Waterford look to reverse recent results against Kildare in Camogie League semi final

It’s fair to say that this Sunday the attention of most Gaelic Games Supporters in Waterford will centre on what is happening at Nolan Park in Kilkenny from about 4pm.

But it’s not only at the Kilkenny venue that Gaelic Games supporters will be keeping an eye at.

Fifteen minutes before the ball is thrown in at Nolan Park it will be thrown in at McDonagh Park at Nenagh in the Irish Daily Star Division two Camogie semi final between Waterford and Kildare.

While interest in Camogie is not a high priority with many, there is some great work being done within the county both on and off the field to promote the game and it’s only a matter of time before we see interest increase even more.

On the field of play Waterford have had a great last decade winning numerous titles. These titles may be in the second or third tier of Camogie but a Championship win is a championship win regardless of what grade or level it is at.

Many of the players that were part of good underage teams in the last few years have been called up to the adult scene by Intermediate team manager Sean Fleming and they have not disappointed playing along side players that had played under previous managers Andy Maloney, Mark Cooney and Niall O’Donnell.

Off the field a new look County Board have been put in place this year under the leadership of Ita Murphy. In the short time they are together some outstanding work has been done and I know that more is planned and what is planned I am sure will be announced shortly which will further promote the game within the county.

Should Waterford win on Sunday afternoon it will give the game of Camogie another boost in the county. However to win will not be easy. Kildare have won the last two meetings in the league between the two including at the semi final stages in 2013. But Waterford will be looking for revenge this weekend.

Kildare had the best scoring average in group one of this years division two league but finished second having lost out to Laois who like Kildare finished with eight points from ten in their five games but would finish second in the group having lost the head to head between the two.  

Kildare’s only loss in the league was in the opening round of games when Laois ran out 1-11 to 0-5 winners. Since then it was wins all the way beating Wexford 3-13 to 0-6, Galway 3-14 to 0-5, Westmeath 2-13 to 0-7 and finally Antrim 2-10 to 1-7.

Averaging seventeen points a game in their five games in the league, the Kildare players from 8 to 15 will be a threat to the Waterford backs.

Players like Emer Reilly, Siobhan Hurley, Laura Sheehan, Susie O’Carroll and Dearbhaile Byrne will be amongst the players they will be looking for the bulk of their scores from.

And while Kildare are strong in attack, they are equally as strong in defence, conceding just over eight points in their five games to date.

Like Kildare, Waterford up to now has proven to be a strong outfit.

They have played just four games in the league having got a walkover from Down in their last game and recorded four wins, beating Tipperary 2-21 to 0-4, Cork 1-9 to 1-8, Meath 2-14 to 1-13 and Kilkenny 2-13 to 1-6.

In their four games they have averaged just under twenty points a game and conceded an average of ten points per game which suggests a close game is store.

Waterford right throughout the team look solid. Deirdre Brennan is likely to start in goals. Claire Whyte could well be at fullback, Jennie Simpson at centre back and Trish Jackman and Lorraine Bray in the centre of the field.

In attack Waterford will have plenty of options including Catriona McGlone, Beth Carton (who is away with Presentation Secondary School playing Basketball), Dawn Power, Valerie O’Brien, Nicola Morrissey, Aisling Power and Niamh Rockett.

Waterford warmed up for this game with a Munster Championship game against Clare last Saturday at The Ragg. While defeat was Waterford lot (0-16 to 1-10), the workout will have proven to be fruitful exercises as it will have got rid of any rustiness that may have set in since the win over Kilkenny in mid March.

When the sides met at the same stage of the competition two years ago at Mountmellick it was the Lilly Whites that came out on top winning 0-12 to 0-8.

Much of the damage that day was won in the first half when Kildare aided by a very strong wind in the first half retired at the break with an 0-8 to 0-1 lead.

Waterford with the wind at their backs in the second half piled on the pressure. Jennie Simpson and Shona Curran hit a point each and Trish Jackman added five to the one that she hit in the first half.

However with time ticking down the goal that Waterford needed to put extra pressure on Kildare never came.

Last year it was much the same. Waterford had a very understrength team in the league last year as the Lismore players took a break after helping their club to win the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final against Ballyhale Shamrocks.

Waterford has the makings of a good team this year and the side will be confident of getting revenge for the defeat in the last two meetings between the sides.

3 clubs look for first win in Senior Football Championship this Saturday

With Waterford playing Kilkenny in the Allianz National Hurling League Semi Final on Sunday, just two of the six games scheduled to take place this weekend in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Football Championship will take place, with the remaining four rescheduled for the following weekend.

Both of the games will take place on Saturday evening, and both in the city area.

