Brilliant Waterford Have One Step In All-Ireland Knockout Stages After Big Win Over Limerick

 

Regular readers of what appears on year will have read before me saying that Camogie in Waterford is on the rise. This is something no doubt I will say again many times in the coming years, and if you needed any proof of how much Camogie in Waterford has come on in recent years log onto the streaming of Waterford’s latest game in the All-Ireland Championship (today) where Fergal O’Brien’s charges beat Limerick with 12 points to spare.

I know Limerick may be missing some of the names that have served the county well in recent years, but even without them the Treaty County side still had a strong side out and came to Walsh Park today intent on getting the shock defeat to Westmeath last weekend out of their systems as quickly as possible and were that a good performance here and a win would set them up for their final round robin game with Kilkenny where score difference could well have decided which one of three teams would join the Queens (female cats) in the knockout stages of this year’s championship.

Having seen this game and reported on a number of other games which Waterford have played in recent years one question which I for one am not able to answer come to mind. How is it that Waterford Captain Niamh Rockett does not have an All-Star in her impressive collection of honours won over the past decade and a little longer?

The Saint Anne’s Club player in this game was once again brilliant. She was hugely impressive in this game but the same could well be said of her in many of the games that she has played in recent years. Is it because maybe Waterford in recent years has not had many games shown be it on the television or live streamed? Hopefully with a large amount of games to be shown one way or another this year the Saint Anne’s Club player will catch the eye of those selecting the overall best team of the year and include her in it this year.

The overall performance of the Waterford team in this game cannot be criticised. From Brianna O’Regan in goal to Annie Fitzgerald in the number 15 shirt none of the players that started this game could be criticised and to do so would be wrong, and we saw that when players are sprung from the stand and sent on to show that what they can do there is plenty of options available to the management team of Fergal O’Brien, Dan Shanahan and Pauline Cunningham and it’s fair to say that some of those that came on today will be thinking, certainly will be hoping that they done enough to be included from the start in Waterford’s next game away to Westmeath in two weeks time.

After a very close opening quarter of this game after the water break in the first half of this game whatever Fergal O’Brien, Dan Shanahan and Pauline Cunningham said to their charges in the two minute break worked and for the remainder of the game they were by far the better of the two sides.

The industrious Caoimhe Costello opened the scoring for the visitors on four minutes, but Waterford soon set out their stall hitting three points in a row, two from Beth Carton, the second from a free and one by Sarah Lacey after some good work by the impressive Kate Lynch to open up a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with 12 minutes played.

Limerick however would respond with points from Niamh Ryan and Caoimhe Costello in a three minute spell before the midway point of the opening half as the sides when to the water break locked at three points each.

Playing with a strong wind at their backs into the city end of the ground Waterford hit 1-6 in the next 17 minutes with Limericks sole response in this time coming with the last puck of the half.

Abbey Flynn following some good work from Kate Lynch edged Waterford in front on 20 minutes and seconds later Waterford hit the first of their goals.

Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett would cause problems for any side but when the two combine you are sure that double the trouble will ensure. When the De La Salle player picked out her team captain the Saint Anne’s player despite taking a heavy knock as she put a shot in at goal was strong enough to remain standing and fired past Laura O’Neill to give Waterford a four point lead.

At the other end Briana O’Regan was alert to save from Mary O’Callaghan and when the ball came back out to Orlaith Kelleher she batted wide of Brianna O’Regan’s right hand post.

Down the other end Shona Curran and Abbey Flynn split the posts and when Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton followed up with further scores it put Waterford in a good position going into the second half, even if Caoimhe Costello split the posts from a free with the last puck of the half.

Leading 1-9 to 0-4 at the break, Waterford began the second half with a Beth Carton crashing the sliotar of the posts. The game had to wait till the 40 minute for the first score of the second half when Caoimhe Costello pointed from play. The same player followed up with another score three minutes later, but Waterford would quickly cancel these scores out with efforts from Abbey Flynn and Annie Fitzgerald as they went to their second half water break leading 1-11 to 0-6.

