First defeat of 2015 for 14 man Waterford

If you are a regular reader of what I upload on this blog, thank you.

Regular readers will also know that when it comes to writing about Gaelic Football I am not a happy camper in recent years.

When it comes to Red and Yellow cards, unlike many I have no issue with them. To me they are a God send. Before they came into use it was very hard to work out if a player was booked, and when a player was sent off we were often wondering was the player sent off having received two bookings or was the player sent off without having received a booking previously.

Before the introduction of the cards, things happened just as they do right now. A player often got a warning for a minor incident. When found guilty of a second offence, the referee booked a player and if the same player was found guilty of another minor enough incident the player was again asked for their name by the referee and were sent off. Of course some players did not get a second or third chance. If an incident was deemed to be serious enough a player was sent off straight away.

The introduction of the red and yellow cards ended a lot of that confusion. Those watching games can since the introduction of the red and yellow cards can not easily (most of the time anyway), identify players that have to be careful for the rest of the game.

The introduction of the black card however is something that I have concerns about.

From the moment it was announced that the black card was going to be introduced into Gaelic Football, I have said that those responsible for tweaking the rules of the game every few years were getting it completely wrong.

Yes something had to be done to curb the cynical play that has come into the game. To me issuing players with a black card, sending them off the field of play, only for them to be replaced by another player from the subs list was all wrong. I have tried to argue that teams would use the rule to their advantage and they are. I have also questioned as to whether those that those that voted in the changes were aware what they were doing. Were they merely doing what they were told what they had to do from higher up the GAA ladder.

I have said however that the GAA should have gone down the Ladies Football road. When Ladies Football was formally played from 1974 onwards, certain fouls were not allowed, but in the 90’s as the game was starting to grow, fouls that were not allowed began to come more and more into the game. Something had to be done before someone was seriously hurt, so a few years back a list of fouls that were not allowed was drawn up and any player found guilty of using them or constantly committed slightly lesser fouls were to be given a yellow card by the referee and after receiving a yellow card would be sin binned for ten minutes and no player would be allowed on to replace them. In that time the opposition were given a chance to punish their opponents more than they would if they were merely given a free kick. The end result – Ladies Football is now a more enjoyable game than it was for a few years before the rule was brought in, as players always have to think before they do anything as their actions could have a consequence for the rest of the panel of which they are a part of.

Had the GAA operated the same rules as the Ladies Football, you have to wonder would we have had a different outcome to the National Football League game between Offaly and Waterford in Tullamore last Sunday.

Let’s get this straight, on the day the better side won, and Offaly have to be congratulated on their win, ending Waterford’s unbeaten competitive run in 2015, so please don’t let anyone think that this is any form of sour grapes.

On Sunday afternoon Offaly had three black cards issued to their players. Had Offaly had their numbers cut each time they had a black card waved at their players by Kerry referee Sean Joy would the game have a different outcome.

Corner back Joseph O’Connor received the firs black card on 35 minutes his side would have ended the first half with 14 players and began the second also with 14.

Corner forward William Mulhall was next to see black on 41 minutes which would have meant that Offaly’s 14 would be cut to 13 for a short while and on 59 minutes they had substitute Anton Sullivan sin binned meaning that the home side would be back down to 14 till normal time was almost up.

Had Offaly not been allowed to replace players that were issued a black card for ten minutes when they could send back on the same player or to replace him with one of their subs, and Waterford were to kick two or three points while with a numerical advantage would the game have a different outcome? We will never know, but wouldn’t it be interesting to find out sometime.

As stated already, on the day the home side were the better of the two sides and deserved their win on the day.

They opened the scoring on five minutes through Joseph O’Connor. Before this however, Waterford were in a spot of trouble as Shane Ahearne in the first minute was booked by the Kerry official. Eighteen minutes later the towering Stradbally man was given a second yellow following some play acting that you would associate more with other sports than GAA in recent years.

The Stradbally man however before his controversial dismissal levelled matters when he put over a free on eleven minutes, but the next two scores went the way of the home side through William Mulhall and Ruairi Allen to give them a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Soon afterwards the referee was the centre of attention when he sent off the Stradbally man.

Michael O’Halloran and Nigel Dunne traded scores in a four minute spell to keep Offaly two in front, but it was not to remain that way for long, as Waterford took the lead on twenty eight minutes when Michael O’Halloran effort dropped short and Michael Curry was in the right place at the right time to fist past Alan Mulhall in the Offaly goal.

Declan Hogan levelled matters for the second time in the game four minutes from the break, but Waterford would go in at the break leading by one after Paul Whyte put over a free shortly before the break.

Offaly leveled (1-3 to 0-6) five minutes in to the second half when William Mulhall put over his second of the afternoon. Niall McNamee who replaced Mulhall after he collected his black card put Offaly back in front soon after coming on. Patrick Hurney levelled matters on forty-seven minutes, but this was to prove to be the visitors last score of the afternoon.

Nigel Dunne from a free sent Offaly back in front on fifty minutes. Niall McNamee followed up with his second of the game before Derek Hogan and Bernard Allen landed points for the home side.