Ballinacourty and De La Salle clash at Walsh Park with the game having a 7pm throw in.

Last weekend these two sides played their opening round of games at Fraher Field and had contrasting results.

De La Salle for much of their game with Ardmore played second fiddle.

Ardmore were tops in the first quarter at the end of which they had a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

However the 2013 Intermediate champions turned around with a 1-7 to 0-4 lead, Lee Hayes hitting the goal on twenty minutes after which Colm Morris, David Kennedy, Ian Cantwell and Conan Watt hit points.

However playing into the road goal at Fraher Field which is at times perceived to be the scoring goal, Ardmore lead by Clinton Hennessy were well on top and the City side did not score four minutes from the hour mark.

Ballinacourty last weekend signalled their intentions from an early stage beating Rathgormack 4-12 to 0-9.

Right throughout the field the 2013 champions were on top. Their forwards and in particular their half forward line of Patrick Hurney, Mark Ferncombe and Michael O’Halloran looked very sharp, and inside them Shane O’Donovan hit 3-1 of his sides tally.

Going on last weekends games there can only be one winner in this game. De La Salle without question up their game and mix it with the rest but if Ballinacourty can replicate the form they showed last week or even come near it there can only be one winner in this game.

Saint Saviours and Gaultier clash at the WIT Sports Campus at Carriganore at 8pm.

Both sides suffered losses last weekend, but in doing so made sides that were regarded as favourites work very hard.

Saint Saviours lost out 1-12 to 1-7 to An Rinn who were in the semi finals of the championship with the past two years and who ran The Nire to one point last year.

Gareth Duffy was Saviours top scorer last weekend hitting 0-6. Stephen Whelan (1-0) and Dean Crowley (0-1) also got their names on the score sheet. They will need these and others to have big games this weekend if they are to win here

Gaultier also made life difficult for Stradbally at the Kill venue on Sunday last.

The Cove-Men won 3-8 to 2-6 but needed a late goal from John Coffey to secure the win.

Gaultier were best served on the day by J.J. Hutchinson who hit 2-4. Sean White and Caomhain McGuire also got on the score sheet.

Like Saint Saviours they have some good footballers to pick from and will be looking for the likes of Ian Hatton, Rory Walsh, Gary Molloy and Brad Carroll to produce the goods.

When the sides clashed last year it was the Ballybeg club that came out on top winning 3-6 to 1-4. This time around I for one expect it to be much closer. Don’t be surprise if the Barony Men were to reverse the outcome of last year’s outcome, but I think we could well have a first draw in this year’s competition.

Seven from Seven for Waterford Intermediate Ladies Footballers in National League

Waterford’s intermediate ladies footballers ended the league part of this year Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League with a 100% record after they beat Leitrim last Sunday at Ballinamore.

Waterford made the long journey to Leitrim knowing that if they avoided defeat that they would top the group and in the first half showed their intent hitting four goals three of which came inside the first thirteen minutes of the game even playing into a strong breeze.

The final score of 5-11 to 3-9 gives a false account of Waterford’s dominance on the day, as the home side hit their three goals in the final ten minutes when Pat Sullivan was emptying his bench. However it could be argued that the players that were entering the game were as strong if not stronger players than those they were replacing.

Waterford opened the scoring when the impressive Maria Delahunty finished to the net after she was found by the impressive Sinead Ryan on three minutes.

Michelle Ryan soon afterwards attempted a score but her shot was blocked down and the ball fell to her younger sister Sinead who finished to the Leitrim net from close range and already the writing seemed to be on the wall for the home side.

Another Maria Delahunty point followed and it was followed by an Aileen Wall goal who gathered a long ball and beat the defence and then finished to the Leitrim net.

Katie Hannon produced a superb diving save to deny a great Sarah McLoughlin effort to keep Leitrim frustrated and from the rebound with Ailbhe Clancy shot wide when a goal looked to be on the cards.

Maria Delahunty who has impressed all year since she rejoined the Waterford set up added a point before Waterford struck a fourth goal. Sinead Ryan saw her first shot kept out but Maria Delahunty followed up and crashed the rebound off the crossbar but Sinead Ryan was on hand to drive the ball to the net on 28 minutes.

Leitrim finally got on the scoreboard with a point from Áine Tighe and two from Ailbhe Clancy which left Leitrim trailing 4-3 to 0-3 at the break.

Waterford opened the second half with a brace of Sinead Ryan points, one of which could have gone under the crossbar which would have completed her hat-trick.

The home side hit a purple patch with Áine Tighe hitting three points to reduce Waterford’s lead to eleven points, but Waterford were soon back on top as Mairead Wall, Shauna Dunphy and Maria Delahunty kicked points to put Waterford fourteen points in front.

