Waterford Look for All-Ireland Final Spot by beating Meath at Nolan Park

The Waterford Intermediate Camogie Team will take to the field at Nolan Park on Saturday afternoon next in the first of this years All-Ireland Semi Finals against Meath and they will be hoping that the outcome will be the same as what the Under 16’s achieved last Sunday when they accounted for the Royal’s at Athy at the same stage of their competition.

Both Counties have made great progress in the past few years and are clearly heading in the right direction which can only be good for the game, and a model for those that are trying to achieve what both of these sides have in the last few years on the Inter County front.

Meath reached the Junior ‘A’ All-Ireland Final in 2007 where they lost out to Laois on a 1-15 to 1-9 score line but made up for that defeat 12 months later when they beat Roscommon 0-10 to 1-5 and in 2012 they won the Junior Premier final beating Down 1-11 to 1-9, the second year in a row that the Ulster side were beaten in the final.

Success has also come the way of the Royal’s on the underage front.

in 2011, 2014 and this year Minor titles have been won and they will be hoping that the players in these success will be able to transfer the form they showed in winning these titles to the adult scene in the next few years.

Success has also been achieved at Under 16 level, reaching the All-Ireland Final in 2010 where they lost out to Carlow and in 2013 when they beat Laois in the final of the ‘C’ Competition.

In the National Leagues Meath have also proven successful winning the Division four title in 2008 when they beat Roscommon in the decider. Laois proved a little too strong fro them in the 2010 Division three final, but it would be their day 12 months later as they overcame the challenge of Kildare in the final and a further 12 months on they reached the Division two final where they lost out to Derry.

Regular readers here will know that I have often put Waterford’s revival in Camogie down to the day in 2003 when Lismore’s Laura Buckley captained the under 16’s to win the All-Ireland Final against Armagh at Portlaoise, as from that day it has proven to be onwards and upwards for the game in Waterford.

Even if there were some disappointments for Waterford along the way, the players have always come out the other side and have gone on to achieve other things.

When Waterford ran out on the Croke Park Sod for the 2009 All-Ireland Junior Premier Final some of the players who were involved six years earlier were involved. Defeat was Waterford’s lot that day against Offaly but the side were back in Croke Park again 12 months later to face Antrim in the final, a game that ended in a 1-9 to 1-9 draw but defeat would be Waterford’s lot in the replay.

However, Waterford did make it third time lucky in 2011 when they beat Down 2-11 to 1-13 with again some of the victorious under 16 panel from 2016 involved, and some of that panel will be involved again this Saturday.

Like Meath, Waterford has had some great days on the underage scene.

Waterford lost out in the Minor finals of 2008 and 2009 against Offaly and Limerick respectfully but a first minor (under 18) title was won last year when the side had a 4-6 to 0-2 win over Derry in the final.

As already mentioned above, Waterford’s Camogie revival began the day they beat Armagh in 2003. Since then Waterford have appeared in four other finals at under 16 level.

In 2007 the final ended on a score of Derry 2-7 Waterford 3-4 but in the replay the Ulster side proved too strong winning the game comfortably.

Waterford were back in the final in 2009 where they lost out in a South East derby against Wexford on a 2-11 to 1-12 score line and in 2013 it was defeat again for Waterford in a derby game loosing 4-8 to 2-10 against Cork at Mallow.

However, Waterford made up for that defeat last year when they won a second title at this age level beating Derry in the final.

And for good measure, Waterford will next weekend appear in a third final in a row when they take on Dublin in what will be a very difficult game.

This is the fourth year in a row that Waterford has reached this stage of the competition, having lost to Galway in 2012 and 2013 and last year they lost out to Limerick. In the last two years Waterford has lost out to the side that have gone on to win the All-Ireland Final.

The sides have already met once this year in the League back in March.

Waterford travelled to Rathoath for that game and emerged victors on a 2-14 to 1-13 score line.

The Royal’s that day had a number of players in fine scoring form.

The ever dangerous Aoife Maguire finished as their top scorer with 1-3 while Jane Dolan another player that could cause Waterford heartache hit four points and Sinead Hackett hit three. Kristina Troy, Cheyanne O’Brien and Megan Thynne also got on the score sheet that day.

For Waterford in that game Trish Jackman finished as top scorer, hitting 1-9, 1-7 of which came from placed balls, while Beth Carton, Nicola Morrissey and Dawn Power shared the remainder of the scores.

Meath come into this Saturday’s final in fine form.

They won three of their four games in the group section of the competition, their only loss coming in the game against Cork in the opening round of fixtures. They also reached this years Leinster Intermediate Final where they lost out 1-13 to 1-9 against Kilkenny, a side that Waterford have beaten twice this year in League and Championship.

Meath, like Waterford have a settled look to their team this year.

Barring some unforeseen or unreported circumstances, Emily Mangan will start between the posts with Claire Coffey at full back with Grace Coleman in one corner and Emma McGill and Emma Coffey fighting it out for a start in the other corner.

Kristina Troy will be at centre back whole Áine and Marie Keogh could well be either side of her.

In the middle of the field, Jane Dolan and Katie Hackett have built up a formidable formation and if the Royals were to win, it could be from here that a lot of the spade work could be done.

Another potentially danger to Waterford Aoife Maguire will start in the centre forward position and will have Aoife Minogue and Megan Thynne either side of her, while the inside forward line could well consist of Edel Guy in the middle with Sinead Hackett and Cheyenne O’Brien in the corners.