The scoring was complete when Nigel Dunne put over his third of the game eight minutes from time and midfield player Graham Guilfoyle completed the scoring two minutes later.

This was Waterford’s sixth competitive game (four in McGrath Cup and two in the League) in six weeks. The side have a little time off before their next game which is against Carlow under the lights in Fraher Field at the end of the month, a game that Waterford will feel that the points are there for the taking.

OFFALY: Alan Mulhall; Daithi Brady, Paul McConway, Joseph O’Connor; Cian Donohue, Johnny Maloney, Declan Hogan; Graham Guilfoyle, Ruairi Allen; Keith Mullally, Pauric Sullivan, Nigel Bracken; Bernard Allen, Nigel Dunne, William Mulhall. Subs: Eoin Rigney for Joseph O’Connor (black card 36 mins), Niall McNamee for Willie Mulhall (black card 41 mins), Anton Sullivan for Nigel Bracken (44 mins), Niall Geraghty for Keith Mullally (59 mins), Conor McNamee for Anton Sullivan (black card 59 mins), John Ledwith for Daithi Brady (65 mins). 

Scorers: Nigel Dunne 0-3 (1f), William Mulhall (1f), Declan Hogan, Niall McNamee 0-2 each, Joseph O’Connor, Ruairi Allen, Bernard Allen, Graham Guilfoyle 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Stephen Enright; Dean Crowley, Ray O’Ceallaigh, Thomas O’Gorman; Tadhg O hUallachain, Maurice O’Gorman, Conor Phelan; Shane Aherne, Tommy Prendergast; Michael Curry, Michael O’Halloran, Patrick Hurney; Mark Fercombe, Joey Veale, Gavin Nugent. Subs: Paul Whyte for Joey Veale (22 mins), Oran Keevers for Michael Curry (46 mins), Niall Walsh for Paul Whyte (64 mins), JJ Hutchinson for Mark Ferncombe (62 mins), Jason Curry for Gavin Nugent (66 mins).

Scorers: Michael Curry 1-0, Shane Ahearne (f), Michael O’Halloran, Paul Whyte (F), Patrick Hurney 0-1 each.

Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry).

 

2 from 2 for Waterford Ladies

Waterford Intermediate Ladies Footballers made it two wins from two games in this year’s Tesco Homegrown National Football League when they recorded a facile victory over a fancied Fermanagh side at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon last.

Waterford in the first round of games were made to work very hard to earn a first round victory a week earlier when 2014 Junior All-Ireland Champions Wexford visited the same venue and the side were set for another massive battle this past weekend.

Fermanagh had not played a competitive game since their 6-16 to 1-10 loss to Down in last year’s Intermediate All-Ireland Final, as their opening round game against Tipperary who were beaten in the All-Ireland Intermediate Final twelve months earlier was called off because of the weather.

Waterford manager Pat Sullivan and his selectors in picking the team to face the Ulster side opted to make two changes to the team which beat Wexford, bringing in Grainne Kenneally who missed the game with Wexford as she was assisting Lismore in their All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie semi Final on the same day and Mairead Wall who came on for Mary Kate Morrissey late in the game with Wexford, Margaret Revins and Shauna Dunphy the players to move out.

There were also some positional changes as Hannah Landers moved from centre field in the game with Wexford to wing forward in the absence of Shauna Dunphy and Mairead Wall slotted into the middle of the field position.

It was the Ulster side that got off to the best start in this game as Sharon Little opened the scoring inside five minutes, but from this point on there was only one side ever going to win this game.

Waterford however wasted no time in hitting back as a brace of Maria Delahunty points followed to give Waterford a lead that would never be lost. Team captain Linda Wall followed up with a point on the quarter of an hour mark after some good work by Megan Dunford and Hannah Landers.

Over the years Waterford has produced some great players. In more recent years one of these players is Elaine Power. The Tramore Club player has moved from centre field to the half back line this year and has settled into her new position like a duck to water. She broke up a good Fermanagh movement and then went on an excellent run before blasting the ball to the roof of Róisín Gleeson’s net to give Waterford a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

Grainne Kenneally extended Waterford’s lead with a point but it was cancelled out shortly afterwards with an effort from Joanne Doonan.

Fermanagh however will feel that they should have been closer to Waterford at this stage as between Grainne Kenneally’s and Joanne Doonan’s effort for the second week running Waterford gave away a penalty. Against Wexford ? beat Katie Hannon for a late consolation goal for the Model County, but this time the ball did not get past her as Caroline Little saw her effort come back off the post.

Waterford before the break sealed the victory as they kicked some late important scores.

A effort from Sinead Ryan hit the post but Mary Kate Morrissey was in the right place to capitalise to finish to the net and a minute later Michelle Ryan hit Waterford’s third goal of the game.

Before the break however there was still time to keep the score board operator busy as Hannah Landers another of the Waterford players that has impressed immensely in the last few years kicked a brace of scores to give Waterford a 3-6 to 0-2 lead at the mid point stage of the game.