Bronagh O’Rourke got her name on the score sheet with a good point after which Áine Tighe followed up with a point from a free after which Louise Ryan got her name on the score sheet for Waterford shortly after coming on for Grainne Kenneally.

Leitrim received a life line eleven minutes from time when Emma Guckian drilled home the first of her sides three late goals.

Sinead Ryan followed up with a point for the visitors before her sister Louise attempted for a second score but her effort was kept out by Michelle Guckian in the Leitrim goals.

The home side hit a second goal five minutes from time, Áine Tighe rounding off a good afternoon for her and soon afterwards it looked as if she was going to have another green flag waved but she shot over from just outside the small box.

Aoife Murray extended Waterford’s lead to eight when the young Comeragh Rangers player put over.

Leitrim hit a third goal through Aileen Maguire which gave the side plenty of confidence. They pilled on the pressure but they had left things too late.

Leitrim however were unable to beat the Waterford defence again and in the closing moments of the game Waterford attacked and Ciara Hurley was in the right place at the right time to finish to the net with an rasping effort from thirty metres.

The win means Waterford topped the table with twenty points point’s from a possible twenty one. Leitrim, Sligo and Roscommon all finished on fifteen. In a draw to determine who finish’s second in the table, it was Leitrim that came out of the hat first.

Sligo and Roscommon must play off this weekend to see who finishes third and fourth. The winner will play Leitrim in the semi finals while the looser will provide the opposition for Waterford in the semi finals.

Waterford: Katie Hannon; Nora Dunphy, Karen McGrath, Linda Wall; Michelle McGrath, Elaine Power, Mary Kate Morrissey; Nicola Fennell, Mairead Wall; Maria Delahunty, Mairead Power, Grainne Kenneally; Sinead Ryan, Aileen Wall, Michelle Ryan. Subs used: Shauna Dunphy, Hannah Landers, Louise Ryan, Emma Murray, Megan Dunford, Aoife Murray, Kate McGrath, Aoife Dunne, Ciara Hurley.

Scorers: Sinead Ryan 2-3, Maria Delahunty 1-4, Aileen Wall and Ciara Hurley 1-0 each, Shauna Dunphy, Louise Ryan, Aoife Murray and Mairead Wall 0-1 each.

Leitrim: Michelle Guckian; Claire Beirne, Mairead Stenson, Roisin McHugh; Sharon Kerrigan, Lorraine Brennan, Aine Heslin; Niamh Tighe, Anna Conlan; Ailbhe Clancy, Sarah McLoughlin, Deirdre Ward; Carla Le Guen, Aine Tighe, Bronagh O’Rourke. Subs used: Emma Guckian, Melissa Hewitt, Aileen Maguire.

Scorers: Áine Tighe 1-7, Emma Guckian and Aileen McGuire 1-0 each, Ailbhe Clancy and Bronagh O’Rourke 0-1 each.

Referee: Frankie Keane

Waterford have huge chance to advance to League Final against a reported understrength Tipperary Side

Sunday next is a big day for Waterford hurling.

How many times have we said that in Waterford in the last twelve or thirteen years? In the past when it was said big days were in store, but this Sunday is truly a big day, maybe the biggest we had in a very long time.

I don’t know what are the views are of readers of what is said on here when it comes to religion. To be honest, I don’t really want to know. For those who religion does mean something and who are Catholics that attended Mass last weekend, they will have heard the priest read a gospel story about Thomas and his lack of belief until he say the proof

In the Gospel we were told that Thomas was also known as ‘the Twin’. While it was not told to us, Thomas also became known as ‘Doubting Thomas’.

When it comes to Waterford hurling in the last year or two there is or was many Doubting Thomas’ around in the last year or two. And to be honest, it’s very hard not to be a Doubting Thomas.

Many felt the changes in the Waterford Senior Hurling panel in the last year were big changes. Experienced players were not invited to be part of the panel this year or chose not to be. Many knew of the talent that is coming through in the county, but many of the Doubting Thomas’ felt bringing so many of these young players in together without the experience that the side was loosing was a big gamble.

So far things have worked well for Waterford. Derek McGrath’s charges were always going to make the quarter finals of the league. In the quarter finals its fair to say they had a considerable amount of luck. Firstly in that Clare and Kilkenny along with Cork and Tipperary from Division 1A did not make the knockout stages, and secondly to meet Galway, who are usually awful or average to good and on the day of the quarter finals, awful would be kind to describe the performance of Galway at Walsh Park.

This weekend we will get our best indication where Waterford are at.

