Camogie in Waterford during 2014 - Part 3

And so we reach the last part of a review dealing with inter county teams.

Really there is only one place you can start and that is with the Under 16 team.

Twelve months ago Waterford reached the All-Ireland ‘B’ Final at this grade, loosing to Cork, while in the Munster Championship they beat the Rebels.

With many of that panel again available in 2014, Waterford were always going to be one of the front runners to again win silverware at Provincial level and to go a step further in the All-Ireland Championship.

Played in Cashel, Waterford retained their provincial title against Cork on a 1-11 to 0-5 score line.

Waterford got off to a great start in this game as Anne Corcoran finished to the net in a goalmouth scramble with just two minutes played.

Waterford’s great start gave the side great confidence. The outstanding Beth Carton in the first half slotted over seven points and team captain Aisling Power also got her name on the score sheet which gave Waterford a 1-9 to 0-2 advantage at the break.

Cork came out for the second half with a little more fire in the belly, but they relied on Rachel McNamara and Nora O’Riordan for scores mostly from frees.

Cork hit three scores in the second half but it was goals that they needed and against a strong Waterford back line they were going to be hard come by.

Playing against the elements in the second half, Waterford found scores hard to come by, hitting just two points both Beth Carton frees after fouls on Sally Brown and Kate McMahon.

After winning the Munster Championship, no further competitive inter county games were played till after the Junior Cert at the end of June.

Waterford began the All-Ireland Championship with a clinical performance against Cork at Walsh Park, running out 5-15 to 0-10 winners.

On the day Waterford had some fine performance right around the field.

Galltir’s Anne Corcoran hit a first half hat-trick and top scorer on the day Beth Carton who finished the game with 2-10.

A good start they say is half the work and after that win over Cork, Waterford went on to beat Antrim 7-12 to 3-9 at Donaghmore and a week later at the same venue they beat Derry 4-13 to 4-8. Waterford rounded off the league section of the competition with a 3-16 to 0-6 win over Tipperary at The Ragg.

Four wins from four games meant Waterford topped the group with Derry finishing two points behind followed by Cork, Antrim and Tipperary propping up the group without collecting any league points.

On the other side of the draw, four teams competed.

Dublin topped the group with maximum points from their three games with Down two points behind. Armagh finished third as a result of their win over winless Meath.

The draw saw Waterford take on Down in the semi finals and Derry paired with Dublin.

In the two semi finals there were easy wins for the two sides that emerged from the five team group as Derry beat Dublin 7-12 to 3-8 while Waterford had a massive 10-14 to 0-4 win over Down.

The final against Derry was played at Leixlip almost four months on from when the same two counties contested the Minor ‘B’ Final, a game as we all know was won by Waterford.

Able to call upon nine members of the panel that were beaten in the final twelve months earlier this game was one of the few occasions that I did not have a feeling that the looser of the first game between the two sides would win. Experience and hunger was always going to be a telling factor for Waterford.

Derry were quickest to settle hitting a point from Faoiltiama Burke and then a Niamh Gallagher goaled to give them a 1-1 to no score advantage with just four minutes on the clock.

You can always tell how good a side is after they concede a goal and Waterford responded very impressively.

Beth Carton hit a hat-trick of points and Aisling Power hit a brace to give Waterford the lead.

Derry hit back with a second goal through Claire Mulholland and now Waterford had to show again what they were made from. Could they strike back at Derry?

Beth Carton sent the umpire reaching for a green flag for the first time in the game to give Waterford a 1-5 to 2-1 lead.

Meabh McGill and Dara McGuckin hit points for Derry to give them the lead once more but Beth Carton levelled matters just before the break with another point for Waterford, her fourth of the game.

Having served up an even first half, those expecting the same in the second half would be left disappointed.

The second half was all one way traffic as Waterford controlled from start to finish.

Leading scorer Beth Carton hit a further six points to her first half tally. Team captain Aisling Power in the second half would three further points. Kate McMahon and Anne Corcoran would also hit second half points.

They say goals win games and they certainly did here.

Beth Carton hit a second goal for Waterford five minutes after the restart.

Kate McGrath set up Niamh Murphy for a third Waterford goal and the same player would hit her second and Waterford’s fourth goal soon afterwards when she was set up by Anne Corcoran.

Some were wondering having struck four goals would Waterford ease up on the Northern side in the time that remained.

The side in white and blue would hit two more goals through Kate McGrath and Cappoquin’s Róisín Uniacke who replaced Aoife Shanahan hit Waterford fifth and sixth goals to give their side an unassailable lead.

A third goal would go past Waterford late in the game but Jackie Donnelly’s effort was too little too late. There was no way her side were going to be able to serve up a late come back, as Waterford ran out 6-17 to 3-5 winners.

For the record Waterford’s panel which won Munster and All-Ireland under 16 titles in 2014 was; Brianna O' Regan (De La Salle), Sinéad O' Brien (Cappoquin), Laura Murray (Cappoquin), Aoife Shanahan (Butlerstown), Caoimhe Drohan (De La Salle), Courtney Healy (De La Salle), Saoirse Bonner (St Annes), Megan Dunford (Brickey Rangers), Sibeal Harney (St Annes), Kate McGrath (Brickey Rangers), Beth Carton (De La Salle), Aisling Power (Cappoquin), Niamh Murphy (De La Salle), Kate McMahon (Butlerstown), Anne Corcoran (Gaultier), Clodagh Galvin (Cappoquin), Sinead Cunningham (Gaultier), Roisin Uniacke(Cappoquin), Collette Hogan (De La Salle), Taylor Healy (De La Salle), Rachel McDonald (St Annes), Sharon Williams (Lismore), Saoirse English (Tramore), Catherine Murray (Dungarvan), Roisin Oates (Ferrybank), Sally Brown (Butlerstown), Chloe Dempsey (De La Salle) and Ellen Curran (Lismore)​.