Player of the Match Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton extended Waterford’s lead with ten minutes of the game still to play. Caoimhe Costello pointed again for the visitors but her score was cancelled out with another by Beth Carton from a free which gave Fergal O’Brien’s side a 1-14 to 0-7 lead.

Waterford however despite having this game won were not going to ease up as score difference could yet decide who goes forward from this group to the knockout stages of the competition.

Two minutes from time referee Liz Dempsey threw the ball in between two players outside the Limerick 20 metre line. Beth Carton with incredible skill won the clash, got the ball under control picked out Niamh Rockett for the second time with an inch perfect pass and the Saint Anne’s player rocketed a ball across the Limerick goal high into the top corner of the net at the Dressing rooms side of the ground to give Waterford an impressive 2-15 to 0-8 lead.

On the hour mark Beth Carton again split the posts from a free to extend Waterford’s lead. Limerick were now playing for pride and they went down the other end. A long ball in from the middle of the field was touched on by Caoimhe Costello who used her hand to get a touch on the ball to beat Brianna O’Regan. The De La Salle player however was quick to remember that under new rules a player is not allowed to score using their hand even if the umpire was adamant that a goal should stand, but referee Liz Dempsey went in to the umpires and deemed that if a player used their hand or any part of it to score it was not to be awarded.

Costello did manage to get a late consolation score for the visitors when she got her eight point of the game.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Sibheal Harney, Iona Heffernan, Claire Whyte; Lorraine Bray, Clodagh Carroll, Kate Lynch, Orla Hickey, Shona Curran; Niamh Rockett, Sarah Lacey, Jenny McCarthy; Annie Fitzgerald, Beth Carton, Abbey Flynn.

Subs: Caoimhe McGrath for Jenny McCarthy (27), Aoife Landers for Niamh Rockett (B.S. 35-37), Aoife Landers for Sarah Lacey (42), Fiona Morrissey for Annie Fitzgerald (52), Shauna Fitzgerald for Shona Curran (56), Ciara O’Sullivan for Orla Hickey (60).

Scorers: Niamh Rockett 2-2, Beth Carton 0-7 (5f), Abbey Flynn 0-3, Sarah Lacey, Shona Curran, Annie Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Limerick: Laura O’Neill; Noirin Lenihan, Muireann Creamer, Marian Quaid; Judith Mulcahy, Sinead McNamara, Neamh Curtin; Mairead Ryan, Dearbhla Egan; Sophie O’Callaghan, Mary O’Callaghan, Orlaith Kelleher; Caoimhe Costello, Caoimhe Lyons, Niamh Ryan.

Subs: Caroline Brenner for Mary O’Callaghan (H.T.), Katie Finn for Dearbhla Egan (37), Lorraine McCarthy for Orlaith Kelleher (53), Karen Mullane for Noirin Lenihan (63).

Scorers: Caoimhe Costello 0-8 (5f) Niamh Ryan 0-1.

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).

Defeat For Waterford In Last On-Off-On National League Game

 

It was on, then it was off and then it was back on again. Waterford’s last game in this year’s National Football League finished in a seven point lost at the Geraldines G.A.A. Grounds in Dundalk today as Antrim ran out 2-14 to 0-13 winners.

Waterford will genuinely have welcomed Antrim’s gesture of playing this game south of the border as it will have given Benji Whelan and his charges the opportunity to play in a competitive game ahead of next weekend’s Munster championship game against Limerick at Fraher Field.

Had this game not gone ahead, Waterford may well have got the chance of playing a challenge game tomorrow (Sunday) or even on Bank Holiday Monday to get any rustiness out of their system ahead of next Saturday’s big game with Limerick, but while the side will be disappointed with the final outcome in this game, they will not need any telling that there is nothing to beat a competitive game, even if for Waterford going into this game there was nothing to play for in terms of promotion.

Waterford were first to score in this game through Stephen Curry in the fourth minute, but Antrim proved to be slightly the better of the two sides in what was an even enough 35 minutes of football.

Points from Patrick McBride and Patrick Cunningham followed for Antrim before Odhrán Eastwood palmed to the net from a James McAuley effort that came crashing off the crossbar.