Playing Tipperary at any time is not an easy task, but maybe Waterford are getting them at the right time.

Tipperary are going to have to make changes to the side which beat Offaly in the quarter finals.

Defiantly out is Seamus Callanan who was sent off in that game. It is refreshing to see that the Drom and Inch club player has accepted the dismissal. In the last few years players sent off in games have had too many appeals to try and overturn the suspension.

Also out is Noel McGrath. Nobody likes to hear the news that broke about him during the week. Thankfully there is great advances made in medicine in the last few years. It May be a little while before we see him back in the Blue and Gold shirt but hopefully it will be sooner rather than later after he has had his surgery and makes a recovery.

Regular goalkeeper Darren Gleeson is also said to be out of this weeks game. He got injured in the round four game against Kilkenny and was replaced by Darragh Egan. The Kildangan club player has played in the games with Cork and Offaly since then and although Darren Gleeson played for Portroe in the championship last weekend, officials on the Tipperary County Board have said that it could be a few weeks yet at a top level.

Cathal Barrett and Kieran Bergin could also be ruled out of the game this weekend while Denis Maher and John O’Dwyer were reported by some to be unavailable this weekend. It also remains to be seen if duel players Bill Maher and John McGrath will be considered as they are involved with the Tipperary Under 21 football team who have an All-Ireland Semi Final coming up.

However there is some good for the Premier County as the likes of Michael Cahill, Paul Curran and Bonnar Maher are reported to be available for selection and Lar Corbett who has not played any part in the league up to now returned to training during the week and could well be sprung from the bench at some stage on Sunday if he is not given what would be an unexpected starting spot.

In the league up to now, Tipperary have hit 9-117 which is just short of the 9-133 Waterford have hit. Seamus Callanan has hit 3-37 of that tally for Tipperary and will prove to be a loss to his side. However they have the players available to them to take up his roll.

Able to call upon the likes of Conor O’Mahony, Paddy Stapleton, Pauric and Roan Maher, James Woodlock, Jason Forde, Brendan Maher, Niall O’Meara, Shane McGrath, Shane Bourke, Thomas Stapleton, Gearoid Ryan etc. to make up for the players that will and could be ruled out.

Like Waterford they have had some impressive displays along the way. They lost their first game 2-20 to 0-14 against Dublin but since then its wins all the way in the league, beating Galway 2-18 to 0-20, Clare 2-19 to 0-20, Kilkenny 2-22 to 1-13, Cork 2-28 to 4-21 and last time out against Offaly 1-16 to 0-13.

Waterford since drawing against Limerick in their opening game in the league when they drew at the Gaelic Grounds just like Tipperary have had wins all the way beating Laois, Offaly, Antrim and Wexford before proving too strong against Galway last time out.

Along the way while Derek McGrath and his selectors have given their fair share of players their time to shine, the starting line up for much of the time has proven to have a settled look to it.

The goalkeepers position is between Ian O’Regan and Stephen O’Keeffe. Little if anything separates the Mount Sion man and the Ballygunner man and which ever is selected on Sunday will not let the side down.

The full back line should again be made up of Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan and Noel Connors. The half back line will consist of Tadhg de Búrca, Austin Gleeson and Philip Mahony. In the middle of the field Jamie Barron and Kevin Moran will start.

Up front Michael Walsh, Philip Mahony, Colin Dunford, Brian O’Halloran will all start barring some unforeseen circumstances. Who will make up the rest of the forward line? Jake Dillon could well get one of the places meaning the final place is between Stephen Bennett and Maurice Shanahan.

The Ballysaggart man has started recent games, but the Lismore man has come in in the last two games and made a massive impact. His introduction against Galway last time out was possibly the winning of the game. Will Derek McGrath and his selectors go with Shanahan from the off or will they hold him in reserve and hope to put him on with twenty minutes to go and hope he makes the same impact he did against Wexford and Galway. It will interesting to see. Could we see both Bennett and Shanahan start? Both are big men and could cause the Tipperary backs especially if they are understrength all sorts of problems and if they are both selected who drops out.

A few weeks back if someone had asked me who would win this game, I would have not hesitated in giving an answer that may not ring well in the ears of many Waterford supporters.

However with the losses that Tipperary will have and those that they could well have, I am much more optimistic about Waterford’s chances.

Premium Butcher County Camogie Leagues get underway this Sunday. Inter County teams also in action on Saturday

It’s a big weekend for Camogie in Waterford.

On Saturday the counties Intermediate and Under 16 teams are in action and on Sunday morning, the County Senior, Intermediate and Junior Leagues get underway.