Waterford at the start of the second half started where they had left off.

Grainne Kenneally hit a point a minute into the second half. Two former Waterford captains then linked up, for another Waterford score as Michelle McGrath set up Michelle Ryan to give Waterford a 3-8 to 0-2 lead.

Sinead Ryan in last year’s County Final made a huge impact after coming on as a sub and it was no real surprise to see her recalled to the inter county set up this year following that performance. She hit Waterford’s fourth goal having been set up by Aoife Murray who had just come on for Michelle Ryan.

Sinead Ryan followed up with a free and Aoife Murray and Aileen Wall also landed points to extend Waterford’s lead.

Noelle Connolly pulled a point back for Fermanagh, their third and final of the game, but Waterford as they had all throughout the game finished strong as Aileen Wall kicked a point and the scoring was rounded off in the last minute of the game as Margaret Revins after coming on finished to the net. The Old Parish Club player was unlucky before she hit the net late on not to have done so earlier as she drew a good save from Róisín Gleeson in the Fermanagh goal.

Waterford have no game this coming week, but play Sligo in Fraher Field on February 22 where they will be looking to gain revenge for the defeat they experienced in Sligo last year.

Waterford Panel: 1. Katie Hannon, 2. Megan Dunford, 3. Karen McGrath, 4. Emma Murray, 5. Michelle McGrath, 6. Elaine Power, 7. Caoimhe McGrath, 8. Mary Kate Morrissey, 9. Mairead Wall, 10. Linda Wall, 11. Grainne Kenneally, 12. Hannah Landers, 13. Maria Delahunty, 14. Sinead Ryan, 15. Michelle Ryan, 16. Clodagh Walsh, 17. Mary Foley, 18. Nora Dunphy, 19. Aoife Murray, 20. Shauna Dunphy, 21. Nicola Fennell, 22. Liz Devine, 23. Aileen Wall, 24. Emer Scanlon, 25. Kate McGrath, 26. Ciara Hurley, 27. Lauren McGregor, 28. Margaret Revins, 29. Aoife Dunne, 30. Mairead Power, 31. Louise Ryan, 32. Aoife Landers, 33. Dede Fahy, 34. Eimear Fennell.

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 1-2, Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan 1-1 each, Elaine Power, Margaret Revins 1-0 each, Grainne Kenneally, Hannah Landers, Aileen Wall 0-2 each, Linda Wall, Aoife Murray 0-1 each.

Fermanagh Panel: 1. Róisín Gleeson, 2. Shannon McQuade, 3. Lynne McFreddrick, 4. Danielle Maguire, 5. Shauna Hamilton, 6. Tara Little, 7. Marcella Monaghan, 8. Áine McHugh, 9. Naoimhin Daly, 10. Noelle Connolly, 11. Caroline Little, 12. Joanne Donnan, 13. Sarah McCausland, 14. Aisling Moane, 15. Sharon Little, 16. Shauna Murphy, 17. Rion Gallagher, 18. Edel Campbell, 19. Róisín O’Reilly, 20. Maura McDonald, 21. Maria Connolly, 22. Martina McDonald, 23. Aileen Moane, 24. Ciara Durnien, 25. Brenda Bannon, 26. Michelle Trotter, 27. Collette Cassidy, 28. Laura McFarland.

Scorers: Sharon Little, Joanne Doonan, Noelle Connolly 0-1 each.

Referee: Kevin Phelan

 

Results from Round Two - Homegrown National Ladies Football League – Division three.

Leitrim 3-13 Tipperary 3-3

Roscommon 3-14 Longford 0-6

Waterford 5-12 Fermanagh 0-3

Sligo 4-8 Wexford 0-5

 

Round Two Fixture Homegrown National Ladies Football League – Division three. 22 February.

Leitrim V Fermanagh

Longford V Wexford

Roscommon V Tipperary

Waterford V Sligo

 

League Table - Homegrown National Ladies Football League

Sligo                    2       2       0       0       +27   6

Waterford           2       2       0       0       +25   6

Leitrim                2       2       0       0       +16   6

Roscommon         2       1       0       1       +11   3

Tipperary            1       0       0       1       -10    0

Wexford               2       0       0       2       -16    0

Fermanagh         1       0       0       1       -24    0

Longford              2       0       0       2       -29    0

Waterford Minor Camogie Team first into Munster Championship Action in 2015

It may be only the first full weekend of February, but Munster Championship action is with us.

He’s finally cracked it, I hear you say, but no, I haven’t, not yet anyway.

This weekend Waterford’s Minor Camogie Team are in action in the Munster Championship where they play Cork in Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon.

Two years ago, Waterford played and lost to Cork in the All-Ireland ‘B’ under 16 Championship. Earlier in the year the side beat Cork in the Munster Championship at the Gold Coast.

Normally, a team has to win an underage competition to move up a grade in the next championship two years one, but such is the progress Waterford are making on the underage Camogie scene, it was decided that Waterford should play in this year ‘A’ Munster Championship.