Meath’s big hitters on the scoreboard could well prove to be Jane Dolan and Aoife Minogue but it could prove costly for Waterford to put all their eggs in the one basket and put all their focus on stopping them as it could allow the likes of Katie and Sinead Hackett, Megan Thynne, Kristina Troy, Fia O’Brien and Edel Guy to have big games when it comes to scoring.

Waterford are having a great number of years when it comes to Camogie and surly its only a matter of time before they win what their target it. The League final win over Laois earlier this year will have shown the side that they can win on the big day and will have given the side a taste for more success.

Like Meath, Waterford has a very settled side.

Deirdre Brennan will be between the posts. Kate McMahon and Vikki Falconer could well start in the corners with the full back position a arm wrestle between Claire Whyte and Jennie Simpson.

Trish Jackman could well be selected at centre back with Charlotte Raher and Jenny Simpson flanking her.

Iona Heffernan and Lorraine Bray could well start in the middle of the field. The pair have built up a great partnership and could fight out a great battle in that sector of the field with Jane Dolan and Katie Hackett with the winning pair likely to be on the winning team.

Team captain Catriona McGlone could well start in front of the Meath goal and could have teenagers Aisling and Dawn Power on the corners.

Nicola Morrissey will start at centre forward and Beth Carton will be at number 12, leaving just the number 10 shirt to fill.

Sibeal Harney, Niamh Rockett, Molly Curran, Claire Murphy, Elizabeth McGrath and Becky Kavanagh will all be fighting it out for the shirt, but another option could be to place Lorraine Bray there, moving Trish Jackman to the middle of the field, placing Claire Whyte at Full back and Jennie Simpson at centre back.

But maybe Waterford manager Sean Fleming and his management team have something else up there sleeves for this game.

Both Shona Curran and Valerie O’Brien having spent some time in America lately will come into the equation for a place in the team.

Shona Curran could come in at full forward with maybe Catriona McGlone filling a place on the wing, or even in the middle of the field, while Valerie O’Brien who was part of the league final winning team will also be considered maybe at Centre Forward with Nicola Morrissey moving to the number ten position or even coming directly into the number ten shirt. And even if the pair were not to start, what subs they would be to bring in if the game was tight.

Camogie in Waterford is on the up with great work being carried out on the club scene and again within the inter county scene by a small group of dedicated troopers.

All year long, I have had a gut feeling that it will be Waterford’s year and am not going to change now.  

Its Waterford for me on Saturday at Nolan Park, but it has to be said that in the recent past, Meath have caused Waterford heartache and are capable of doing so again.

Déise Ladies March On

Waterford became the first team to reach the last four of this year’s TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship semi final when they overcame the challenge of Division Three league champions Sligo at Birr.

As a result of this win, Pat Sullivan and his charges are just sixty minutes for a first return to Croke Park since 2012 where they lost out to a very strong Armagh side in that years Intermediate Final.

This was expected to be a tough battle for both sides, but in the end it resulted in a comprehensive win for Waterford, one they were full value for.

Waterford were always on top in this game, but did receive an early scare in the first quarter of the game when Denise McGrath put the ball in the Waterford net when Waterford were a point up, but County Laois referee Niall McCormack and his officials quickly ruled the score out for an infringement within the Waterford square.

Anybody that have read what I have to say with the past few years will know that when it comes to the Black Card in men’s football, I think the whole thing is an utter joke. To remove one man off the field for what is often a rough foul and to replace him with another player for me serves no purpose. The only thing it does do however is maybe reduce the amount of subs you can in the game.

I have said on more that one occasion that G.A.A. Officials should seriously look at how players are dealt with in Ladies Football. When a player in Ladies Football is deemed to have committed a cynical foul she is ordered to the sideline or the stand for ten minutes and her team is forced to play the next ten minutes with a numerical disadvantage, and if the player is ordered off before the break, the clock stops during the interval and restarts when the game starts.

Should the same happen in the men’s game? I would say 100% yes, but I know of not one official who would purpose at Club Level or County Board Level for it to happen and for them to gain enough support for it to make it to be discussed at Congress.

In the league final between the two sides, Waterford twice had the same player very harshly yellow carded meaning Waterford twice at the end of either half had to play with a player less.

In this game it was the league champions that had to play an important portion of this game with a numerical disadvantage Stephanie O’Reilly one of their most crucial players had to sit out most of the last quarter of the game, in which time Waterford kicked the scores that ensured that victory was going to be theirs.

Waterford in this game never tailed.

The very impressive Maria Delahunty opened the scoring with a free only for Katie Walsh to cancel it out with a free for the Connacht side.

When the sides met at Parnell Park in the League Final back in May, it was Katie Walsh that was the difference between the two sides as she hit 2-4 of her sides 2-12 on the day.

Here however she was never given the same room and while she did finish as her side’s top scorer on the day, all of her four points was from frees.

the Impressive Maria Delahunty would put Waterford back in front soon afterwards with another point from a free, but soon afterwards it looked as disaster had stuck for Waterford when Denise McGrath finished to the Waterford net but her effort was ruled out for an infringement within the Waterford square.

Maria Delahunty put Waterford two in front with another free and the hugely impressive Abbeyside player who was part of the Waterford set up when the county won the first of its seven in a row of Munster Final’s at this grade back in 2010 put over a fourth free to give Waterford a three point advantage.

Waterford went six up when the side won a penalty after Ballyduff’s Gráinne Kennelly was fouled and her club mate Katie Hannon was brought up the entire length of the field to go one on one with Noelle Gormley from twelve metres and she made no mistake in putting the ball past the Saint Nathy’s player.

