amy O'Connor, Orla Cronin, Saoirse McCarthy; Lauren Homan, Linda Collins, Cliona Healy.

Subs: Aoife O'Neill for Leanne O'Sullivan, Emma Murphy for Cliona Healy (both 50m), Courtey O'Sullivan for Laura Hayes, Izzy O'Regan for Ashling Thompson, Hannah O'Leary for Linda Collins (all 60m).

Scorers: Orla Cronin 0-9 (5f), Saoirse McCarthy 1-0, Ashling Thompson, Cliona Healy, Linda Collins 0-2 each, Lauren Homan, Chloe Sigerson (f), Amy O'Connor 0-1 each.

Referee: Ray Kelly, Kildare.

 

Late Scores Deny Waterford Back to Back Wins

There was heartbreak for the Waterford Senior Ladies Footballers at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon last as back to back wins in this year’s National Football League was snatched from them by a Donegal side who hit 1-1 in added time at the end of the hour to record a first time in this year’s competition.

The home side won the toss and opted to play into the wind and early on in this game it looked as if the chance to play with the wind at their backs in those opening 30 minutes would backfire on them as the visitors who had travelled from the North West to the South East raced into an early three point lead courtesy of efforts from Nicole Gordon, Caroline Sharkey and Geraldine McLaughlin.

Waterford however had chances while playing against the wind as Liz Devine saw an effort go across the face of the goal while Aileen Wall having danced through the Donegal defence saw her effort rise high and wide of the Donegal crossbar.

After the visitors hit the first three scores of this game, the home side hit the next four to go in front. Aoife Murray who along with her sisters Katie and Emma made national headlines after the first round of games opened Waterford’s account on thirteen minutes. Kelly Anne Hogan from a free reduced the visitors lead to one before Chloe Fennell levelled matters in 22 minutes, after which Kelly Anne Hogan hit her second of the game to put Waterford in front for the first time.

Down the year’s Waterford have often had to use players more accustomed to playing outfield between the posts, but in the last two years a gem seems to have been unearthed in Rosie Landers who has played up the grades between the posts in successful Waterford sides and twice in the opening half the Ballyduff Upper lady twice pulled off great saves first from a Kathy Ward effort and later from a Geraldine McLaughlin effort. Had one or both of those efforts passed the Ballyduff Upper club player, Waterford could have been beaten by half time in this game.

Waterford’s period of dominance in front of goal came to an end late in the opening half when Geraldine McLaughlin kicked two late scores, the latter coming in stoppage time at the end of the thirty to give her side a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Geraldine McLaughlin added to her tally at the start of the second half to extend her sides lead to two, but the sides were quickly back on level terms after Katie Murray and Kelly Anne Hogan the latter coming from a free.

Waterford took the lead on forty minutes when Chloe Fennell split the Donegal uprights, but the visitors when down field and two points from Geraldine McLaughlin both from frees gave the visitors the lead once more, but the sides were soon level once more when Chloe Fennell hit her third point of the game.

The first goal in this game came twelve minutes from time when Caroline Sharkey planted the size four low into the bottom corner of Rosie Landers goal. Katie Murray and Geraldine McLaughlin traded scores to keep three between the sides and when Katie Murray made it a two point game Waterford were looking as if they would get something from this game against a more experienced side at this level. And when the Comeragh Rangers player followed up with a goal with two minutes of normal time to play Waterford found themselves one up and that lead was doubled soon afterwards when Kelly Anne Hogan pointed to put Waterford 1-11 to 1-9 in front.

Credit Donegal however they refused to buckle under pressure and they were rewarded in stoppage time when Geraldine McLaughlin put over her eight point of the game in added time and six minutes into time added for stoppages the visitors struck a second goal, a winning score from full forward to claim the full three points on offer in this game.

Waterford: Rosie Landers; Megan Dunford, Caoimhe McGrath, Róisín Dunphy; Mairead Wall, Karen McGrath, Rebecca Casey; Emma Murray, Liz Devine; Kelly Anne Hogan, Chloe Fennell, Róisín Tobin; Aoife Murray, Aileen Wall, Katie Murray.

Subs: Aisling Baumann for Liz Devine (49), Maggie Boylan for Róisín Tobin (62), Abbie Dalton for Aoife Murray (64).

Scorers: Katie Murray 1-3, Kelly Anne Hogan 0-4 (4f), Chloe Fennell 0-3, Aoife Murray 0-1.

Donegal: Aoife McColgan; Anne Marie Logue, Emer Gallagher, Deirdre Foley; Evelyn McGinley, Kate Keaney, Niamh Carr; Nicole McLaughlin, Kathy Ward; Amy Boyle Carr, Nicole Gordon, Aisling Nee; Caroline Sharkey, Geraldine McLaughlin, Emma McCroary.

Subs: Niamh McDonald for Amy Boyle Carr (h-t), Róisín Rodgers for Anne Marie Logue (43), Niamh Boyle for Kathy Ward (43).

Scorers: Geraldine McLaughlin 0-8 (6f), Caroline Sharkey 1-1 (1f), Emma McCroary 1-0, Nicole Gordon 0-1.

Referee: K Phelan (Laois).