To be honest, its hard to argue against Waterford moving up. At under 16 level Waterford won all around them. Cork were the only side to beat Waterford, beating them in play off to decide who tops the group after the two sides finished level on points and again in the All-Ireland Final which was played as a home game for Cork as they agreed to switch the game to accommodate duel Waterford players involved in an important Ladies Football game.

Coupled with this, last year Waterford won the Under 16 ‘B’ title and retained the Munster title won twelve months earlier. The All-Ireland ‘B’ Minor Championship also found a home in Waterford after the side coached by Shane Ahearne beat Derry in the final.

Throw in the fact that Waterford have won the last three Under 14 ‘B’ Blitz titles and that Gailltir and De La Salle over the last two or three years have done remarkably well at Féile while on the College scene sides in the city area are doing well.

While its early in the year yet, Waterford will be taking this game very serious. Have no doubt, the All-Ireland Championship is the big one when it comes to Camogie at this level, Waterford would love to have a good run in this competition to set them up nicely for when the All-Ireland competition begins.

In 2013, Waterford had a very strong under 16 panel. But the question has to be asked, how many of that panel will be involved this year. Many of that panel are going to be sitting their leaving cert in June. Will players but their studies ahead of their camogie this year. If they did, it’s hard to blame them. However, there is still some times to go between now and June and ‘God Forbid’ any player was to pick up an injury now it would not necessary mean they will miss out on the sitting part or all of their exams.

There are also some players that are involved with the Waterford Intermediate Ladies Football team and they have a big game on Sunday against Fermanagh at Fraher Field. Will players be willing to line out for two different teams over the weekend and will they be able to commit to training with two teams and to other commitments in the last few weeks, or has a compromise been found to allow players fit in everything.

Two years, ago, Waterford’s under 16 panel was made up of players from nine clubs.

Brianna O'Regan, Courtney Healy, Beth Carton and Ciara Twomey were all from the De La Salle Club.

From the Brickeys were Rachel Donnelly, Megan Dunford, Caoimhe McGrath, Molly Curran, Hannah Murphy-Nix and Catherine Hahessy.

Roisin Cahillane, Jessica Glavin, Clodagh Glavin, Emily Power and last years under 16 captain Aisling Power all came from the Cappoquin Club.

Saint Anne’s also had a strong representation on the panel with Bronwyn Grace, Sibeal Harney, Aoife Shanahan and Saoirse Bonner involved.

Dungarvan, Ferrybank and Butlerstown had two members each on the panel.

Kayleigh Veale and Taylor Murray came from the Dungarvan Club. Iona Heffernan and Niamh Ahearne came from Ferrybank, and Elizabeth McGrath and Kate McMahon came from Butlerstown.

Sarah Geoghegan, a sub with the Lismore team due to play Piltown in the Intermediate Club All-Ireland Final on March 1 and Sarah Murray from Tramore made up the remainder of the panel.

Should changes have to be made to the 2013 Under 16 panel for this weekends minor game, the players coming in are most likely to come from last years under 16 winning team.

That could mean call up for the likes of Roisin Uniacke, Laura Murray and Sinead O' Brien from Cappoquin, Chloe Dempsey, Collette Hogan, Caoimhe Drohan, Niamh Murphy or Taylor Healy from De La Salle, the Gailltir pair of Sinead Cunningham and Anne Corcoran, Aoife Shanahan, Kate McMahon and Sally Brown from Butlerstown, Rachel McDonald from Saint Anne’s.   

Sharon Williams is expected to play with Lismore in their up coming All-Ireland Final against Piltown and it remains to be seen if she gets a call up while Ellen Curran is a sub with the same Lismore team. Megan Dunford is one of the new duel players called up to the Waterford Intermediate Ladies Football team and could well be in the starting line out for Sunday’s game while Kate McGrath Kate McGrath a member of last years under 16 team is also involved with the Waterford Intermediate Ladies Football panel.

For Waterford to win this Saturday in Fraher Field might be a big ask, but the talent is defiantly there for it to happen.

Waterford Ladies look for championship exit revenge with a league win over Fermanagh

Last September en-route to an All-Ireland Final appearance against Down in Croke Park at the end of September, Fermanagh Intermediate Ladies Football side had a 3-10 to 1-11 win over Waterford in the quarter final stages of the championship.

In the build up to the game, Fermanagh has played a number of games over a few weeks. Waterford had no competitive game in six weeks since they beat Limerick in the Munster Final at Rathmore.

While the long lay off for Waterford between games was not a help, there can be no disputing that Fermanagh with a late surge on the day proved to be the better of the two sides on the day and deserved their win.

In that All-Ireland Final, Fermanagh had a bad experience loosing heavily to Down, and earlier in the year, they were relegated from division two in the league after failing to win any of their seven games and finishing the campaign with a score difference of minus  one hundred and forty points.

They were due to play their first competitive game since that game last weekend when they were scheduled to play Tipperary, but the game was called off due to the weather.

Fermanagh would have liked to have had that game to go ahead. Even though the game with Down was five months earlier, leaving the players plenty of time to get the result out of the system, it was important that they got back playing as quickly as possible and to get a first win under their belts.