The first score of the game from play came when Sinead McTiernan split the Waterford posts but Waterford hit back with an effort from Linda Wall before the break. The brilliant long serving Ballymacarbry player is playing a lot in defence for Waterford this year but she has shown more than once this year that in the white and blue shirt she has lost none of her attacking abilities as she kicked her sides first from play in this game to give Waterford a 1-5 to 0-2 cushion at the break.

Waterford began the second half with a two quick points from Maria Delahunty and Sinead Ryan to stretch their sides lead to eight, but Sligo hit their best patch of the game soon afterwards as Katie Walsh put over a brace of points and Stephanie O’Reilly also got her name on the score sheet but the latter would have her time on the field cut soon afterwards as she was sin binned by the Co Laois Referee.

Maria Delahunty and Rachel Monaghan swapped scores for their respective sides before Michelle Ryan on for Mary Foley and Emma Hansbury who missed the two previous games with Waterford also got their names on the score sheet.

Further points for Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan followed for Waterford before Katie Walsh hit her fourth of the game and her sides last of the game to leave six between the sides with time running down.

Waterford in the time that remained had points from Aileen Wall, Maria Delahunty, Sinead Ryan and another from the brilliant Maria Delahunty to run out winners by ten points on a 1-15 to 0-8 score line.

Waterford now play Leitrim in the semi finals after the Connacht champions overcame the challenge of Clare on a 4-7 to 1-12 score line in the second game to be played at Birr on Saturday afternoon.

In the other two quarter finals next weekend Kildare play Wexford at 1-30pm at Crettyard, while last years beaten finalists Fermanagh play Offaly at Mullahoran.

Waterford: Katie Hannon; Mairead Wall, Michelle McGrath, Linda Wall; Megan Dunford, Elaine Power, Emma Murray; Karen McGrath, Louise Ryan; Hannah Landers, Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall; Gráinne Kenneally, Sinead Ryan, Mary Foley. Subs: Michelle Ryan for Mary Foley, Caoimhe McGrath for Hannah Landers, Kate McGrath for Louise Ryan, Mary Kate Morrissey for Gráinne Kenneally.

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 0-9 (7f), Hannah Landers 1-0 (Pen), Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan 0-2 each, Linda Wall, Aileen Wall 0-1 each.

Sligo: Noelle Gormley; Orla McGowan, Gráinne O’Loughlin, Jacqui Mulligan; Colley Casey, Elsie Codd, Ruth Goodwin; Sinead McTiernan, Bernice Byrne; Denise McGrath, Stephanie O’Reilly, Elaine O’Reilly; Rachel Monaghan, Katie Walsh, Emma Hansbury. Sub: Lisa Casey for Rachel Monaghan.

Scorers: Katie Walsh 0-4 (4f), Sinead McTiernan, Stephanie O’Reilly, Rachel Monaghan, Emma Hansbury 0-1 each.

Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois).

Waterford Senior Football Championship Resumes

Within the G.A.A. it must never be forgotten that the Club Scene is the most important unit within the association.

Sadly however, in many counties while the counties strongest senior and often minor team are still involved in the championship the club scene is often forgotten about.

While I do not expect many if any to agree with this, it is my view that since the ‘back door system’ or ‘second chance system’ was first introduced in many counties, the club scene has suffered.

While the stronger of the counties hurling or football teams are still involved in with a chance of winning the Same Maguire or Liam McCarthy Cups many of the players playing for their equivalent within many counties are left twiddling their thumps.

Most players in each county are left to play often meaningless league or challenge games or left to hope that their club organises a tournament or get invited into a tournament to remember some former Gael.

As soon as the inter county team are then eliminated from the championship which is holding up things within the county, players are often forced to play week in week out, with little thought given to player burn out which is often a huge concern to some earlier or later in the year, or to allow players to recover from niggling injuries which need rest to recover from.

It is important here to point out that I am not signalling out any county in particular. The above happens in many counties so that the relevant county boards can say that they did all they could to have a team in place to represent their county in the different provincial championships.

This weekend here in Waterford, after what seem to be an age, the senior football championship resumes, with the playing of four delayed round three games in the league part of the championship.

For most if not all of the eight sides involved this Friday or Saturday evening, the outcome of the games are very important.

There is a number of games which should attract a sizeable attendance to where they are being played, but its unlikely to happen.

Stradbally and An Rinn clash on Friday evening at 7-30pm in Fraher Field.

Stradbally are without doubt the best side in the county since the turn of the Millennium, while An Rinn in the last two years have began to show they are moving in the right direction, reaching the semi final stages of the championship.

In both years An Rinn were coached by former Stradbally footballer Packo Curran and this year the former inter county hurling goalkeeper is back with his own club having taken over from Stephen Cunningham as manager, which will give this game a bit of an edge.

Stradbally while still strong, are not as strong as they were a few years back, and with An Rinn having reached the semi finals in 2013 and 2014 you would expect the Gaeltacht side to put it up to the Cove Men.

However, An Rinn could well be without a number of important players. Donie Breathnach is in the states for the summer, while Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Lorcán Ó Corraoin and Jamie de Barúin are all reported to be doubtful starters for An Rinn.

If An Rinn are short the services of key players, then the nod to win here will go to the Cove men who would secure their quarter final position and also move level on points at the top of the table with neighbours and rivals – Kilrossanty.

Clashmore and Ardmore meet in a local derby clash on Saturday evening again at Fraher Field.

Clashmore are having a good season so far and are on full points from their two games played to date and another win here would secure their quarter final spot.