Cunningham pointed again for the Glensmen before Tony Grey and Conor Murray pointed for Waterford by the twelfth minute leaving Eastwood’s goal separating the sides.

Eastwood pointed on 22 minutes for Antrim after which Patrick Cunningham followed up with a brace of scores opening up a six point lead for Antrim by the 28 minutes. Waterford however would hit the next three scores from Michael and Stephen Curry hitting one each followed by Tony Grey’s second of the game on 33 minutes.

Dermot McAleese and Patrick Cunningham pointed for Antrim but just before the break Fergal Ó Cuirrín split the posts as Waterford trailed 1-8 to 0-7 at the break.

Waterford began the second half brightly as Jack Mullaney, Conor Murray and Jason Curry hit scores to leave just one between the sides with 13 minutes of the second half played.

Jason Curry pointed again moments later but points from Mick and Tomás McCann either side of the Rathgormack’s score kept Antrim in front.

The old adage that goals win games is often true and in this game it certainly proved true. Antrim hit the second of their goals on 55 minutes through centre back James McAuley, a score that killed off Waterford’s chances of recording a win ahead of this weekend’s Munster Championship game.

Mick McCann and Jack Mullaney swapped scores before Tony Grey and Patrick McBride did likewise. Antrim finished the slightly stronger of the two sides as Mick and Tomás McCann hit late scores.

ANTRIM: Oisin Kerr; Patrick Gallagher, Declan Lynch, Kevin O’Boyle; Dermot McAleese, James  McAuley, Niall Delargy; Colum Duffin, Marc Jordan; Kevin Quinn, Paddy Healy, Mark Sweeney; Patrick Cunningham, Odhrán Eastwood, Patrick McBride.

Subs: Mick McCann for Marc Jordan (29), Tomás McCann for Patrick Cunningham (50), Ruairi McCann for Mark Sweeney (54), Ryan Murray for Colum Duffin (65).

Scorers: Patrick Cunningham 0-5 (2f), Odhrán Eastwood 1-1, James McAuley 1-0, Tomas McCann 0-3 (2f), Patrick McBride, Mick McCann 0-2 each, Dermot McAleese 0-1.

WATERFORD: Aaron Beresford; Sean O’Donovan, Brian Looby, Aaron Jones; Robbie Flynn, Michael Curry, Tony Grey; Shane Ahearne, Jason Curry; Conor Murray, Darragh Corcoran, Brian Lynch; Fergal Ó Cuirrín, David Hallinan, Stephen Curry.

Subs: Dylan Guiry for David Hallinan (ht), Jack Mullaney for Shane Ahearne (ht), William Hahessy for Aaron Jones (ht), Dermot Ryan for R Flynn (55).

Scorers: Stephen Curry 0-4, Tony Grey 0-3, Conor Murray, Jack Mullaney 0-2 each, Michael Curry, Fergal Ó Cuirrín 0-1 each.

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)

Kilkenny Edge Out Waterford In Championship Opener

 

Fielding eight of the starting team that lost out to Galway in last year’s All-Ireland Senior Final, Kilkenny got this year’s All-Ireland Camogie Championship off to a winning start at Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon last running out seven point winners over a spirited Waterford side.

The final result of this game does not give a true account of the difference there is between the two sides, as Waterford did create many chances, but Kilkenny who played with a two in the full forward line were able to close down the Waterford attacks which were created with the extra player that they had brought back the field.

Waterford will not be happy with the fact that they went nearly half an hour without scoring in this game between the time that Kate Lynch put over a huge score on 23 minutes into the first half and when Beth Carton put over a free seven minutes from the hour mark.

I saw nearly thirty minutes as referee Andy Larkin must have forgotten to stop his watch during the water break which lasted almost two minutes and did not appear to play the full thirty minutes, but may have corrected this in the second half when he found time to add almost seven minutes at the end of the hour for stoppages in the second half.

It was the visitors that opened the scoring in this game with a point just outside the D at the city end of the Walsh Park ground from the experienced Ann Dalton.

Lorraine Bray a winner of an All-Star last year pulled a point back for Waterford on six minutes but it was quickly cancelled out with a effort from player of the match Denise Gaule almost straight away.