Waterford are under new management this year at Intermediate level. Sean Fleming has come in and has shown that he is not afraid to make changes.

He has brought in some of the young players that have served the county so well in recent years at under age level and they have not let him and his fellow selectors down.

Waterford are having a great year up to now.

We may only be heading for mid April but the county has reached the semi finals of the league where they will play Kildare next weekend at a venue yet to be announced.

In reaching the semi finals Waterford have done so in some style, beating Tipperary, Cork, Meath and Kilkenny along the way and for their last league game they were spared the long journey to Down after the home side conceded to points.

This weekend in the Munster Championship, Waterford play Clare in the Preliminary Round at the Ragg near Thurles.

Clare in the League played in Division one, but their results proved to be in contrast to Waterford’s.

They lost to Cork by seven points, to Dublin by two points and to Kilkenny by seventeen points, and they beat Derry by fourteen points.

However while defeat was their lot in three of the four games it must be remembered that Clare were playing against first string teams while Waterford in Division two played the second string teams of three counties. Their players will have benefited from playing against stronger sides.

Clare has played in the Senior grade of the Championship in the last few years and playing against some of the finest players in the country will stand to them.

Last year they contested an All-Ireland quarter final which went to extra time but at the end of eighty minutes they had to give second best to a Galway side that won the All-Ireland Final the previous year.

They have some quality players in their team. Full back Laura McMahon was part of the UL team beaten in this years Ashbourne Cup final against WIT and was named on the competitions All-Star team. Another player on the same UL team to be named on the All-Star team was centre field player Niamh O’Dea while fellow centre field player Orlaith Duggan, centre back Maire McGrath, and full forward Chloe Morey are all fine players.

Claire and Helen McMahon, Deirdre Murphy, Eimear Considine and Naomi Carroll are also excellent players who did not play in the league but who will be looking to win a place in the team ahead of the championship and could well be given a run out in this game.

Camogie in Waterford has seen its profile grow in recent times. More and more people are taking an interest in what is happening and hopefully it will be a matter of time before attendances at games will swell.

Players like goalkeepers Deirdre Brennan and Brianna O’Regan, Claire Whyte at full back, Jennie Simpson at Centre back, Lorraine Bray and Trish Jackman in the middle of the field, Nicola Morrissey, Valerie O’Brien, Beth Carton, Niamh Rockett and Dawn Power have impressed to date this year and will be looking to do so again in this game.

Whether Sean Fleming and his selectors will give a run out to some of the players who are not far off a place in the starting team remains to be seen, but if they are, then they will be hoping to do enough to stake a claim in the team that will be selected to play Kildare next weekend.

The game against Clare at the Ragg has a 3pm throw-in and will go to extra time if the sides cannot be separated at the end of the hour.

Before the game, the same two counties will contest the Munster Under 16 C Final at 1pm.

Waterford could well be the favourites to win this game. Waterford have won the Cooper Under 14 All-Ireland Blitz in the last two years and the side will be picked mainly from players involved in these wins and could also feature some players that were involved in last years All-Ireland Under 16 B win.

On Sunday, The Premium Butcher Sponsored County leagues get under way.

Four sides are involved in the Senior and Intermediate leagues and five will take part in the Junior League.

For one Club it will be an important day. De La Salle this year have decided to field an Adult team in the Junior grade and with the standard of players they have produced in underage competitions in recent years, they could well be the team to watch.

In the senior competition newly promoted Cappoquin will take on Gailltir in Cappoquin while there is also a repeat of last years final in the first round of games as 2012 and 2013 champions take on last years winners Saint Anne’s in Lismore.

In the Intermediate grade Brickeys take on Roanmore at Bushy Park while An Rinn play Butlerstown at Ring.

In the Junior grade De La Salle have home advantage over Tallow and Clonea are at home to Ferrybank.

In all three grades games have an 11-30pm throw in, but before heading off to the games maybe check with the competing clubs at games you play plan to go an see that there is no change in time or venue for the game.

Relegated Ballinameela fancied to begin Western Intermediate Football Championship with a win

Just as is the case with the County Senior Football Championship, the Intermediate and Junior Football Championship games will begin this weekend in West Waterford.

Both of these championships are always very difficult to win and there is likely to be many twists and turns along the way before the winners are known.

Brickeys are the current Intermediate Champions and after adding the county title to the divisional title won last year, there will be new champions in the west this year.

In Junior Football, Old Parish are the current champions and they will be looking to retain the title this year and to go a step further than they did last year when they lost out to eventual county champions Kill after a replay.

Ballinameela lost their senior status in 2014 loosing a relegation play off to Ardmore and they will fancy their chances of going straight back up this year.