Inter county hurlers Tadhg de Búrca and Brian O’Halloran are not free of inter county commitments. They will be fit but you will have to wonder how much football they will have kicked in the run up to this game.

Ardmore will field a team made up of a mix of youth and experience. They have had mixed results to date beating De La Salle in the first round of games before loosing to Nire last time out.

Had this game been played when the game was originally due to be played you would think that Clashmore would have won the game such was the form they were in at the time.

Ardmore last year were in a relegation play off with Ballinameela and will know that another win will mean that they should have no such fears this year.

They would like to secure their status with a win over their neighbours, but they might have to wait a little longer for a second win. Clashmore get the nod here to win, but it could be close.

The main game of the weekend will see two of the big three Ballinacourty and The Nire do battle at Fraher Field.

Ballinacourty have two wins from two games played so far in the championship after beating the two sides currently bottom of the group.

They will know that another win here will secure a place in the quarter finals, while the reigning champions who lost first time out against Clashmore can move level on points with Ballinacourty with a win here, but more importantly move above the 2013 champions on the head to head between the two if they were to finish the league section of the championship level on points.

This is one of those games that could well go right to the wire. Heading into the game Ballinacourty are in the stronger position. The Nire are reported to be without Conor Gleeson for this game and if this proves correct it would come as a massive blow to their chances as he was outstanding last year in helping them reach the Munster Club final against Austin Stacks.

The Nire having already lost in the championship will know that another defeat will mean that they could well have to play someone like Stradbally in the quarter finals of the championship, something they should qualify for.

On paper, Ballinacourty have slightly the stronger forwards so they get the nod to win here.

The final game of the weekend sees Rathgormack take on De La Salle at Carrickbeg.

De La Salle last year showed they are able to play football as well as anyone reaching the knockout stages of the competition in their first season playing senior football in nearly 30 years.

Rathgormack at underage level are proving to be as good as anyone around, winning a number of titles in the last few years. But like many others before them, they are finding it difficult to transfer underage success to adult grade success.

If Rathgormack do manage to transfer the success they have had at underage level they could well be in a position to challenge the big three and those that are lurking just behind them.

With both sides without a win up to now, a win here for both is a must. It will prove to be a real four pointer, as the win would also guarantee that they would finish above the side that looses here should the two finish level on points.

Rathgormack should win here, but De La Salle’s chances of winning cannot be ruled out.

Fixtures:

An Rinn V Stradbally at 7-30pm on Friday evening at Fraher Field

Clashmore V Ardmore at 4pm on Saturday evening at Fraher Field

The Nire V Ballinacourty at 5-30pm on Saturday evening at Fraher Field

De La Salle V Rathgormack at 7-30pm on Saturday evening at Carrickbeg

Waterford Ladies Seek Revenge Against Sligo

Waterford and Sligo renew rivalries in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Football Championship at the quarter final stages of the competition when they meet this Saturday in Birr with a throw-in time of 2pm.

The two sides have met twice so far this year and the current standing is one win each.

When the sides met in the group stages of the League, Waterford had a very comprehensive win at Fraher Field, and when the sides clashed in the League Final at Parnell Park in Dublin a few weeks later it was the Westerns that ran out winners with four points to spare.

The first clash of the two this year gave a false reading as to the difference between the two sides.

For that game, Sligo travelled to Dungarvan without a number of regulars in their starting team.

For the league final, Grainne O’Loughlin, Colley Casey, Ruth Goodwin, Elsie Codd and Karen Moloney were in the team that started that did not start at Fraher Field, and since then they have made further changes to their team as last time out when beating Roscommon 2-15 to 2-13 at Ballinamore they had Emma Hansbury in the team. the Republic of Ireland Soccer International started none of the two previous games with Waterford and is a player that Waterford will have to keep an eye on. For that game Denise McGrath put over three points for Sligo and Rachel Monaghan started at corner forward and played for 43 minutes before she was replaced by Lisa Casey and both will be hoping to have done enough to stay in the starting team for Saturday’s game.

Right throughout the team Sligo could cause Waterford many problems.

Noelle Gormley is an excellent goalkeeper as many will have seen in the League Final between the two sides.

Elise Codd will be at Centre back, Grainne O’Loughlin should start behind her with Orla McGowan in one of the corners. Ruth Goodwin is likely to start at wing back and Jacqui Mulligan could start in a wing or corner back position, with Colley Casey filling the remaining position in defence.

Sinead McTiernan and Bernice Byrne all going well will start in the middle of the field, while in attack the Sligo management team will be spoilt for choice as they will be able to call in the likes of Elaine and Stephanie O’Reilly, Katie Walsh who put in a player of the match performance in league final scoring 2-4 playing at full forward while Emma Hansbury is most likely to start in the corner.

There will be plenty of competition for the other two remaining places in attack with the likes of Rachel Monaghan, Grainne Carty, Sarah Reynolds, Laura Ann Laffrey, Denise McGrath, Lisa Casey, Karen Maloney and Louise Brett all fighting it out for a place in the starting team.

There can be no disputing that in the last number of years, Waterford have proven to be the most consistent team in the intermediate grade of Ladies Football, winning seven Munster Titles in a row, and have reached All-Ireland finals in both 2010 and 2012 along the way but the All-Ireland title that this panel are looking for and that so many of the panel would deserve for their commitment to the game over a number of years still eludes Waterford.