At under 14 level Waterford made it a hat-trick of titles at this level winning the All-Ireland blitz for the third year in a row in Dublin.

Waterford’s first game in the blitz was against Dublin ‘B’ and resulted in a 2-6 to 0-1 win for the side coached by Orla Fitzgerald, Gail Fitzgerald and Sean Fleming.

Waterford’s second game was against Down and again resulted in a Waterford win this time on a 2-9 to 1-2 score line.

Waterford kept their winning run in the competition with wins in their remaining games over Clare ‘B’ and Limerick ‘B’ both on a 1-4 to 0-1 score line.

In the semi final Waterford proved too strong for. Waterford won the game 3-4 to 2-1 and in the final they again proved too strong for Dublin winning this time on 2-9 to 0-3 score line.

Waterford’s victorious under 14 panel was as follows: Abbie Flynn (De La Salle), Lucy Hogan (De La Salle), Katie O’Keeffe (De La Salle), Aisling Madigan (De La Salle),Mary Kiely (Brickey Rangers), Caira Kilcawley (Brickey Rangers), Aoife Hahessy (Clonea), Keeley Corbett Barry (Clonea), Aisling Baumann (Dungarvan), Alix Fitzgerald (Dungarvan), Kaiesha Tobin (Dungarvan), Clodagh Carroll (Gaultier), Aoife Fitzgerald (Gaultier), Annie Fitzgerald (Gaultier), Shauna Fitzgerald (Gaultier) Captain, , Emma Flynn (Gaultier), Kate Lynch (Gaultier), Ciara O'Sullivan (Gaultier), Leah Sheridan (Gaultier), Mary Kate Curran (Modeligo), Mary O’Brien (Lismore), Aoife Fleming (St Molleran’s), Emma Norris (St Molleran’s), Leah Barry (Tramore), Muireann Cuddihy  (Tramore), Ciara Griffin (Tramore), Sally Kelly (Tramore).

And so back to Waterford’s Intermediate panel. In the championship having reached the All-Ireland semi finals in both 2012 and 2013, the hopes were there that Waterford could go that step further in 2014.

Waterford began the championship well with a win over Meath at Rathmoylan.

Just two points separated the sides at the end of the hour in a game that proved to be a game of two halves.

Karen Kelly opened the scoring for Waterford on five minutes. Jane Dolan followed up with a point for Meath before Nicola Morrissey and Niamh Rockett landed points for Waterford.

Karen Kelly hit a goal for Waterford after good work by Niamh Rockett after which Trish Jackman pointed to give Waterford a 1-4 to 0-1 lead midway through the first half.

Dolan landed a second point soon afterwards but Waterford would finish the half strong with Karen Kelly and Trish Jackman hitting points and Nicola Morrissey then pointed to give Waterford a 1-7 to 0-2 lead at the break. Waterford however were unlucky not to be even further in front as an unfavourable bounce of the ball cost Shona Curran what could have been an excellent goal.

The home side proved to be the stronger of the sides in the second half. Jane Dolan hit 1-2 within minutes of the restart and Aoife McGuire pointed from play and Dolan scored again to leave the minimum between the sides.

A converted Trish Jackman ’45 steadied the ship for Waterford but it was followed by another Jane Dolan point to leave one between the sides again. A late Trish Jackman free however sailed between the uprights to give Waterford a deserved 1-9 to 1-7 victory.

It was Cork next for Waterford at Carriganore where Waterford made it two wins from two games.

Like so many of Waterford’s games in 2014 this was a game of two halves. The first was an even encounter but the second was all one way traffic.

Both sides registered early scores. Lorraine Bray and Nicola Morrissey hit scores for Waterford, Amanda O’Regan and Katelyn Hickey did so for Cork.

Trish Jackman hit a point for Waterford but it was followed by a Cork goal from Collette Desmond on twelve minutes which gave Cork a four point lead.

That goal was cancelled out when Trish Jackman hammered a 20 metre free to the net after a foul on Niamh Rockett to level matters. The same player previously put over a free.

Waterford began to up their game after this and with Charlotte Raher, Shona Curran and Sinead Cummins working hard in and around the middle of the field when the latter found Karen Kelly she blasted to the net, a just reward for the effort Waterford were putting in.

In the second half, Waterford continued to dominate and hit two further goals. Nicola Morrissey finished to the net when she tapped over the line in a goal mouth scramble and Lorraine Bray set up by the impressive Sinead Cummins hit Waterford’s fourth goal.

So impressive were Waterford in the second half that the Waterford selectors were able to empty their bench amongst those that came on included Iona Heffernan for her Championship debut for Waterford.

The home side ran out 4-13 to 2-8 winners.

Waterford however were not able to make it three wins from three as Kilkenny proved too strong at Callan, winning 2-9 to 1-6.

The first half was played in a heavy rain and a strong wind at Kilkenny’s backs.