They last won this championship in 2012 and previous to that in 2009. They played Senior Football for two years each time after winning these championships before getting relegated.

Ballinameela get this years championship underway on Saturday evening when they play fierce rivals Geraldine’s in Fraher Field.

Having played Senior in recent years they will be favourites to begin with a win against the men from Aglish, but they know that the Aglish Men have in recent years being performing well but are unable to make the break through.

Two games are down for decision on Sunday evening.

Ballinacourty and Ballyduff meet in Colligan. Ballinacourty in the last few years have been performing well and are there or there about when it come to deciding who wins the championships.

They will as in previous years be able to call upon some players who have played senior in recent years and players who have come off successful underage teams and who have as yet to make the break through to the senior set up. However come the latter stages of the competition they are minus some of these players having gone back playing senior.

Ballyduff while best known as a hurling club, also have some good footballers. Two years ago they won this competition but they lost out to De La Salle in the county final.

In the third game this weekend, Sliabh gCua play Dungarvan. Its no secret that both of these clubs would be putting hurling first. Dungarvan will be there or there about in the senior hurling championship while Sliabh gCua/Saint Mary’s will be looking to win the junior hurling championship won last year by their neighbours Modeligo. Both sides however have some excellent footballers and could well figure in the closing stages of the championship.

In Junior, Affane and Tallow play the first game of the championship this evening. Both sides will make their way to Ballyduff for the game. Both sides have some good footballers but while both clubs will be attempting to get as far as possible in the championship, the interest of both will be in hurling this year.

Two games are down for decision on Saturday evening. Old Parish and Modeligo meet in the first game of the evening.

This could well prove to be one of the better games in the West this weekend. Old Parish are the current champions while Modeligo are the current Western Junior League Champions, one of five competitions won by the club in 2014.

The sides met twice last year. Modeligo won in the first round of the championship while Old Parish won when they met at the semi final stages of the competition.

This is a game that could well go to the wire. To pick one over the other is a difficult task. Maybe a draw might be the fairest result.

The final game of the weekend sees the 2013 winners and 2014 runners up Colligan take on Shamrocks at Clashmore.

When the sides clashed in last years championship it was the Knockanore met that came out on top. Could the same happen again this year?

In the Intermediate Championship games in West Waterford this weekend, Ballinameela, Ballinacourty and Dungarvan are the fancied sides, while in Junior, Affane and Colligan are fancied with a toss of the coin needed to pick between who is fancied in the Modeligo and Old Parish game.

The big 3 expected to all win this weekend in senior football championship

It does not seem all that long ago since many gathered at Fraher Field in Dungarvan to see The Nire beat Stradbally to win a seventh County Senior Football Championship since they first won it on a famous day at Cappoquin venue in 1993 when they beat a hotly fancied Dungarvan side.

Since then, a lot of water has passed under the bridge when it comes to football in Waterford.

The Nire went on to put up some excellent performances against Limerick champions Ballylanders at Kilmallock and then Clare champions Cratloe in Fraher Field before loosing out to Kerry champions Austin Stacks in the Munster Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Waterford under a new management team in the opening weeks of the new year won the McGrath Cup for the first time since 1981, the first year of the competitions history, beating fancied sides Cork and UCC in the semi final and final respectfully.

This gave many high expectations heading into the league, but it was to prove to be a disappoint campaign, with Waterford winning just one game, the opener against Wicklow, with their next best result, a draw away to London.

This weekend, for the clubs in the county it a fresh start with the opening round of games in the Senior Football Championship down for decision.

Even before a ball is kicked in this year’s championship, it can be taken as a certainty that certain things will happen.

Barring some unforeseen circumstances the big three – The Nire, Ballinacourty and Stradbally will be involved in the semi finals come late September or early October.

It can also be taken for granted that An Rinn, Kilrossanty and Rathgormack will be the teams most likely to be vying for the remaining semi final spot, with two of them making the quarter finals, with De La Salle, Ardmore, Saint Saviours, Gaultier and Brickeys the sides challenging for the final quarter final spot, and two of the five will most likely to be involved in a relegation battle.

Holders the Nire are involved in Championship opener against Clashmore later this evening under the lights at Fraher Field.

The Nire under Benjie Whelan last year played some brilliant football and were worthy winners of the championship. They saved their best performance of the year for their penultimate game of the year, beating Cratloe in Fraher Field. On the day they were magnificent and if they can come anywhere near replicating the performance served up that day throughout the championship, they will be a very hard side to beat.

Clashmore last year had a disappointing year by their own standard’s. They know that they are capable of much better than they served up last year. They will look to get the year off to a good start and while they could find the going tough against the champions, it must be remembered that Clashmore have some fine footballers, including inter county hurlers Tadhg de Búrca and Brian O’Halloran, and will know that they are capable if making life difficult for the champions.