In the last number of years the championship format has not been kind to Waterford as they have gone into the All-Ireland quarter finals without a competitive game for four or five weeks between the Munster Final and the All-Ireland Quarter Final game while their opponents have played a game almost every two weeks after going out of the Provincial championship, and all involved in the Waterford set up will be hoping for a change of fortune this weekend.

Waterford no doubt will be looking for revenge for the league final defeat between the two sides back in May.

That was a game that Waterford will know that they should have won.

Waterford had a fantastic start to the game as they tore Sligo apart with some excellent running at their defence coming out of the Waterford half of the field, and hit a brace of goals through the impressive Sinead Ryan, but Sligo came storming back, with the help maybe of some questionable calls by the match officials as Sligo hit two goals from Katie Walsh, the first from a very questionable penalty which saw Waterford had their numbers cut for ten minutes after the awarding of the penalty and later in the game, when Sligo brought the ball out of their own defence from the goal mouth and scored with 13 movements with their hands and without once kicking the ball. Waterford would also finish that game with a numerical disadvantage after another very questionable call by the officials.

12 months ago, both sides went out of the competition at this stage of the competition. Waterford lost to Fermanagh while Sligo lost to Down with both Ulster sides going on to contest the All-Ireland Final last September. The winner of this game will be hoping to go on and win at Croke Park at the end of September but first they will know that they face two more stiff tests after this game.

Pat Sullivan since he was appointed as Manager of the team has re-energised the team, moving players to new positions which has instilled a new lease of life into the players and has also introduced some of the most exciting young prospects into the panel with many of them staking a place for themselves in the starting line up, while a number of players who were regulars in the starting line up for a number of years are now providing back up to what starts the game and when they enter the game they are adding considerable experience to the side.

From an early stage this year Waterford have a fairly settled starting fifteen an the side that takes to the field will look fairly familiar to the side that beat Clare in the Munster Final at Mallow back in July and the league final loss to Sligo in May.

That will mean that Katie Hannon will start between the posts. Michelle McGrath will start at full back while the Wall sisters Mairead and Linda could start in the corner back positions.

Elaine Power and Megan Dunford will be in the half back line with one from Emma Murray and Louise Ryan filling a wing back and a centre field position where Karen McGrath will also start.

In attack Maria Delahunty will be a centre forward and Sinead Ryan will be full forward. After that a number of players could well feature with some experienced players missing out.

Grainne Kenneally, Waterford’s goal scorer in the Munster Final win over Clare would be expected to start as would Aileen Wall, one of the most exciting prospects within the game.

Mary Foley has received a new lease of life since moving from defence to attack and has proven to be key to Waterford this year.

Hannah Landers completed the forwards last time out and she could well be given the nod once more again this time out, but the likes if there is a chance the likes of Shauna Dunphy, Aoife Murray or Michelle Ryan could get the call.

Others that could play a vital roll in this game could be the likes of Nicola Fennell, Caoimhe McGrath, Kate McGrath, Nora Dunphy, Emer Scanlon, Lauren McGregor, Aoife Landers and Aoife Dunne amongst others.

Waterford will know that this is a tough a quarter final game that they could have got in the draw, but they will also know that if they are to win the All-Ireland that they so crave for that they will have to beat the best teams and that some of them will have to be beaten before the final itself.

On paper little separates the two sides and this is a game that could well go to the wire.

Ladies football is on the up once more in Waterford and a win here would give the game an even bigger boost.

There is a hunger in the Waterford team and that should stand to them. they have played some good football this year along the way in both the league and the championship.

Goals will be scored in this game. Waterford will know that if they can keep the likes of Katie Walsh and Emma Hansbury quite and also remained disciplined that they stand a great chance of advancing in this game.

Cody guides Kilkenny to fourteenth All-Ireland Final appearance as Manager.

Brian Cody has guided Kilkenny to a fourteenth All-Ireland Final appearance since 1999 as his side beat Waterford 1-21 to 0-18 in the first of this year’s semi finals at Croke Park and now awaits the winners of the Tipperary and Galway clash next weekend in next weekend’s second semi final at the same venue.

TJ Reid proved to be a thorn in the Waterford side throughout as he finished as the games top scorer with 1-9 behind his name, 1-2 of which came from play.

However, the Kilkenny win was not just down to one man as Richie Hogan also impressed with five points while Ger Aylward who had a relatively quite first half finished with four points.

For Waterford Maurice Shanahan was again top scorer with nine points, seven of which came from placed balls.

At the start of the campaign many were wonder how Waterford would fair without Pauric Mahony who impressed in the league but who missed the championship after he sustained a serious injury while playing with Ballygunner in the club championship, but the towering Lismore man filled his boots and in each of the four games Waterford played he impressed a lot, and was a threat to the opposing sides both from placed balls and from open play and if he was to win an All-Star later in the year I for one would not be surprised.

The Lismore man was ably assisted by Colin Dunford in attack. The Colligan man at times revelled in the space available to him on Croke Park and got four years for his efforts from play while Austin Gleeson finished with three points, one of which was a delightfully struck sideline cut between the 45 and 65 metre lines.

Waterford opened the scoring on two minutes when Maurice Shanahan got inside Kilkenny defence and tapped over the head of Eoin Murphy.

Kilkenny responded with their opening score on four minutes when Eoin Larkin won possession and set up TJ Reid for his first of the game.

Maurice Shanahan got his second of the game and first from a placed ball on six minutes, but Kilkenny hit back straight away when Eoin Murphy put the ball down on the top of Richie Hogan who made no mistake in splitting the posts.