The same player edged the visitors even further in front on seven minutes but Beth Carton would pull one back firing over a free on eight minutes.

When Kilkenny won a 20 metre free on 11 minutes Denise Gaule went for goal but her effort was smothered on the line and cleared to safety but Kilkenny had not long to wait before they opened a double score advantage as Mary O’Connell slotted over on 13 minutes.

Waterford however would end the quarter and head for the water break all square as Beth Carton put over two frees inside a minute of each other.

Waterford hit the first two scores of the second quarter. Annie Fitzgerald pointed on 21 minutes after she was picked out by Beth Carton and two minutes later Kate Lynch sent in a monster effort from out the field which needed Kilkenny goalkeeper Aoife Norris to touch over as the sliotar came in dangerously around the height of the crossbar.

Waterford however would not score for almost thirty minutes again. But at the other end Kilkenny began to mount huge amount of pressure on the Waterford backs. Ann Dalton and Denise Gaule from a free landed scores for Kilkenny before the break to send the sides to their respective half time huddles tied at six points each.

Kilkenny began the second half brightly. Denise Gaule put over two early frees to edge her side in front. Another of Kilkenny’s most experience players Ann Dalton pointed on 34 minutes before Denise Gaule got her third of the half on 39 minutes from a free, opening up a 0-10 to 0-6 lead playing with the wind at their backs. Katie Nolan would also get her name on the score sheet at the end of the third quarter to give her side a five point advantage at the second half water break.

Miriam Walsh pointed for Kilkenny on 50 minutes before her cousin Grace, a sister of All-Ireland hurling winners Tommy and Padraig got her name on the score sheet a minute later putting her side seven points in front.

Beth Carton hit Waterford’s first score of the second half on 53 minutes from a free and followed up with a similar score three minutes later, but at this stage with the clock ticking down it was goals that Waterford needed if they were to get something from this game. To the credit of the Waterford side they were trying for goals, leaving Beth Carton to linger around the goal if the ball made its way to her.

Denise Gaule at the other end got her seventh score of the afternoon when she pointed on 59 minutes and six minutes later substitute Danielle Morrissey closed the afternoon’s scoring.

Next up for Waterford is another home game against Limerick, one Waterford will have to win if they are to stand a chance of reaching the knockout stages of the competition, while Kilkenny have a game at home to Kilkenny, a game you would expect them to win with considerable ease.

Waterford: Brianna O'Regan; Sibheal Harney, Iona Heffernan, Claire Whyte; Katie Lynch, Clodagh Carroll, Lorraine Bray; Orla Hickey, Shona Curran; Beth Carton, Niamh Rockett, Jenny McCarthy; Sarah Lacey, Abby Flynn, Annie Fitzgerald.

Subs: Shauna Fitzgerald for Sarah Lacey (41), Aoife Landers for Jenny McCarthy (52), Keeley Corbett Barry for Orla Hickey (55), Anne Corcoran for Annie Fitzgerald (59).

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-5 (5f), Lorraine Bray, Kate Lynch Annie Fitzgerald 0-1 each,

Kilkenny: Aoife Norris; Davina Tobin, Collette Dormer, Grace Walsh; Meghan Farrell, Claire Phelan, Niamh Deely; Anna Farrell, Mary O'Connell; Laura Murphy, Lydia Fitzpatrick, Anne Dalton; Miriam Walsh, Denise Gaule, Katie Nolan.

Subs: Danielle Morrissey 0-1 for Mary O'Connell (h-t), Stephanie Fitzgerald for Katie Nolan (47), Edel Coonan for Laura Murphy (52), Aoife Doyle for Stephanie Fitzpatrick (60).

Scorers: Denise Gaule 0-7 (5f), Ann Dalton 0-3 Grace Walsh, Mary O’Connell, Miriam Walsh, Katie Nolan, Danielle Morrissey 0-1 each.