The sides clashed at the semi final stages of the championship a few years back and for much of the game it was Clashmore that proved to be the better of the two sides. An early second half goal that day proved to be the difference between the sides. We must also remember that it is not all that long ago that Clashmore beat the then champions Stradbally in the opening round of games in the championship.

The remaining games in group one of this years championship are down for decision on Sunday in Fraher Field.

Ardmore last year needed to beat Ballinameela in a relegation play off to retain their status for this year. De La Salle two years ago won the Intermediate championship and last year did better than most expected to win a place in the quarter finals.

Both sides have some very good footballers and will be looking to get the year off to a good start with a win here.

Ardmore will know that they have to improve on last years showing, while De La Salle will find out that the second year playing senior can often prove to be a little more difficult than the first.

The second game in a double header on Sunday at Fraher Field will see Ballinacourty take on Rathgormack.

This could well prove to be the best game of the weekend.

The two clubs clashed last week in the Under 21A Football County Final where the Comeragh Men cam out on top, winning a third title at this grade in five years.

However, there is a big step up from underage football to senior football, even from under 21.

There can be no doubting that Rathgormack have some fine players in the likes of Gavin Nugent, Michael Curry, Jason Curry and Conor Murray.

Ballinacourty will be disappointed not to have won back to back titles last year and will be all out for a win this year.

Like Rathgormack they have some excellent players who need no introduction, players like Stephen Enright, Patrick and Gary Hurney, Mark Ferncombe, Sean O’Hare and Jason O’Brien.

Looking at the three games in Group one this weekend, I am going for wins for The Nire, De La Salle and Ballinacourty but am not going to rule out the chances of the other three from winning too easily.

In group two, there is three games down for decision on Sunday.

An Rinn and Saint Saviours clash in the opener at Kill.

An Rinn have reached the semi finals in the last two years. Going to within one point of The Nire in the semi finals last year will give the side confidence that they can go another step forward this year.

Saint Saviours in the last two years have reached the quarter finals, having for many years previous flirted with relegation.

At this time of the year, Saint Saviours could at time find it hard to put out a full strength team due to players being involved in other sports. If Saint Saviours can put out a strong as team as is possible, then they can win here, but if they were to be short the services of some of their key players, then it could prove playing catch up from an early stage, could mean that it will be a long year for the wrong reasons.

The second game at Kill on Sunday sees Gaultier take on Stradbally

Like Saint Saviours, Gaultier have some very good players, and it would be nice to see them do well.

You could ask are Stradbally as good a side as they were four or five years ago. The side shows a number of changes in the last few years. They have lost some good players, but they have brought forward some good players as well, who are a different type of player to those that served the club for much of the last decade and a half.

Stradbally at times have being slow to settle in the championship, but have always done enough to reach the latter stages of the championship as the league section of the championship progressed. Could 2015 prove to be another year when Stradbally have a slow start? Gaultier will be hoping it will.

The final game of the weekend sees Kilrossanty take on Brickeys on Sunday evening in Fraher Field.

A few years back Kilrossanty were involved in a relegation play off against John Mitchell’s, a game they won and since then they have showed signs of improvements each year.

Brickeys for many years flirted with relegation and eventually dropped down to the intermediate grade at the end of the 2013 championship, but came straight back up last year.

This year their main focus will be to retain their status and to work from there, but sometimes that could be easier said than done.

In the Group two games, An Rinn, Stradbally and Kilrossanty are the favoured sides to begin with wins, but just as in group one, don’t rule out the chances of one of them loosing.

Waterford and Leitrim battle for top spot in Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League – Division 3

With the four places up for grabs in the semi finals of this year’s Division 3 Tesco Homegrown Ladies Football National League already decided, all that is to be resolved this week at the top of the table is to decide who finishes in what positions.

If Waterford were to avoid defeat in Ballinamore on Sunday afternoon, the Déise Ladies will top the table and play the fourth placed team in the semi finals, while if Waterford were to win and Sligo and Roscommon were also collect three points, all three Connacht Counties in the league would finish on fifteen points each. However, a defeat for Waterford would see both Waterford and Leitrim finish on eighteen points and the home side on Sunday would finish top of the group as a result of winning the head to head between the two counties.

In recent meetings between the two, Waterford has often come out on top, but they will know that they face a stern battle in this game.

Leitrim are an improving side in recent years. They have won five of the six games they played in the league so far, their only defeat coming in the fifth series of games when they lost 1-11 to 0-7 against Sligo, a side Waterford beat 5-13 to 0-6 in the third round of games.