Waterford went back in front when Austin Gleeson put over a sideline from about 50 metres out on eight minutes and five minutes later TJ Reid levelled matters once more.

Just before the quarter of an hour mark Walter Walsh turned the Waterford defence but his effort fell short.

The games only goal came midway through the first half. A long ball into Waterford full forward line saw Shane Bennett out numbered and Paul Murphy was able to clear and the ball was worked down the field. A high ball saw both Barry Coughlan and Tadhg de Búrca go for the one ball resulting it fall to TJ Reid who ran at Stephen O’Keeffe and blasted low and hard past the Ballygunner man.

Kilkenny were now in front and never fell behind afterwards.

Maurice Shanahan and Richie Hogan swapped scores to keep three between the sides with a quarter of an hour still to play in the opening half before Maurice Shanahan and TJ Reid from a free again traded scores keeping the latter’s goal as the difference between the sides with twenty three minutes played.

Another Maurice Shanahan free, following some good work by Austin Gleeson in the build up helped cut Kilkenny’s lead to two with ten minutes of the first half remaining, but another point from a TJ Reid free made life a little more comfortable for Kilkenny.

With six minutes to play and with Waterford again out numbered deep inside the Kilkenny half a ball was sent into the Kilkenny half of the field but Maurice Shanahan was able to win it and once he had it there was only one place it was going to go, leaving just two between the sides once more.

TJ Reid and Maurice Shanahan again traded scores to keep two between the sides with three minutes plus stoppage time to play in the opening half.

A minute later Austin Gleeson put over a brilliant point for Waterford to leave just one between the sides, but Kilkenny would finish the half the stronger of the two sides as TJ Reid again from a free and Shane Bennett from a tight angle swapped scores and the first half scoring came to a close in stoppage time when Man of the Match TJ Reid put over another free to leave two between the sides at the break.

Both sides in their championship games this year had put in better second half performances but Waterford also knew that of the last four games that Kilkenny lost in the championship, they trailed at the break so if history was to repeat itself, Derek McGrath’s charges would have to put in their best second half performance to date.

Kilkenny as often happens came out for the second half all guns blazing and with just seconds played they found themselves presented with a chance to extend their lead but Walter Walsh’s effort went wide of the upright.

Kilkenny did go three up when TJ Reid put over a free two minutes after the restart and they doubled their half time advantage a minute later when Ger Aylward pointed after he was picked out by Colin Fennelly.

Maurice Shanahan and Kevin Moran halved Kilkenny’s advantage with scores on thirty nine and forty minutes, but mistakes from Barry Coughlan and Stephen O’Keeffe in the forty first minute allowed TJ Reid and Cillian Buckley in for Kilkenny and to send them back in front by four.

Kilkenny attempted to extend their lead on forty two minutes by TJ Reid saw his shot for across the face of Stephen O’Keeffe’s goal but they did go five up nine minutes into the second half when Ger Aylward split the posts.

Colin Dunford hit the first of his scores ten minutes into the second half but it was followed with an effort from Eoin Larkin which put Kilkenny five in front for the second time in the game.

A brace of Colin Dunford scores at the end of the third quarter gave Waterford hope as just three separated the sides, but that was as good as it got for Waterford.

Richie Hogan edged Kilkenny four in front on fifty two minutes, before Michael Fennelly and Austin Gleeson traded scores in the next two minutes keeping four between the sides with a quarter of an hour still to play.

Another Colin Dunford point followed for Waterford to leave just TJ Reid’s goal at the end of the first quarter between the sides once more.

Points from Ger Aylward and a brace from the hard working Richie Hogan in the fifty-ninth and sixtieth minutes put Kilkenny 1-20 to 0-17 in front and it was looking now as if it was not going to be Waterford’s day.

Another Ger Aylward point five minutes from time gave Kilkenny a seven point advantage on the score board.

Four minutes from time Waterford won a close in free which Maurice Shanahan put over the cross bar but it was a goal that was needed at this stage if Waterford were going to stage a late fight back.

This concluded the scoring for the afternoon but in added time Waterford did have a chance when another Maurice Shanahan free dropped into the Kilkenny goal mouth but it was batted wide of the target.

A few months back few if any expected anything from Waterford.

A lot has been achieved in the last few months, promotion from Division 1B at the first attempt in the league was achieved. The League was won a few weeks later and Waterford put up good performances against both Tipperary in the Munster Final and Kilkenny in the All-Ireland in the All-Ireland semi final, but would finish second best on both days.

In recent years when Waterford’s interest in the championship ended the focus of attention focused on an aging team and what players would not be available for the following year and who was out there to replace them.

There will be no such talk this year as most if not all of the present team will be back for more again next year.

2015 was a good year for Waterford, but at the end of 2016 we will have a better clue as to how close we are to the likes of Kilkenny and Tipperary who have been setting the standards in recent years.

Waterford has the players to bring success to the county in the coming years. Many of the players that we seen taste action this year will be a year older and more experienced in six to twelve months time.

Right now within the panel there is a number of very versatile players, players who maybe we will have to find out once and for all where there best position is. Some of these players have played their underage and colleges hurling in one position and have excelled there but have played in a different position in the senior team and who have performed well in their new position.

If we can get some extra competition for places for 2016, then it could prove to be a better year than the one just ended for Waterford hurling.

Players like Cormac Curran and DJ Foran will have benefitted from being around the senior panel this year. It would be great next year to see the likes of Patrick Curran and Stephen Bennett get some more game time. So too would it be great if new members could be added to the panel from recent successful underage and colleges panels, players like Micheal Harney, Kevin Daly and the Roche brothers from The Shamrocks club.