Waterford however despite the conditions competed well in the first half but were unable to get that all important touch to create the scores for their efforts.

After twenty minutes Waterford trailed 1-7 to no score ant it could have been worse but for a fine save by Becky Kavanagh in the Waterford goal to deny Kilkenny.

Waterford continued however to work hard and when the rain stopped and the wind died down for the closing minutes of the half Waterford were able to tag on some scores for their efforts.

Trish Jackman played in Shona Curran for Waterford’s first score. The Gailltir sharp shooter followed up with a brace of points and Nicola Morrissey added another score before the turn around to give Waterford hope going into the second half.

Waterford further cut the Kilkenny lead with a converted Trish Jackman ’45 early in the second half, but this was to prove as good as it would get for Waterford on the score board.

The home side added 1-2 and while Trish Jackman and Emma Hannon landed late scores for Waterford they were unable to eat any further into the lead the home side had build up.

Kilkenny ran out winners 2-9 to 1-6 which secured their place in the semi finals of the championship.

Waterford would join Kilkenny in the semi finals when they outscored Wexford at Fraher Field on a 1-13 to 0-4 score line.

Waterford opened brightly against the Model County but were not able to show their supremacy on the score board, shooting five early wide’s.

Nicola Morrissey opened Waterford’s account on 12 minutes after she was set up by Shona Curran. Wexford would follow up with a brace of scores but after Trish Jackman landed a brace of scores to put Waterford back in front, they would never fall behind again.

Further scores would follow from Shona Curran and Karen Kelly, one of which the visitors cancelled out which gave Waterford a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage at the break.

Waterford came out strong in the second half. Trish Jackman put over a free after a foul on Ruth Geoghegan. Shona Curran was unlucky not to score a goal when she was put through by Lorraine Bray. The Lismore player saw her effort put out for a ’45 from which Waterford would make no mistake from.

Waterford were now playing some good Camogie and the side did not have to wait long more for the games only goal which was scored by Lorrain Bray who finished off an excellent move by the Waterford team.

Waterford had further scores from Fiona Morrissey, Nicola Morrissey, Trish Jackman and Emma Hannon to give their side a healthy lead.

The win over Wexford coupled with Meath loosing to Cork meant that Waterford were in the semi finals of the championship for the third year in a row, but lady luck was not on Waterford’s side as they drew the short straw having to play a strong Limerick side in the semi finals at Carlow.

Waterford always knew the battle with Limerick was going to be tough. When the sides clashed in the championship a year earlier on what proved to be the hottest day of the year and after a long trip on a bus into West Limerick, the home side ran out winners.

Limerick also competed in Division One in the league which would also be a help as they had experience playing against players who were playing against some of the strongest in the country earlier in the league.

Galway, Clare and Limerick all finished level on points in the group and a series of play offs were needed to decide which two of the three would advance to the semi finals. For Limerick however there would be disappointment as it was they that missed out in the play offs. But they made up for that loss by sailing through the group section of the championship finishing with just short of a plus 80 score difference.

Waterford started the game very brightly racing into a three point lead with ten minutes on the clock courtesy of a brace of Caitriona McGlone points and one from Karen Kelly.

Waterford would hit another three points in the first half from the sticks of Karen Kelly and Lorraine Bray.

Limerick however would keep in touch, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Niamh Mulcahy who on the day was brilliant for the Treaty girls, who turned around trailing 0-6 to 0-3.

Limerick in the second half proved to be the better of the sides and by the 40^th minute they were level with Waterford again with Niamh Mulcahy playing a huge roll.

Limerick were now on a high and they hit the next three scores to go nine points to six in front, but Waterford finished strong with Lorraine Bray and Trish Jackman splitting the posts, but the further score or scores that Waterford needed would not come their way as Limerick held out for a 0-9 to 0-8 victory.

2014 was a year where Waterford reached the penultimate round of the championship for the third year in a row and was the second year in a row that they lost out to the eventual All-Ireland champions. Could 2015 be the year when Waterford a step or two further?

Prior to the All-Ireland Championship and after the league, Waterford made the trip to The Ragg outside Thurles to play Tipperary in the Munster Senior Championship. As a senior team Tipperary were expected to prove too strong for Waterford in the eyes of some, but Waterford really put it up to the Premier County side. Just two points separated the sides at the end of the hour, Tipperary winning 1-12 to 2-7.

As we have seen in these reviews of the year in Camogie for 2014, Camogie in Waterford is moving in the right direction.

Some excellent young prospects are coming through from a number of clubs and surly it will be only a matter of time before they are challenging for a place against more experienced players at a higher level than they are currently playing.

Camogie in Waterford during 2014 - Part 2

It’s amazing what one favourable result can do for a club or county.

A team could have success at a young level and it could well spur those to achieve even greater things in the years ahead.

Success could come at adult level and it could spur on younger players who having seen what was achieved will say to themselves, well if they can achieve this or that, well then there is no reason as to why I cant.

To think back to 2003 might seem a long time for some.

Waterford’s under 16 team reached the All-Ireland final that year playing Armagh at Portlaoise.  Waterford captained by Laura Buckley did not just win the game they won it with ease on a 6-11 to 1-4 score line.

In the years that followed several members of the panel that won that final were involved in different Waterford teams which achieved different things at adult levels.

Some were involved in one, two or all three Junior All-Ireland finals in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Some were involved in Waterford teams which reached All-Ireland Intermediate semi finals in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Some were also involved with the Waterford intermediate team that won the Munster final in 2013.