Referee: Andy Larkin (Cork)

Leagues and Championships should be scrapped – An Appeal To G.A.A. Chiefs

Baile na Golcaí

Beal na Molt

Co. Port Lairge

  16 Deireadh Fómhair 2020  

A Chara

As a G.A.A. supporter all my life, I would appeal to G.A.A. Chiefs to cancel the remaining fixtures in this year’s National Football League and at the same time declare that this year’s championships at all levels will not go ahead as planned in the coming weeks.

I fully accept that the G.A.A. at present will make every effort that no stone remains unturned when it comes to the Covid Virus and the staging of games, but for me my biggest fear is not what happens inside the stadiums where games are to be played, but elsewhere within the country.

I know that the G.A.A. will claim that what happens outside of the venues which it has an interest in is not of a concern to them, but I doubt very much that G.A.A. Chiefs at Croke Park and Provincial Levels, at County Board Level, players and those over the different teams want to hear reports on a Monday or Tuesday after a game takes place that the numbers testing positive for the virus are on the up.

While no supporters will be attending games this year and to the best of my knowledge as a non drinker and someone that does not frequent pubs, most if not all are closed, meaning that supporters this year will be watching games from the comfort of their own living rooms.

Here to me will be the problem. While all with a television will have RTE to watch the games that they will be showing, not everyone will have Sky Sports or the means to watch even the basic Sky packages, which means that we will have people making their ways to the homes of friends and neighbours who have a sky package to see the games. I have a feeling that this will happen even with the games that are on TV. People that might normally watch the games on a Sunday afternoon in their local pub will gather and watch games as they would normally, maybe having some drinks together in the house.

When this happens will we have Paddy or Johnny who attended Mickey’s house on Sunday afternoon to see a game test positive for the virus and maybe others that were also present also testing positive admit that they watched the game at Mickey’s house and name those that who else might be watching the games on television that day? I doubt that many will admit freely that they visited someone in their house, something we are asked not to do from midnight last night, and I doubt that others will admit they left others into their house. There are so many people who all along are in denial of the numbers visiting them, so I hate to admit they will admit it now when people are not supposed to be visiting.

The G.A.A. should this weekend do the right thing and suspend all competitions that are due to take place in the coming weeks. I know that there are so many people, be they be supporters, players, coaches, officers, referee’s etc who are looking forward to eventually seeing action in the coming weeks, but do we want to see it happen at a cost.

Does anyone in the G.A.A. want to hear that maybe someone well known in a particular community or on a more wider seen had contracted the Covid-19 virus and is seriously sick in hospital or worst still have lost their life after contracting the virus after they attended someone’s house to see a game or had someone in their house to see a game. As I said, the G.A.A. will and rightly so claim that they have no control of where people will watch games and with whom they watch them, but why take the chance of seeing the virus spread.

Is mise

Tomás Ó Catháin

 

Gailltir, Lismore and Ferrybank Are County Champions

The WIT Arena at Carriganore was a hive of activity on Saturday morning last with the staging of this year’s County under 12 Camogie Finals, with the standard of play across all three finals of the highest level, a testimony to the work done within all six clubs involved in the finals.

 

Ferrybank 1-2 Dungarvan 0-2

The division three final between these two sides was a hugely entertaining one where the outcome could have gone either way.

This is Ferrybank’s only underage team this year and hopefully this win will give the game a massive boost in the area and that for next year’s championship it will see extra girls get involved in the club.

Dungarvan turned around at the break in this game with a 1-0 to 0-2 advantage showing on the score board. Sophiat Adehenan opened the scoring for the city side but Dungarvan’s Holly Sheehan followed up with a goal for her side.

Cliodhna McGarrity however brought the game back to a one point game just before half time when she put over a free.

Scores were hard won in the second half with both sets of backs well on top. The only score of the second half however proved to be a crucial one as Shayla Alyward caught the Dungarvan goalkeeper Aoife Healy off guard.

For Dungarvan Aoife Healy, Hollie Ryan-Power and Natasha Maher were very impressive while Lilly Magee, Lucy Jolly and Sophiat Adehenam all excelled for Ferrybank.

 

Lismore 0-5 Abbeyside 0-4

There was a lot of confusion at the end of this game as practically all watching the game were of the opinion that the game had ended in a draw, but it quickly came to light that Lismore had won the game by a single score.