The better team won the first of this year’s All-Ireland semi finals. There can be no disputing that. But there is a lot for Waterford to look forward to in the years to come.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, Joey Holden, Shane Prendergast; Padraig Walsh, Kieran Joyce, Cillian Buckley (0-01); Michael Fennelly (0-01), Conor Fogarty; Walter Walsh, Richie Hogan (0-05), Colin Fennelly; Ger Aylward (0-04), TJ Reid (1-09, 0-07f), Eoin Larkin (0-01). Subs: John Power for Walter Walsh.

Scorers: TJ Reid 1-9 (0-7f), Richie Hogan 0-5, Ger Aylward 0-4, Cillian Buckley, Michael Fennelly, Eoin Larkin 0-1 each.

Waterford: Stephen O'Keeffe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Darragh Fives, Tadhg de Búrca, Phillip Mahony; Kevin Moran (0-01), Jamie Barron; Shane Bennett (0-01), Michael Walsh, Austin Gleeson (0-03, 0-01 s/l); Colin Dunford (0-04), Maurice Shanahan (0-09, 0-06f, 0-01 65), Jake Dillon Subs: Patrick Curran for Jake Dillon, Stephen Bennett for Shane Bennett.

Scorers: Maurice Shanahan 0-9 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Colin Dunford 0-4, Austin Gleeson 0-3 (0-1 sideline), Kevin Moran, Shane Bennett 0-1 each.

Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)

Waterford search for Championship win number two in eleven games against Kilkenny

Between 1963 and 1997 Waterford failed to play any Senior Hurling Championship game at Croke Park.

However, from the time Waterford played Galway in an All-Ireland Quarter Final in 1998 until 2011 for Waterford supporters, travelling to G.A.A. Head Quarters to support the Counties Senior Hurling became a regular pilgrimage.

For Kilkenny, playing in Croke Park is like playing on the streets outside their own Nolan Park.

Since 2000, the Cats have played at G.A.A. head quarters in 50 championship games, winning 41 of the half century of games. For Waterford in this time, 13 games have been played by Waterford at the venue and just three wins have been recorded.

While the Kilkenny players that will run onto the turf at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon will be well familiar with the surroundings, even though Waterford have not played senior hurling there since 2011, the surroundings will not be all that unfamiliar to the Waterford players as all the older players in the panel will have played senior hurling at the venue while most if not all of the lesser experienced players will have also played at the venue with the county minors team in All-Ireland semi finals and All-Ireland finals so will know what to expect.

Since Brian Cody became Kilkenny manager ahead of the 1999 championship campaign, there can be no disputing that his championship record is second to none.

Sunday’s game with be seventy-eight championship game with Kilkenny. They have won sixty three of these games and drawn five of the seventy seven previous championships games in his care.

In this time he has had the pleasure of working with some of the greatest players of modern times.

The same could well have been said in the past of Mick O’Dwyer.

The former Kerry manager worked with some of the greatest footballers of all time. Names like the Spillane brothers, Eoin Liston, Jack O’Shea, Paudie Ó Sé, Mickey Sheehy, Charlie Nelligan, Denis Ógie Moran, Ger Power, John O’Keeffe etc. still can be rolled off the tongues of many G.A.A. supporters.

Those of us old enough can still remember the great Kerry team that won the four in a row between 1977 and 1981. We also remember them attempting to make history in 1982 by becoming the first side to win five All-Ireland titles in a row, and how that dream was ended by Offaly and a late goal by Seamus Derby.

At the time many spoke of how it was the end of a great team, and while they would win three more All-Ireland’s in a row between 1984 and 1986, these sides were not as good as the sides that won the four in a row a few years earlier. Some players stayed on from the four in a row team to win up to three more All-Ireland’s they soon disappeared and it took Kerry a long time to win another All-Ireland as the likes of Cork, Meath, Down, Donegal and Dublin win All-Irelands before Kerry won another title.

Kerry in between never went away, but were not as good as what they were, and you cant but feel will we see the same now with Kilkenny.

In the last few years we have seen a great deal of the players in their great sides of recent years retire. They are bringing in some good players to replace them but you have to wonder are those coming in as good as those they are replacing.

You have to feel and I hope that this does not prove to be a commentators curse of sorts that we will see a more level playing field as we did in football when the break up of the already mentioned great Kerry team happened.

You have to feel that in the coming years that while Kilkenny will still be challenging, teams like Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Cork, Galway, Dublin and hopefully Waterford will be climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand on All-Ireland Final day around 5pm.

Wondering if Kilkenny are as strong as they once were because of retirements and reported injuries for this game, I for one cant but feel that if Waterford can get over this weekend’s game with Kilkenny, that it could be Waterford’s year and that a first All-Ireland Final since 1959 will happen.

Both sides are expected to be named later this evening. Kilkenny we know have injury worries, but will still have fifteen on the field from the start.

Eoin Murphy will be between the posts. Jackie Tyrell is injured and it will be interesting to see who will come in for him but Joey Holden will be at full back and Paul Murphy will be in the corner.

The half back line could read Padraig Walsh, Kieran Joyce and Cillian Buckley with a number of options available in the middle of the field. Conor Fogarty and Michael Fennelly may well be a first choice pairing with the latter is reported to be carrying an injury which means that Walter Walsh or Richie Hogan could be options if needed.

Walsh or Hogan could start at centre forward with John Power and Colin Fennelly on either side while the full forward line could well consist of TJ Reid, Ger Aylward and Eoin Larkin.