There can be no doubting that Áine Tighe will be the home side’s most important player. She is likely to start at full forward and will be a test for who ever is her direct marker.

In the six games she has started in the league up to now, she has hit an incredible eleven goals and twenty-seven points. The only game she has failed to score in was in the loss against Sligo where she was replaced during the break.

However while the value of Tighe cannot be disputed neither can the fact that throughout the team there is also plenty of players with lots of natural ability such as Michelle Guckian between the posts, Claire Beirne, Mairead Stenson and Róisín McHugh in the full back line, Anna Conlon, Lorraine Brennan and Sharon Kerrigan in the half back line, Sarah McLoughlin in the middle of the field, the versatile Niamh Tighe and Deirdre Ward who both can play in attack or in the middle of the field as well as Emma Guckian, Ailbie Maguire, Carla LeGuen and Michelle Heslin, while Áine Heslin is a player that can play in the middle of the field or in defence.

Like Leitrim Waterford have impressed in getting to this stage of the competition as an unbeaten side.

In their opener against Wexford in Fraher Field, the Model County Ladies made life very difficult for Pat Sullivan’s charges. Waterford had to call upon all the experience of the older players in the panel collected over the years as well as the younger players from their underage and college’s games before they came out on top 0-9 to 2-2.

Waterford easily accounted for both Fermanagh and Sligo at Fraher Field in their next two games before again calling on experience to beat Tipperary in Ardfinnan in round four and again in the second half in the game against Roscommon at Fraher Field in round five.

Last time out Waterford were awarded a walk over from Longford who have lost all their games in the league and who will be relegated this weekend if they fail to beat Tipperary, while it will be the Premier Ladies that will drop a division for 2016 if they loose this weekend.

Waterford has a new look team this year. Pat Sullivan and his selectors have called up some of the exciting prospects from the under 14, 16 and minor teams in recent years and also have brought back into the panel some players who were away from the panel in the last few years.

Waterford could well have a team made up of experience and youth taking to the field in Ballinamore on Sunday.

Katie Hannon should again start between the posts. Karen McGrath could well have the task of trying to keep Áine Tighe quiet. The Ballymacarbry player has settled well into the number three shirt this year and is more than capable of keeping the dangerous full forward quiet.

Michelle McGrath and Elaine Power are others that have settled in well in new positions in the half back line having played in the centre of the field for much of their inter county careers up to this point.

Mairead Wall could well start in the middle of the field. Mary Kate Morrissey has started in the middle of the field for many of the games up to this point and could well be given the nod again here. Maria Delahunty has proven to be key to Waterford this year playing at centre forward while Sinead Ryan another player returning to the side this year also has proven crucial playing at full forward.

Linda Wall and Michelle Ryan could also start in attack, while the likes of Megan Dunford, Emma Murray, Nora Dunphy, Caoimhe McGrath, Hannah Landers, Shauna Dunphy, Grainne Kenneally, Aileen Wall, Aoife Dunne Aoife Murray and Lauren McGregor will also be fighting hard for a place in the team.

The fact that this game will decide the final outcome of the group is no real surprise. Both sides would have been predicted to fill the top two places from the off.

Waterford as pointed out are undefeated, and would like to finish the league stages of the competition with a maximum of twenty one points.

The two sides will be favourites to meet again in a few weeks time in the final.

This particular game is a very difficult one to call.

Maybe some might want to stop reading at this stage.

I hate to see any Waterford team loose any game in any sport, but if you are a regular reader of what I have to read on here and elsewhere, that you will know that I have a notion that when two teams meet in close proximity, the advantage is often with the side that looses the first day in the second meeting.

Travelling long distances to games in not very ideal. Sometimes teams when they have to travel a long distance to a game they like to travel the full distance or a lot of it the night before. However sleeping in a strange bed the night before a game is not always the best preparation.

Home advantage and the distance Waterford have to travel is going to give Leitrim an advantage this weekend.

If Waterford are to loose one game (and hopefully one game only) then as a Waterford supporter, I must say let it be this game. To loose here would not be the end of the world. However knowing the talent in the Waterford panel this year, I for one would not be surprised to see Waterford end the league in a few weeks time with a perfect record.

In the other games to be played this weekend, Roscommon with home advantage over Wexford may prove that little bit stronger than the visitors, Fermanagh who have disappointed in the league so far, having contested last years All-Ireland Final will look to end the league with a confidence boosting win over Sligo with their Ulster Championship campaign starting in the next few weeks, while Tipperary should have enough to see off Longford in a game that will decide who drops to Division Four for the 2016 league.