Abbeyside held an 0-3 to 0-1 lead at the break. Gemma Corcoran gave Lismore an early lead, but two points from Edel Tynan and one from Abbey Sweeney saw Abbeyside turn around in a good position.

Most of those watching on were of the opinion that Edel Tynan hit two points in the second half, they certainly were indicated by the umpires, while Gemma Corcoran hit a brace for Lismore and Helen Duncan-O’Neill hit which most thought was the score that levelled matters but in the referee’s notebook proved to be the winner.

Emily Barry, Ruby Walsh and Gemma Corcoran all impressed for Lismore in this one, while for Abbeyside Edel Tynan, Lauren Cliffe and Abbey Sweeney impressed.

 

Gailltir 2-5 Tramore 1-0

Gailltir with just four of their team underage again for next year’s competition proved too strong for Tramore in the Division One final at the Carriganore venue.

Gailltir after playing with a strong wind in the first half turned around leading 0-3 to no score with Caoimhe Flynn accounting for two of the sky blues scores while Ruby Murphy got their third just before the half time whistle.

Playing against the wind in the second half Gailltir continued to work very hard and hit an early goal from Siennah Healy. Aoife Flynn followed up with a point before Caoimhe Flynn scored a good goal. The same player two minutes from time followed up with a point.

Tramore however never gave up and in stoppage time when they won a free Kim McGrath as any good free taker does in such circumstances blasted just under the height of the crossbar and went into the back of the Gailltir net.

For Tramore Kim McGrath, Reailtin Bartels-Short, Leah Obanya and Maeve Flavin all impressed while for Gailltir Caoimhe Flynn, Aggie Hutchinson and Elaina Cody all played well. A special mention must go to Tramore’s Ellie Gillane in this game. Ellie broke her hurley in this game. So what say’s you, players break their hurley every so often in games and at training, but in this game even after Ellie broke her hurley she continued to try and hunt down the Gailltir players and tried to put in a block using the little piece of the top of the hurley she had in her hand. No doubt with commitment and courage in players like Ellie she will go on to be a player to look out for in the years ahead if she continues to listen to her coaches and work on her game. There is many players much older and much more experienced who would break their hurley that would not try and block down an opposing player with the little bit of a hurley they have in their hand.

Gailltir Begin Search For Fourth Munster Title

 

There can be no disputing that Gailltir are one of the best club sides in the country in the last number of years. Numerous underage titles have made their way to the Barony in the last decade while the clubs senior team have won four county titles in five years, won three Munster Finals in the last four years and appeared at Croke Park on All-Ireland Club final day in the last two final’s day.

Having beaten Saint Anne’s in one of the most exciting finals played in the Déise County in a long numbers of years, they now represent the County against the best that other counties have to offer and will be looking to retain their Munster and All-Ireland titles in the coming weeks.

There are some that would like to see the Waterford senior champions play against the senior champions of other counties, but the rules are what they are and so this coming Sunday Gailltir are in Munster Intermediate Club championship against the Intermediate champions from Cork – Enniskeane.

Enniskeane side will travel from West Cork to Waterford for this game, and while they played at a grade lower than Gailltir in their County Championship, there is no way that Gailltir will be under estimating their opponents.

The appeared in last year’s County Intermediate Final where they lost out to Newcestown whom Gailltir beat in a Munster Semi final last October.

Enniskeane while they played at a grade lower than what Gailltir did in the two respective county championships should not be under estimated. They have learned a great deal from last year’s defeat to Newcestown.

They have used almost the same 15 players throughout the Club Championship to date but there has been some moving of players amongst positions as they have progressed and looked to be a stronger unit as a result.

Orla Cronin is without doubt the sides biggest star and is likely to start in the half forward line. She hit 13 points for her side in their 1-16 to 2-8 win over Aghabullogue in the County Final recently, seven points of which came from open play and is clearly a player that the Gailltir players will have to keep a close eye on.

But she is not the sides only attacking option from the centre of the field up as in Daire O’Brien and Laura Mannix who is the likely centre field pairing, Tara Sheehan and Siobhan O’Driscoll, sixteen year old Deirdre Browne, Sinead Hurley and Eimear O’Brien are all players that know where the posts are.