TJ Reid is reported to be carrying an injury into the game but you cant but wonder if this is a case of paper refusing to use ink, but if he is injured it would be a boost for Waterford, but in saying that, whoever would come in for him could well prove to be just as effective.

Waterford’s line up could well resemble the one which started against Dublin in the quarter finals.

Stephen O’Keeffe will start in goal. Barry Coughlan will be at full back flanked by Shane Fives and Noel Connors. The Passage club man did retire early in the win against Dublin with an injury but it is expected that he will start against Kilkenny. If he was to miss out, expect Darragh Fives to fill the void left.

Tadhg de Búrca will again be at centre back with Philip O’Mahony filling the number seven shirt. If Noel Connors starts, Darragh Fives will start in the number five position, if the Passage man were not to start expect Stephen Daniels who came in for Noel Connors to start.

In the middle of the Field Kevin Moran and Jamie Barron to start. The pair have worked hard all year and playing against Kilkenny they will not fear whoever they are against in the middle of the field.

Expect more of the same in attack. That will mean that Michael Walsh, Maurice Shanahan, Colin Dunford, Jake Dillon, Shane Bennett and Austin Gleeson to start in the forward positions.

There is calls from some that the likes of Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett, Tom Devine, Eddie Barrett etc. are worth a place in the team from the start, but may best serve by coming on late in the game as up to now, the subs used by Derek McGrath and his selectors have worked and many will be hoping the same will happen here.

Kilkenny go into this game as the favourites. They have been magnificent for hurling in the last decade and a half, but just like the great Kerry team of the past, all things at some stage must come to an end. Are we seeing slowly the end of Kilkenny dominance? Could Waterford be the team that finally show the end of the dominance?

Kilkenny are appearing in a sixteenth All-Ireland semi final under Brian Cody on Sunday. They have won 13 of their previous 15 semi finals. Can Waterford make it 13 from 16? The two previous semi final losses for Kilkenny under Brian Cody were in 2001 and 2005.

Waterford has only once ever beaten Kilkenny in Championship hurling. That was in the 1959 All-Ireland final replay. Will Waterford make it a second championship win over Kilkenny this weekend?

Derek McGrath’s have played all of the top hurling sides (apart from Clare and Kilkenny) in competitive games this year and have won or drawn with all at least once up to now.

I think Waterford’s good run of results will continue this weekend by beating Kilkenny, but it won’t easily happen.

PATH TO THE SEMI-FINAL for Kilkenny
Kilkenny 5-25 Wexford 0-16 (Leinster semi-final)
Kilkenny 1-25 Galway 2-15 (Leinster final)

PATH TO THE SEMI-FINAL for Waterford
Waterford 3-19 Cork 1-21 (Munster quarter-final)
Tipperary 0-21 Waterford 0-16 (Munster final)
Waterford 2-21 Dublin 1 -19 (All-Ireland quarter-final)

Kilkenny Championship scorers
TJ Reis    2-16 (1-0 penalty, 0-8 frees, 0-2 ‘65s’)
Ger Aylward 3-8
Richie Hogan 1-9
Eoin Larkin 0-7
John Power 0-2
Colin Fennelly 0-2
Walter Walsh 0-2
Conor Fogarty 0-1
Cillian Buckley 0-1
Michael Fennelly 0-1
Kevin Kelly 0-1

Waterford championship scorers
Maurice Shanahan 2-29 (0-18 frees, 0-5 ‘65s’)
Austin Gleeson 0-7 (0-2 frees, 0-1 sideline)
Kevin Moran 0-6
Shane Bennett 1-2
Colin Dunford 0-4
Jake Dillon 1-0
Tom Devine 1-0
Stephen Bennett 0-2
Shane Fives 0-2
Patrick Curran 0-2
Jake Dillon 0-1
Tadhg De Búrca 0-1

WATERFORD’S ALL-IRELAND SEMI FINAL RECORD
1938: Waterford 4-8 Galway 3-1

1948: Waterford 3-7 Galway 1-6
1957: Waterford 4-12 Galway 1-11
1998: Waterford 1-10 Kilkenny 1-11
2002: Waterford 1-13 Clare 1-16
2004: Waterford 0-18 Kilkenny 3-12
2006: Waterford 1-15 Cork 1-16
2007: Waterford 2-15 Limerick 5-11
2008: Waterford 1-20 Tipperary 1-18
2009: Waterford 3-15 Kilkenny 2-23
2010: Waterford 1-18 Tipperary 3-19
2011: Waterford 1-16 Kilkenny 2-19

WATERFORD’S CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD AGAINST KILKENNY
1957: Waterford 3-12 Kilkenny 4-10 (All-Ireland Final)

1959: Waterford 1-17 Kilkenny 5-5 (All-Ireland Final)
1959: Waterford 3-12 Kilkenny 1-10 (All-Ireland Final Replay)
1963: Waterford 6-8 Kilkenny 4-17 (All-Ireland Final)
1998: Waterford 1-10 Kilkenny 1-11 (All-Ireland Semi Final)
2004: Waterford 0-18 Kilkenny 3-12 (All-Ireland Semi Final)
2008: Waterford 1-13 Kilkenny 3-30 (All-Ireland Final)
2009: Waterford 3-15 Kilkenny 2-23 (All-Ireland Semi Final)
2011: Waterford 1-16 Kilkenny 2-19 (All-Ireland Semi Final)
2013: Waterford 2-16 Kilkenny 1-22 (All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 3 – After Extra Time).