Fermanagh are a much better side that the 6-16 to 1-10 defeat would have suggested. Right throughout their team, there is some quality players to be found.

Shauna Murphy in goal, Kyla McManus at full back, the half back line of Marcella Monaghan, Tara Little and Danielle McGuire, the middle of the field pairing of Caroline Little a sister of Tara, and Aine McHugh, Aisling Moane at centre forward and the dangerous inside forward line of Sharon Little, Noelle Connolly and Martina McDonald are all quality players and will make life very difficult for Waterford.

Waterford last weekend opened their league campaign with a win over Wexford at Fraher Field.

When the two sides met at Grantstown twelve months ago, Waterford had a facile victory, but readers here last weekend were warned that a much tougher game was to be expected this year.

Wexford had reached and won the All-Ireland Junior Final last year. They finished the league strong. They played the three so called strongest sides in the league last year in their first three games loosing to Armagh, Waterford and Tipperary. After that they put a string of good results together, and went into the last round of games in with a chance of taking a spot in the semi finals if they beat Sligo and other results when their way. It was not to be for Wexford however as they failed to win in Sligo.

Waterford as well were going to be showing a different starting fifteen to which had started many games in previous years. New manager Pat Sullivan had brought in some new players that had played on some successful underage teams in recent years and these players needed time to settle into the team. Last weekend for these new players, the winning margin was not the most important issue. Recording a win was.

Much the same is going to apply this weekend.

Sometimes we might be forgiven for thinking that this is an aging Waterford team. Yes, there are players around with a number of years now, but we must remember that in the Ladies games players inter county career often begins much earlier than their male counterparts.

The experience of the likes of Karen and Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power, Hannah Landers, the Wall sisters and Michelle Ryan is going to prove to be important here.

Waterford has some exciting young players coming through. Players like Shauna Dunphy and Caoimhe McGrath who both started last week and who were involved last year is also going to be important.

Manager Pat Sullivan and his selectors when it comes to the remainder of the team will have to make some tough calls this weekend. Do they go with the likes of Megan Dunford, Emma Murray, Mary Kate Morrissey etc. as they did last weekend and who repaid the selectors with a good performance for the faith shown in them, or do they look to the more experienced heads in the panel like Nora Dunphy, Louise Ryan Aoife Landers etc. who already have experienced playing against tough opposition like Fermanagh in the past.

Fermanagh have the players to bounce back from the relegation and All-Ireland defeat which they suffered last year. However, Waterford often are very difficult to beat at Fraher Field.

Fermanagh may well travel down to the region on Saturday and stay over the night before the game. To travel down and to play the game on the same day is often not a reality.

Ahead of a big game however, a player may well to sleep in a bed that they are used to. Often travelling long distances and sleeping in beds you are not accustomed will mean that you are not going the rest you need ahead of the game.

Waterford gets the nod to win here, but it could well be tough.

Waterford look for back to back league wins

Waterford and Offaly, the only two unbeaten sides in this year Division Four of the National Football League put their record on the line this Sunday afternoon when the two clash at Tullamore.

The two sides head into the game in fine form.

Waterford are unbeaten having won four games in the McGrath Cup and followed it up with a win over Wicklow at Fraher Field last weekend, while Offaly played three games in the O’Byrne Cup, winning two and last weekend at Ruislip had a four point win over London in the opening round of games.

Like Waterford, Offaly heading into this game have tried out a large amount a players in a bid to get the best team possible on the field of play.

And like Waterford, Offaly will go into the game with a settled looking team.

That will mean that the likes of Alan Mulhall will start between the posts. Daithi Brady, Paul McConway, Joseph O’Connor and Declan Hogan will be part of the backs. In the middle of the field, Graham Guilfoyle and Ruairi Allen could well start while in attack Nigel Bracken, Bernard Allen, Nigel Dunne and William Mulhall are all likely to start.

Waterford too has a settled starting fifteen in recent weeks. Reports going into this weekend’s game suggest that Liam Lawlor is Tom McGlinchey’s biggest doubt, having to leave the game with Wicklow last weekend after 27 minutes.

If the Nire play maker does not make the team it will be a blow to Waterford’s chances. Since his return to the team he has become a vital part of the team being able to play in a number of positions in both defence and attack.

If he is ruled out from the start, then his place could well be taken by either Paul Whyte or Niall Walsh who missed the game against Wicklow but who played in the McGrath Cup.

The management team are unlikely to make any further changes to the team meaning the likes of Stephen Enright, Dean Crowley, Thomas and Maurice O’Gorman, Shane Ahearne, Tommy Prendergast, Michael O’Halloran, Patrick Hurney, Joey Veale and Gavin Nugent will continue.

Bernard Allen and William Mulhall may as they have done all year provide the bulk of Offaly’s scores in this game.

The pair would be expected to start in the corner forward positions for the home side and continue their recent run of form.

Allen is the side’s top scorer in their four competitive games to date hitting 1-15 for his side while William Mulhall has hit 1-10.