Kate Corcoran will start between the posts with Louise Duggan, Celine Nyhan, Kellie Scannell, Emma O’Driscoll, Danielle Carroll and Aisling O’Driscoll in defence. However the fact that this sextet of players have moved around so much while still looking strong it might suggest that the teams management do not know their strongest position, something that Gailltir might take advantage of.

Gailltir in their exciting County Final win over Saint Anne’s recently in Walsh Park had 12 of the side involved that started against Saint Rynagh’s at Croke Park last March and they will be expected to line out in a similar manner this time.

Ciara Jackman is one of the best goalkeepers in the country. In front of her Margo Heffernan is a vastly experienced player and could well have Emily O’Mahony and Sorcha Cantwell either side of her.

If Gailltir are to advance from this game they will need to be very strong in the half back line. Last time out Clodagh Carroll was at centre back with Leah Sheridan and Hannah Flynn either side of her. None of this sextet of players did anything wrong in their last game to lose out for this game but if the management team opts for changes they have the very experienced Emma Roche on the bench.

Kate Lynch and Shauna Fitzgerald is a very strong centre field pairing, while in attack Anne Corcoran, Ciara O’Sullivan and Una Jackman the heroine of the Croke Park win back in March likely to start on the ’50 while the inside forward like of Emer Walsh and the Fitzgerald cousin’s Annie and Aoife are more than capable of causing trouble for any back line.

If the Gailltir management team want to make changes in attack they have the likes of Alannah O’Sullivan a young player with a huge future ahead of her and Róisín Flood that they can call upon, while if the management team want to crowd their defence they could also include bring in Claire Dunne, a player that has also done it all in the past.

This is one of those games that could go right to the wire and if it does, then Gailltir’s experience of recent years is bound to tell.

Dungarvan Set Out On Munster Trail

 

After recording an exciting win over neighbours An Rinn in the recent County Intermediate Camogie Championship, Dungarvan make their Munster Championship debut on Sunday afternoon.

The Champions of Waterford compete in a grade lower in the Provincial and All-Ireland Championship should they advance this far meaning that the ladies from the Old Boro will be involved in the Junior Championship.

Their opponents will be the Clare Intermediate champions Feakle/Killanena who come into this game on the back of an equally exciting county final 1-16 to 1-15 over Clooney Quin recently.

The Clare side will prove to be tough opponents for Dungarvan and are solid throughout the team. Róisín Quilligan in goal will be tough to beat. Most sides are built on a solid defence and the Clare side have an excellent half back line of Aoife Tuohy, Regan Conway and Vera Loughnane, while Zi Yan Spillane and Evelyn Duggan in the middle of the field are hard grafters.

In Attack the Clare side will also have their strong hitters. Claire McNamara, Róisín McMahon and Meave Brady in the half forward line will know how to take their scores when given their chance and also know how to lay the ball off to their inside forward line of Laura McGrath, Robyn Conway and Lorna McNamara.

Dungarvan will be looking to build on their recent 6-6 to 4-7 win over An Rinn at the WIT Arena and are well equipped to advance here.

The Old Boro ladies are solid all around the field and have a nice mix of youth and experience.

If Dungarvan are to field along the lines of their County Final win recently expect Caoimhe Meehan will line out in goal, Michaela Moran, Taylor Murray and Kayleigh Veale in the half back line with a powerful half back line of Niamh Curran, Orla Hickey and Aisling Baumann in front of them.

Mia Cronin and Caoimhe O’Dwyer are an excellent partnership in the middle of the field while in attack Mary Kate Prendergast, Clodagh Tutty and Sarah Lacey could well prove to be the half forward line while Kaeisha Tobin and Heather Hayes will be in the full forward line along with possibly Rachel Harty or Isabelle Wade completing the side.

The Clare side will travel to Dungarvan fancying their chances of advancing to the Munster Final, but Dungarvan with home advantage will also really fancy their chances against a side that have to make a long journey from within shouting distance of the Clare and Galway county boundary.