To see what these teams achieved even if results did not always go the way of Waterford, it inspired another generation of players to take up the game and to set targets, trying to replicate what those had done before them was a minimum target.

One set of players that would have had such targets are the players that made up this years Minor panel.

Many of the team were involved in the team for a year or two before 2014.

A lot of the panel were involved in the Under 16 team that won a Munster ‘B’ Final in 2013 against Cork but would loose to the same opposition in the All-Ireland Final. And many of the panel would still be under 16 again in 2014 where they would repeat and better what they did 12 months earlier but more about that a little later.

With such a young panel, where the real hopes for much of the panel would be a year or two from 2014 would it be unfair to expect anything major to happen in 2014, or would it.

When it comes to trying to find a formula to run a championship, it’s hard to find a formula that will be accepted by everyone.

If asked I tend to favour a knockout championship. Others say you need one where players get enough games to develop as players. To get this you can have a league style championship or the old back door system.

The Minor ‘B’ Championship this year was run as a league, with the top two teams in both groups advancing to the semi finals.

The seven competing teams were split one group of four, the other of three.

Antrim, Down and Kildare were drawn in one group, Derry, Waterford, Westmeath and Dublin in the other. And when Westmeath withdrew from the competition before it began, it left two groups of three, meaning all sides had two games, which if you are looking for games to develop players its hardly the ideal situation. Could the competition be revised after Westmeath withdrew, putting all teams into one group and leaving them play off with the top four teams advancing to the semi finals? Should it have happened is for others to decide. It would be interesting to find out the opinions of the respective county boards and the players. One thing it would have done is give each county five games instead of two which if its games you are looking for the idea would have to be at least considered.

Waterford under the guidance of former Inter county hurler Shane Ahearne who was over the under 16’s in 2013 were to begin the campaign with a game to Westmeath but after they withdrew they had to wait for a game against Dublin in round two get the year underway.

The ‘Dubs’ had played and lost to Derry in round 1 on a 3-7 to 2-4 score line so if they were to loose again they were out of the championship. They did loose to Waterford over Saint Patrick’s weekend on a 2-11 to 2-6 score line.

That win for Waterford in round two coupled with Derry’s win over the same opposition in the opening round of fixtures meant that both sides were through to the All-Ireland semi final, the only thing to be decided when they clashed in round three was to see who would top the group and who would finish second.

The Northerners won the game 3-7 to 4-3 but Waterford would not be too put out by the loss.

In the opposite group, things proved to be a very tight affair as Antrim, Down and Kildare all recorded one win each in their two games meaning that a series of play-offs would have to be played to decide which of the two advanced to the semi finals and meet Derry and Waterford.

Antrim were the side to miss out. Down won the group and so were paired with Waterford while Kildare were drawn against Derry.

Both semi finals proved to be one way battles as Derry ran out convincing 6-6 to 1-6 winners over Kildare while Waterford had an impressive 2-15 to 2-5 win over Down at Blakestown in Dublin.

Despite the lack of games heading into the All-Ireland final Waterford were experienced outfits.

Most of side (17 of the panel as far as I can remember) would have learned a lot from winning the Munster Final of twelve months earlier and more over from the defeat in the All-Ireland Final.

Players like Beth Carton, Courtney Healy and Brianna O’Regan had being part of a Waterford Presentation College side that reached a Junior All-Ireland Final, Johanna Houlihan was part of the Lismore that had won an All-Ireland Club final, Labhaoise Dunbar, the team captain was part of an excellent Saint Anne’s club side, Lorraine Bray had played Intermediate for the county while Sara Judge was an up an coming player with an emerging Gailltir Club side.

I keep saying this as regular readers know, but for the benefit of any new readers on here, I always have this theory that when two sides clash in close proximity, the team that looses out the first day often have an advantage the second day out as the winners of the first game often have this psychological thing telling that that because they won the first day they will win the second day, but its often the reverse that happens as the looser the first day will often learn from mistakes.

Heading into the game with Derry, I was confident Waterford would win and was proved right.

Waterford on the day were magnificent, winning the game 4-6 to 0-2.

From start to finish, Waterford were brilliant.

Brianna O’Regan between the posts is as good as you get anywhere and it is only a matter of time we see her play at the highest level. Against Derry she had a faultless performance.

The full back line of Sarah Coughlan, Labhaoise Dunbar and Sarah Geoghegan proved impossible to break down. Out in front of them Roisin Cahillane, Courtney Healy and Bronwyn Grace were equally as tough to break down.

In the middle of the field Iona Heffernan and Lorrain Bray from Ferrybank and Cappoquin worked like troopers linking between defence and attack.

In attack Waterford were magnificent.

All GAA Supports in Waterford at this stage should have heard of Beth Carton. She’s a player that has made a reputation for herself in recent year as a player who knows how to score when presented even with half a chance.

In this game she gave a typical performance hitting 3-1 of her sides 4-6. Jessica Glavin another up and coming player hit the fourth goal. Caoimhe McGrath an emerging duel player hit two points. Johanna Houlihan might not have scored on the day but she played a major roll in the win. She too is an emerging player who in the past year and a half won a County League Title, 2 county senior championships, 2 intermediate club championships, an All-Ireland Club championship, a Munster Intermediate Championship with Waterford and of course an All-Ireland Minor Championship.