The side are able to hit scores from further out the field as well, as Graham Guilfoyle and Ruairi Allen from the middle of the field have kicked scores, while wing back Declan Hogan has also got forward to hit a number of scores.

Waterford have proved consistent through 2015.

Against University of Limerick the side hit 1-16 with nine different scorers, against Cork IT Waterford hit 1-11 and had seven different scorers. Against Cork the side had hit 0-8 with four different scorers and in the McGrath Cup Final against UCC hit 3-12 past the students and had ten different scorers. Last week Waterford put 14 points past Wicklow and had seven different scorers.

Last week Offaly beat London 0-9 to 1-2 in a game that was won pretty but it did produce a steady display.

The win was much more comfortable than the final score line suggests. With a quarter of the game to play Offaly were seven points up, but the concession and scoring of a penalty with six minutes to play meant that Offaly had a tense few minutes to the game at a ground that Waterford know only too well can be a hard place to get a result at times.

Offaly however will not be put out by the winning margin too much as they will know only too well if a side win all their games or even loose one along the way, then regardless of whether they win each game by one point or ten points, they will be in the league final at Croke Park.

If Offaly had a tense few closing minutes last weekend in Ruislip, the same can be said of Waterford.

With less then ten minutes to play against Wicklow, Waterford held a seven point lead but three points in a row by Wicklow made the closing minutes tense for the home side. The concession of a late goal in this time could have made life all the more difficult.

Last week Offaly were without Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan amongst those that travelled to play the exiles.

If both of these players are involved this weekend, then Offaly will be a much stronger side than they were last week.

Waterford will be hoping that they make the journey to Tullamore with a full deck to play with.

If Waterford can get something from this game, then as others who dropped points last weekend will also drop points this weekend, then the side will be in a good position to win promotion in a few weeks time.

To get something from this game will not be easy. It’s a game that could well go right to the wire. Who will win? Let’s sit on the fence and say that a draw would be a good result for Waterford, a win an excellent result.

Lismore are heading back to Croke Park

Lismore Camogie Club have made it back to back All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club Final appearances at Croke Park after they came through a hard fought semi final against Galway side Oranmore Maree at Charleville.

The winners had to play practically all of the second half with a numerical disadvantage after Cork referee Cathal Egan sent off wing back Aoife Houlihan shortly after the restart after he had engaged in a lengthy conversation with the fourth official who called the referee’s attention to an incident that many failed to see.

From their 2-7 to 0-5 win over Sarsfields from Cork in the Munster Final at Fermoy, Lismore made two changes in personal for this game as Niamh Molumphy and Johanna Houlihan came into the starting fifteen with Sarah Coughlan and Laura Buckley the players unlucky to miss out, while of the rest of the team just seven started in the same position as in the game in Fermoy.

Lismore set out their stall from the off. They opened the scoring on three minutes when Grainne Kenneally picked out the ever reliable Aoife Hannon who split the posts.

Soon afterward, Lismore extended their lead. Again it was Aoife Houlihan that found the range, this time having been picked out by Ruth Geoghegan whose goal midway through the second half of the Munster Final secured Lismore’s spot in this game, and on six minutes Lismore went three points in front as Ruth Geoghegan again proved to be the provider this time for Johanna Houlihan who repaid the confidence shown to her by the selectors in giving her a starting place.

Heading into this game, Lismore knew that if they could keep Ailish O’Reilly chances of striking at the posts down, they were always in with a great chance of advancing from this game. There can be no doubting that the Oranmore Maree player is a player of some quality and she showed why she is so valued not just to her club side but to the Galway senior team by hitting the next two scores of the game, both from frees to leave just one between the sides.

Think of all the great goal scorers in the last year or two when it comes to Gaelic Games, and the name of Catriona McGlone always has to get a mention.

She hit three of them in last year’s All-Ireland Final replay win over Ballyhale Shamrocks in Clonmel. Another was hit in the sides 1-7 to 0-9 win in the County Final over Saint Anne’s at Fraher Field last September and she struck another important goal in the sides 2-7 to 0-5 win over Sarsfields in the Munster Final at Fermoy.

She struck another in this game, finishing off a Nicola Morrissey pass on nine minutes which gave her side a 1-3 to 0-2 lead.

The Galway side soon afterwards were unlucky not to have had a green flag waved at the other end of the field. Niamh Hanniffy tried her luck but her effort rise narrowly over Tanya Morrissey’s crossbar.

Free takers Aoife Hannon and Ailish O’Reilly swapped scores from placed balls before Lismore hit a purple patch as Shona Curran from distance, Aoife Hannon from a ’45, Nicola Morrissey capitalising on a free that dropped short, Shona Curran and Nicola Morrissey again shared five points without reply to give Lismore 1-9 to 0-4 lead.

The Galway side however managed to cut Lismore’s lead by two at the break as Ailish O’Reilly from two placed balls hit two points to send the sides in at the turn around with Lismore leafing 1-9 to 0-6.

The dismissal of Aoife Houlihan somewhat controversially at the start of second half for a while handed to momentum to Oranmore Maree as Lismore worked out how they played against a team with a numerical advantage.