Molly Curran and Orla Flynn also started on the day, while Catherine Kelly, Sibhel Harney, Dawn Power, Taylor Murray, Sarah Judge, Doireann Flynn, Niamh Ahearne, Elizabeth McGrath, Hayley Cox, Emily White, Hannah Murphy-Nix, Cadhla McGrath, Rachel Donnelly and Catherine Hahessey made up the remainder of the panel on the day.

Waterford were also involved in the Munster Shield Minor Championship this past year. In the semi final Waterford had a 3-4 to 0-8 win over Limerick but in the final against a Clare side that had competed in the ‘A’ All-Ireland Championship they faced strong opposition even if the young ladies from the Banner county finished bottom of the group loosing heavily to Tipperary in the opening game and then went on to loose to Galway, Wexford and Kilkenny.

Playing in the top flight helped Clare in this game as they ran out winners 4-12 to 0-7, but the Waterford players while they wont want to have lost the game they wont have been put out too much by the loss as the All-Ireland Championship was the premier competition the one that counted most.

Feile na Gael is a competition Waterford have done well in over the past few years.

For many years Lismore were the Waterford representatives at the annual festival of Hurling, Handball and Camogie and many of the players that represented the club and county at the competition over the years are now winning honours at a higher level.

Over the past few years the great work that got the ball rolling in Lismore when it comes to camogie in Waterford has been replicated in other clubs and now other clubs are moving nearer to the standards set by Lismore.

In the past three years, De La Salle and Gailltir have represented Waterford at Féile.

In 2012 De La Salle were beaten in the final of their division. Twelve months later Gailltir won the Division Two competition in Limerick and in 2014 both Gailltir and De La Salle represented Waterford at Féile.

Gailltir again competed in Division two while De La Salle competed in a division below.

Able to call upon 15 of the panel that took part in the 2013 competition, namely Hannah Flynn, Leah O Donoghue, Katie Judge, Shauna Fitzgerald, Aoife Fitzgerald, Emma Flynn, Clodagh Carroll, Ciara O’Sullivan, Ailish Doyle, Niamh Denn, Clodagh McGuire, Leah Sheridan, Kate Lynch, Annie Fitzgerald and Hannah McGuire, the young ladies were always in with a great chance of retaining the crown they won 12 months earlier.

This is exactly what they did and in what style they done it.

In the group stages of the competition, they beat St John’s 10-10 to no score, Ballinascreen 13-8 to no score and Kinnity 7-7 to 1-0 the only score to pass them in the group stages.

In the quarter finals the young Barony ladies had a 8-7 to no score win over Ballycastle, in the semi finals they had a much tougher game against Camross winning 2-3 to 0-1 and in the final they had another good win, beating Tullamore 3-4 to 1-1.

De La Salle’s trip to Féile proved to be equally as impressive.

The Gracedieu based club are an emerging club within the county and through hard work have helped develop some exciting young prospects who in the next year or two many are looking forward to see how they will develop once they begin to play in the adult competitions and on adult inter county teams.

In the group stages of the competition they beat Greenlough on the first day of the competition on a 4-9 to 0-0 score line but lost their two group stage games on Saturday morning to Glen 7-6 to 1-2 and against Drumraney on a 4-3 to 1-2 score line.

A third placed finish in the group stages gave De La Salle a Division three plate quarter final sport where they easily beat Castledowson from Derry on a score of 7-6 to 0-1 and in the semi final they accounted for Na Brid Óga from Mayo on a 2-3 to 1-4 score line.

This set them up for a final against Eglish/St Patrick’s from Tyrone at Garvaghey. De La Salle in the final continued a rood run of results in the knockout stages of the competition beating the Ulster side 5-5 to 0-2.

These results will have given the players on the two respective sides plenty of confidence going into the future.

It will be interesting to see in the coming years the players involved develop as players and win a place on different inter county teams.

The players that represented the two clubs at this years Féile na nGael were as follows:

Gailltir Panel: Alisha Flynn, Hannah Flynn, Leah O Donoghue, Katie Judge, Shauna Fitzgerald, Aoife Fitzgerald, Emma Flynn, Clodagh Carroll, Ciara O’Sullivan, Ailish Doyle, Niamh Denn, Treasa Coady, Jessica Flynn, Clodagh McGuire, Una O Brien, Laoise McLoughlin, Robin Whitty, Sally O Grady, Sorcha Cantwell, Leah Sheridan, Kate Lynch, Annie Fitzgerald, Hannah McGuire, Anna Mai Drohan.

De La Salle Panel : Toni Forristal, Sarah Ryan, Lucy Hogan, Saoirse Kinsella, Ruth Heery, Megan O Connor, Jade Phelan, Aisling Madigan, Clara Boland, Patricia Farrell, Zoe Fanning, Emer McGlynn, Sarah Hunt, Abby Flynn, Holly Ryan, Molly Griffin, Jill Phelan.

Staying with Féile na Gael Waterford had another representative at the competition this year.

Dungarvan’s Kaeisha Tobin took part in the skill’s competition and while she did not win the overall prize Kaeisha who is one of many rising duel stars when it comes to Camogie and Ladies Football in the county did herself, her club and the county proud with an excellent performance.

The Puc Fada in Camogie has come to mean one thing. Patricia Jackman over the past few years has become the undisputed queen of the long puck and 2014 proved to be no different.

The competition had to be re-arranged in 2014 having to be called off late in the day on its traditional date of the Saturday before the August Bank Holiday owing to inclement weather on the mountains which would have made it dangerous to run off the competition but when it did go ahead she again proved to be ahead of the rest of the field, but it proved to be a close call as the Gailltir sharp shooter completed the course in the same number of puck’s (29) as Catriona Daly from Galway and Martine McMahon from Limerick but she managed to put the ball sixty-two metres past the finish line compared to forty-seven for the Galway lady and fifteen for the Limerick lady with her last strike to win her sixth successive title. In three other times entering the Competition Patricia finished as runner up. Some record.

When it comes to Camogie men seldom make the headlines but in 2014 one Waterford man did as Tony Cummins who is involved with the Gailltir club going back to the late 1950’s when the club was formed was presented with one of a number of National Volunteer Awards presented to people involved in all sports in recognition for the work he has done for the Gailltir club and the Camogie Association down the years.

In the underage Club Championships, Cappoquin in a brilliant year for the club by the bend in the River Blackwater won the Minor ‘A’ Championship, beating Gailltir in the final.

The ‘B’ final was won by their neighbour’s up river – Lismore who also had a great year who beat Ferrybank, one of a number of clubs born in the city area in recent years and who where some great work is being done. Surly it is only a matter of time before the only club in Waterford North of the River Suir will become a force within the county such is the talent they have available to them.

In the under 16 championship, with the assistance of members of the County under 16 county team (which can be read about in the next part of the years review) and the Minor team which won All-Ireland finals, De La Salle were crowned champions beating Gailltir in the final.

The ‘B’ Championship was won by Lismore who beat Tramore/Butlerstown in the final while in the ‘C’ Final’s Saint Molleran’s were crowned champions after beating Modeligo.

It was no surprize to see Gaultier crowned Under 14 champions. Already reviewed is how they won back to back National Feile Titles. In the county final they beat Dungarvan and to win the right to represent Waterford at Féile they beat De La Salle in the County Féile Final. The Plate Feile Final was won by Dungarvan.

The County Under 14 ‘B’ Final was won by Tramore who beat Lismore while the ‘C’ Final was won by An Rinn who beat Butlerstown in the final.

The Under 12 competitions were run on a league basis with the top team after the final round of games being crowned champions. (There was no final).

In the ‘A’ Competition Gailltir were winners. Brickeys, Saint Anne’s Butlerstown and De La Salle also took part in this competition. The other two finals were won by clubs in the West of the county (I know, there is not West/East divide in Camogie and proper order), with the ‘B’ Championship going to Lismore, agus buaigh An Rinn Rionn C. In the ‘B’ Competition Portlaw, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Clonea/St Molleran’s and Tramore also took part, while in the ‘C’ competition St. Annes had a second team involved (well done for giving everyone a chance to play), Cappoquin, Tallow, Roanmore and Ferrybank took part.

 

Camogie in Waterford during 2014 - Part 1

If asked how would you describe success when it comes to sport? Is it having silverware to show for at the end of the year? Is it if you end the year in a stronger position than you started it? Or maybe there is some other way was to describe what success is.

To me, success is about competing, and doing your best. Of course a year would be more successful if you end the year stronger than you started it, and if there is silverware to show for your efforts, then it is a bonus.

If success is to be measured by means of a combination of all three, taking part, finishing the year in a healthier position than you stared it and there is some silverware to show for it, then for Camogie in Waterford in 2014, the year was not a good year, it was a bloody good year.

To start a review of 2014, you can’t start on January 1^st you have to go back a few months to the late summer and early autumn of 2013, because that is when some of the success that will be recorded here began.

During 2014, Lismore Camogie Club celebrated the 40^th anniversary of its foundation, and it proved to be a year that will long be remembered.

In their county semi final against Gailltir, they had it all to do to beat the side from the Barony at the Dungarvan Club grounds. The first half proved to be very close and at the turn around the winning was there for either side, but in the second half spurred on by their inter county stars and none more so than by Aisling O’Brien between the posts, Lismore went to win comfortably.

The win set up a county final with Saint Anne’s, a repeat of the final twelve months earlier at Ardmore where Saint Anne’s proved to be the stronger of the two sides.

Over the last few years the sides have become great rivals. The sides also clashed in the two previous league finals where victory went to the Heritage Town side. The last few finals between the two proved to be well contested games and this was expected to be no different.

The 2012 champions proved to be the better of the sides in the opening half and retired at the break with a small lead.

Lismore at the break made changes and they worked a treat

Goals win games they tell us and so it proved to be in this game as goals from Shona Curran and Sinead Bennett either side of the break proved to be the decisive scores in a six point win for Lismore.

The Munster quarter final of the Intermediate championship (the Waterford senior champions play in this competition as Waterford play in the Intermediate Inter county championship) Lismore made the relatively short trip to Carrigaline in Cork to play the home side.

The first half proved to be a tight enough affair at the end of which the home side lead 1-4 to 0-6.

In the second half, Lismore were dealt a blow when Aoife Hannon after hitting her fifth point of the game to level the scores, had to leave the field with a head injury.

The home side in the second half added two points to their first half tally, but Lismore without the influential Aoife Hannon raised their game considerably as every player upped their game. Shona Curran and Caitriona McGlone hit some crucial scores for Lismore, the latter hitting an all important goal, not the first big one she would hit for the side in black and amber hooped shirts which helped them record a worthy win to set up a third Munster Final appearance for the third time in four years.

The Munster Final against Clare side Newmarket-on-Fergus was played in Lattin Cullen on a day that was unfair to ask anyone to tog out in.

The two sides were familiar with each other. Lismore may have been the favourites to win but the weather conditions made the game a lottery and it was no surprise that the game ended in a draw.

When the sides clashed a week later at the same venue, things proved to be clearer cut.

When the sides clashed in the drawn game it was the Newmarket-on-Fergus that had the better start and let it slip. This time it was Lismore that had the brighter start racing into a lead that they did not let slip, winning the game by three points.

Lismore were now in the third All-Ireland semi final in four years. In all three previous semi finals there was heartbreak for Lismore and against Liatroim-Fontenoys from Down they were expected to be severely tested.

Forty-eight hours before the game was to be played, it was called off due an unplayable pitch.

When the game did go ahead a week later at Crettyard in Laois, Lismore played with a strong wind at their backs in the first half and lead by five at the break.

So strong was the wind, some were asking if five points would be enough to see Lismore advance to a first ever All-Ireland final. The Ulster Champions did put it up to Lismore in the second half but some resolute defending by Lismore ensured that a trip to Croke Park was going to happen as the Northern side would not cut Lismore’s half time advantage sufficiently.

Kilkenny side Ballyhale Shamrocks provided the opposition for Lismore at Croke Park.

They had come through a tough Kilkenny Championship beating Piltown in the county final 1-9 to 0-11 in the final.

Twenty four hours after winning the Kilkenny final they beat Oylegate-Glenbrien in the Leinster Quarter finals and followed it up with wins over Lucan Sarsfields in the semi final and Camross in the Leinster final.

In their All-Ireland semi final they played Portumna and despite racing into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after twelve minutes they turned around at the break trailing 0-4 to 0-3.

The Galway side extended their lead early in the second half but goals from Keeva and Mags Fennelly proved crucial. Despite pressure exerted by the Galway side in the closing minutes, the Kilkenny side stayed in front to earn a trip to Croke Park.

In the final it was Lismore that started brightly and finished the stronger of the two sides, with the Kilkenny side enjoying a period of dominance in between.

Nicola Morrissey opened the scoring for Lismore when she pointed inside thirty seconds. Ballyhale however responded with a Kelly-Anne Cottrell equaliser and then an effort from Keeva Fennelly which gave her side the lead.

Lismore retook the lead with efforts from Ruth Geoghegan and Nicola Morrissey, which was followed with efforts from Aoife Hannon and Shona Curran which gave Lismore a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

Ruth Geoghegan pointed again to give Lismore a four point cushion but a converted Kelly-Ann Cottrell free four minutes from the break ensured that Lismore turned around with a three point lead.

Ballyhale Shamrocks began the second half the stronger side.

Kelly Anne Cottrell landed her third point of the game before Mags Fennelly cracked the only goal of the game three minutes after the restart.

Fennelly moments later attempted to beat Aisling O’Brien once more but the brilliant Lismore net minder was equal to her effort and managed to keep the ball from bellowing the net.

Shona Curran leveled matters for Lismore but Ballyhale Shamrocks would hit back with points from Kelly Anne Cottrell and Keeva Fennelly to go two in front with ten minutes to play.

It was Lismore’s turn now to try and exert pressure on the Ballyhale defence. Ruth Geoghegan was unlucky not to have rattled the Ballyhale net and possibly would have but for a timely hook by Róisín Fennelly.

Nicola Morrissey put over a point to leave one between the sides and with Lismore continuing to mount pressure their efforts were rewarded when Aoife Hannon pointed from distance to level matters and to raise the biggest cheer of the day from the Lismore support inside the ground.

This proved to be the last score of the game which meant the two sides would have to do it all over again on March 16, with Clonmel fixed as the venue.

Lismore began training for the 2013 championship on Sunday March 17, and it was fitting that just hours short of 365 days later they were still training.

There is many when it comes to the GAA who are supporters of a counties senior hurling or football team, which ever is the stronger game within the county and they call themselves a GAA supporter.

A GAA supporter to me is someone that supports all units of the GAA who see underage competitions as important as the senior inter county set up. After all if we don’t have underage set ups, teaching and encouraging young players to be part of a team, then you will never have a senior set up. The players just won’t be there.

A GAA Supporter should also be a supporter of out women’s teams at all levels. Long gone are the day’s when a woman’s roll within the GAA is to drive children to games and training sessions and wash the jerseys and maybe make a few sandwiches if a team is visiting to take part in a tournament or travelling a long distance.

It is only right that women play and get to play at the top venues in each county and nationally. It is only right that our ladies teams get to play in curtain raisers to important big inter county league and championship games.

It’s important that All-Irelands are played at Croke Park and Croke Park officials have to be complemented for leaving finals to be played at the ground.

It is a pity however that the ladies teams do not get the support they deserve. When ladies teams play at big grounds like Croke Park because of the lack of support, the atmosphere may not be the best as in a huge venue the few hundred supporters are confined to the one area of a stand, meaning in other areas around the ground the atmosphere is equivalent to the quiet hours after dark in a religious monastery.

Playing the replay at Clonmel meant there was always going to be a better atmosphere and the players were not going to feel the pressure as much as they had in Croke Park despite the prize on offer.

In the replay it was Ballyhale Shamrocks that were quickest off the mark, as Kelly-Anne Cottrell landed a brace of points.

Cottrell was always going to be the player that could inflict damage on Lismore especially from frees and Lismore knew that if they could restrict the amount of efforts she had shooting at the posts they had an excellent chance of winning the game.

Lismore did this as they closed down the Ballyhale Shamrocks defence at every opportunity.

At the break Lismore lead 1-3 to 0-5 with Aoife Hannon accounting for all of Lismore’s white flags while the green one was waved just before the break when Johanna Houlihan set up player of the match Catriona McGlone.

Lismore at the start of the second half continued to prove to be the better side as Aoife Hannon and Shona Curran landed important scores to open a three point lead.

The game continued to be a close affair till eight minutes from time when Shona Curran and Grainne Kenneally liked up to set up Catriona McGlone for her second major score of the game.

Kelly Anne Cottrell was doing her best to keep her side in touch with scores mainly from placed balls and if there was any doubt as to where the Agnes O’Farrelly Cup was going to find a home for the next twelve months, the game was finished off as a contest moments from the end when Catriona McGlone cracked her third goal of the game to earn a fully deserved win for Lismore.

For the record, the Lismore panel that won helped them win the All-Ireland was Aisling O’Brien, Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell, Aoife Houlihan, Shana Kiernan, Sarah Fenton, Nicola Morrissey, Shona Curran, Laura Buckley, Grainne Kenneally, Aoife Hannon, Catriona McGlone, Johanna Houlihan, Ruth Geoghegan, Jennifer Kingston, Sinead Walsh, Sandra Prendergast, Ber O’Keeffe, Niamh Molumphy, Rachel Knowles, Sarah Geoghegan, Sarah Russell, Shauna Fennessy and Sinead Bennett.

All while Lismore were involved in the Club Championship other activities were happening.

The Waterford Intermediate team was involved in the National League campaign.

In the previous year Waterford reached the semi finals of the league where they lost to Kildare after the Lilly-whites playing with a strong wind in the first half were able to open up a lead that Waterford was not able to real in during the second half despite the best efforts of the players on the field of play.

The Waterford Intermediate team in 2014 was under a new management team. Mark Cooney who achieved a great deal in his term as Waterford manager decided not to seek re-election to the position and was replaced by former Ballygunner hurler Niall O’Donnell.

The Cork native was unable to call on any of the Lismore players in the early part of the year, but still was able to put together a strong panel.

Results may not have gone the way of Waterford, but on another day in each of the games, results with some lady luck which often is not with Waterford side’s things could have been much different.

Waterford opened the league with a home game against Meath at Walsh Park.

This game was fixed for the same Sunday afternoon that that Lismore were playing Ballyhale Shamrocks in the All-Ireland Final replay at Clonmel. Ideally the two games should not have gone ahead on the same day and if they had to ideally to promote the game, the two games should be played at the same venue, but needs must and the game did happen.

Meath in recent times had provided stiff opposition for Waterford when they met and in this game it was no different as the Royal County ran out 3-8 to 0-10 winners.

Despite conceding a early score, Waterford settled well into the game taking an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead with scores from Trish Jackman, Jennie Simpson and Karen Kelly.

Meath responded with a brace of Jane Dolan points, but Waterford would retire at the break with a 0-5 to 0-4 advantage on the score board following efforts from Sinead Cummins and Zoe O’Donoghue with Jane Dolan pulling one back just before the break.

Waterford extended their lead early in the second half with a brace of Karen Kelly scores, but the visitors would hit a purple patch hitting 3-4 in a ten minute spell which proved to be the winning of the game.

Fia O’Brien hit the first goal which was followed by an effort from Sinead Hackett and then Jane Dolan rounded off a good afternoon’s work hitting her side’s third goal of the game.

Waterford took to the road for their second game making the trip to Johnstownbridge to play Kildare. Again this was expected to be a tightly fought game and so it was, but the result went against Waterford loosing 0-15 to 2-8 ending Waterford’s interest in the league with one game still to play.

Against Cork in Bushy Park Waterford also had to settle for second best going under on a 1-13 to 1-6 score line.

Cork hit their game running from the very first minute hitting a goal from Maeve Calahane and from then on Waterford were playing catch up.

Credit Waterford however, they began a fight back. With the Lismore players again back in the side, Nicola Morrissey struck twice and Karen Kelly pit over a free to leave Waterford trailing 1-7 to 0-3 at the turn around.

In the second half, Waterford continued to work hard. Charlotte Raher hit a point before Jennie Simpson struck for a goal. Waterford had a chance for another goal soon afterwards but Shone Curran saw her effort dealt with by the Cork defence. Had it gone in, maybe the outcome could be different.

Karen Kelly hit two points the second a beauty in which she linked up well with Roanmore’s Valerie O’Brien.

Although defeated, the performance surely would give Waterford much hope for the remainder of the year.

Players used by Waterford in the league in 2014 included: Becky Kavanagh, Emma Hannon, Fiona Morrissey, Claire Whyte, Mairead Murphy, Tricia Jackman, Pauline Cunningham, Deirdre Nugent, Charlotte Raher, Karen Kelly, Jenny Simpson, Sinead Cummins, Valerie O'Brien, Zoe O'Donoghue, Clara Hogan, Vicki Falconer, Shauna Prendergast, Shauna Kiernan, Nicola Morrissey, Shona Curran, Laura Buckley,  Lorraine Bray and Niamh Rockett.