It was Lismore however that was first to score in the second half as Sharon Williams having been set up by Ruth Geoghegan sent Lismore seven points in front.

Oranmore Maree hit the next five points, all off the stick of Ailish O’Reilly, four of which came from placed balls, the other a sweetly struck effort from near the sideline 45 metre’s out from goal.

Lismore were now under a little bit of pressure. However some wayward shooting from the Galway side was to cost them, Genevieve Joyce and Ailish O’Reilly guilty of the worst misses.

Within minutes of coming on as a sub, Aisling O’Brien who played in goal for the side in the run up to the 2014 All-Ireland win, playing at the opposite end of the field caught a Ruth Geoghegan pass in front of goal and slotted over the bar to break Oranmore Maree’s run of successive scores. For a moment it looked as though a goal was on the cards but the safer option was taken which proved to be the best one.

That score gave a new life to Lismore and further points from Shona Curran and Nicola Morrissey followed which gave them a five point 1-13 to 0-11 lead.

With two minutes left, Ailish O’Reilly broke through the Lismore defence and slotted the ball past Tanya Morrissey and when the same player followed up with a point, just one separated the sides.

Lismore now needed to call on all their experience and it came to the fore.

A free from Shona Curran went wide of the uprights, but Lismore refused to panic. From the restart Grainne Kenneally won the ball and found Shona Curran who shot from distance and this time her effort went between the uprights.

At the end of the hour two added minutes were signaled to be played at the end of the hour. Five were played. In these added minutes Lismore had to defend like they never defended before. One mistake could have left Oranmore Maree in for a goal, but it never happened. Lismore held on for a 1-14 to 1-12 win and will not play Kilkenny side Piltown in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park on March 1.

The occasion will be the second year in a row that sides from Waterford and Kilkenny will clash in the championship decider at Croke Park.

Last year against Ballyhale Shamrocks the sides could not be separated.

Lismore would love to win in Croke Park (so would Piltown, who wouldn’t), but if a winner on the day could not be found it would hardly be a surprise and the side may have to meet again, with Clonmel again the likely venue for any replay. Lismore to be honest if they were to retain their All-Ireland title wont mind at what venue it happens. They are sixty plus minutes from getting the chance of it happening. They are closer to it happening now than they were a week ago, but for it to happen they first have to beet a good Piltown side.

Lismore: Tanya Morrissey; Niamh Molumphy, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell; Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Sarah Fenton; Grainne Kenneally, Shona Curran; Ruth Geoghegan, Aoife Hannon, Sharon Williams; Nicola Morrissey, Catriona McGlone, Johnanna Houlihan. Subs: Aisling O’Brien for Johanna Houlihan, Sarah Coughlan for Niamh Molumphy

Rest of the Panel: Sarah Geoghegan, Ellen Curran, Alice Russell, Laura Buckley, Kate Heneghan

Scorers: Aoife Hannon (1f, 1 ‘45), Shona Curran (1f) 0-4 each, Catriona McGlone 1-0, Nicola Morrissey, Johanna Houlihan, Sharon Williams, Aisling O’Brien 0-1 each.

Oranmore Maree: Sorcha Hanniffy; Aoife Bannon, Roisin Black, Sacra Mannion; Ciara Hanniffy, Christina Brennan, Tara Costello; Kelly Malone, Lorraine Reynolds; Aisling Finn, Ailish O’Reilly, Eimear O’Donovan; Niamh Hanniffy, Genevieve Joyce, Shannon Costello. Subs: Emily Gill for Tara Costello, Aoife Harte for Genevieve Joyce.

Rest of the Panel: Aisling Harte, Eilis Hogan, Danielle Clear. Aoife Geraghty, Roisin McInerney, Fiona Whelan, Elaine Hanniffy, Aisling Nolan, Avril Shaugnessy and Aoife Carr.

Scorers: Ailish O’Reilly 1-11 (0-9f, 1 ’45), Niamh Hanniffy 0-1.  

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork).

Waterford Ladies start league with a win

Waterford got their Tesco Homegrown National Ladies Football League Campaign off to a good start on Sunday afternoon last when they accounted for Wexford at Fraher Field.

When the sides clashed in the league in 2014, Waterford ran out easy winners at Grantstown, but this game was always going to be different.

Waterford under new management in 2015 showed a number of changes to the team which lined out in previous years, and while some games have been played since the new management team was put in place, it is going to take a little time for the new faces to settle into the team and to get used to playing at a higher level that they are accustomed to.

Wexford since last years game won the All-Ireland Junior final beating New York at Croke Park last September. This was their first big game since that win. The side that beat New York showed a number of Personal and positional changes to the team that played Waterford last year, and they were anxious to show from the off that as a team they are more like the team that won in Croke Park than the team that lost at Grantstown.

From the off Wexford made it very difficult for Waterford in this game, proving to be a match for Waterford in all sections of the field in the opening half.

Both defences were on top in the opening thirty minutes, meaning that scoring was going to be difficult for the direct opponents.

Waterford took the lead on eleven minutes when Michelle Ryan split the posts with a wonderfully taken score after she was picked out by Maria Delahunty. Strangely there would be just one further score in the first half, again going Waterford’s way just past the mid way point in the opening half, again coming for the experienced Michelle Ryan after she collected a quick free taken by Waterford’s new captain Linda Wall.

Both sides will have felt that should have added to the only scores in the first half. Waterford missed three chances in a four minute spell inside the opening seven minutes of the game starting.

Wexford will consider themselves unlucky not to have hit the Waterford net. Katie Redmond spilt the Waterford defence with a good ball, but her shot hit off full forward Maria Byrne’s upper body area awkwardly and new Waterford goalkeeper Katie Hannon was able to alieve the danger.

In another move involving Niamh Moore, Danielle Chin, Roisin Murphy, and Ellen O’Brien ended with Clara Donnelly shooting across the face of the Waterford goal.

After Waterford went two points up, Maria Delahunty missed two close in frees to stretch Waterford’s lead, while at the opposite end of the field experienced players Michelle McGrath and Elaine Power were marshalling the Waterford defence cutting out some of the chances Wexford had to get off the mark.

Waterford began the second half doubling their half time advantage with points from Maria Delahunty two minutes after the restart and four minutes later Michelle Ryan got her third score of the game.

Wexford got on the score sheet just before the end of the third quarter. A speculative shot from 30 metres by Roisin Murphy having being set up by Niamh Moore caught out Katie Hannon in the Waterford goal and ended up in the top right hand corner of the net to leave just one between the sides.

On forty-five minutes, the sides were all square when Marcella Cullen set up by Katie Redmond hit a wonderful point for Wexford.

Katie Redmond missed two chances to send Wexford into the lead and with Ellen O’Brien sin binned Waterford added five late points in a eight minute spell to win the game.

Going level on the score board Pat Sullivan made changes bringing in Ciara Hurley who was part of the under 16 panel last year for her league debut and also brought in the experienced Aileen Wall. Within minutes, Aileen Wall was causing problems for the Wexford backs and soon afterwards Maria Delahunty split the Wexford posts to put Waterford back in front.

Michelle Ryan having being set up by Megan Dunford and Aileen Wall increased Waterford’s lead but Maria Byrne with eight minutes to go cut that lead by one. Mairead Wall after coming on as a sub with the help of Sinead Ryan set up Michelle Ryan for another Waterford score.

 

Maria Byrne pulled a point back for Wexford and a minute later after which Aileen Wall extended Waterford’s lead with a point with four minutes to go. With three minutes to play Maria Delahunty extended Waterford’s lead to four, but there was a tense last few moments for Waterford after Wexford won a penalty in stoppage time after a foul on Maria Byrne who dispatched to the net to leave just one between the sides.

Next up is a another home game for Waterford against Fermanagh this weekend, while for Wexford, they make the long journey to the North West to play Sligo

Waterford: Katie Hannon; Megan Dunford, Karen McGrath, Emma Murray; Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power, Caoimhe McGrath; Mary Kate Morrissey, Hannah Landers; Linda Wall, Margaret Revins, Shauna Dunphy; Maria Delahunty, Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan. Subs: Ciara Hurley for Shauna Dunphy (43); Aileen Wall for Margaret Revins (45); Mairead Wall for Mary Kate Morrissey (52); Eimer Scanlon for Hannah Landers (58); Aoife Dunne for Linda Wall (60).

Rest of the Panel: Mary Foley, Nora Dunphy, Nicola Fennell, Liz Devine, Kate McGrath, Lauren McGregor, Dede Fahey, Mairead Power, Louise Ryan, Aoife Landers, Aoife Murray, Eimear Fennell, Grainne Kenneally. Grainne Kenneally Ballyduff Upper 34 Eimear Fennell Abbeyside Panel of 33.33 Grainne Kenneally Ballyduff Upper 34 Eimear Fennell Abbeyside 33 Grainne Kenneally Ballyduff Upper 34 Eimear Fennell Abbeyside

Scorers: Michelle Ryan 0-5; Maria Delahunty 0-3 (1f); Aileen Wall 0-1.

Wexford: Mary Rose Kelly; Meave Quill, Marcia Cullen, Ciara Neville; Beth Cardiff, Sharon Kehoe, Danielle Chin; Roisin Murphy, Clara Donnelly; Eileen O’Brien, Kate Redmond, Kellie Kearney; Marcella Cullen, Maria Byrne, Niamh Moore. Subs: Niamh Butler for Kellie Kearney (39); Roisin Fitzgerald for Maeve Quill; Leanne Brennan for Marcella Cullen.

Rest of the Panel: Aoife McAuliffe, Chantelle Martin, Niamh Clarke-Rochford, Georgina Hearne, Hannah Murphy, Lesley Bates, Aoife Ryan, Rachel Bridges, Niamh Mernagh, Johanna Cousins.

Scorers: M Byrne 1-1 (1-0 pen); Roisin Murphy 1-0, Marcella Cullen 0-1.

Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois).