Meet Waterford’s All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Final Panel

Aisling Power is a member of the Cappoquin Club. She is one of a number of players brought into the panel this year by Sean Fleming after impressing in recent years playing underage Camogie. She Captained Waterford win last years All-Ireland Under 16 ‘B’ Final against Derry and was also part of last years All-Ireland winning team. A sub for this years league final after an impressive championship in the white and blue shirt she will be hoping for a start this Sunday. She also has in her collection of medals 2 Munster under 16 ‘B’ medals, a Munster Junior Colleges Medal, an Intermediate Championship medal won with Cappoquin as well as a Junior Championship medal, A Junior League Medal as well as titles won at under 14, under 16 and minor levels with the Cornerstone Club as well as a Féile title win in 2011.

 

Becky Kavanagh is a very versatile member of the Saint Anne’s Club who could slot in at almost every position on the field. Her only inter County honour won with Waterford was this years league title, but she has helped Saint Anne’s achieve so much in the last five or six years, winning a two county senior championships and a minor A title. She is the proud owner of an All-Ireland School’s D Final medal and was part of the D.I.T. Panel beaten in the final of this years Purcell Cup after a replay to Mary I. She came on as a sub against Meath in the semi finals and will be hoping for another run out this weekend.

 

Beth Carton from the De La Salle Club is one player that needs no introduction to Camogie supporters. The brilliant half forward player lit up the underage scene in recent years and in her first season with the Intermediates has made a similar impact.  The owner of two All-Ireland medals already won last year at under 16 and minor levels she will be looking to add a third this weekend. In her collection she has already won a Division two league final with Waterford  as well as two Munster Under 16 medals won in 2013 and 2014. With De La Salle she has helped the Gracedieu club win titles at under 12, 14 and 16 levels and now that the club have an adult team she will be looking to win titles with the club in the near future. Beth is one of a number of players selected to play for Munster in this years Inter Provincial Series. 

 

Brianna O’Regan is another young brilliant player that has come through from the De La Salle Club. Brianna is a goalkeeper of some quality and is unlucky not to have played more for Waterford in the adult grades despite the fact she is in her first year involved, but she is up against another brilliant goalkeeper in Deirdre Brennan for the number 1 shirt. Brianna’s collection of medals is a mirror image of her club mate Beth Carton’s. she also won the Waterford Camogie Poc Fada this year at Tramore Racecourse and gave an excellent account of herself in the Munster Final. Surly its only a matter of time before she is rivalling Trish Jackman in the Cooley Mountains.

 

Caithriona McGlone from Lismore is the captain of the side this year and has already lifted the League Final Cup back in May and will now be looking to do the same in Croke Park on the steps of the Hogan Stand. Caithriona has made a bit of a reputation for herself in recent years as a bit of a goal scoring machine and it would not be a surprise to see her bang one or two on Sunday afternoon. Like Becky Kavanagh Caithriona’s only inter county honours won so far is the League final this year but she has won a fine collection of medals with Lismore which includes Four County Senior medals, Four Munster Intermediate medals and of course one All-Ireland intermediate Club All-Ireland medal as well as honours won at underage levels as well as Munster and All-Ireland Colleges medals won with Blackwater Community School.

 

Charlotte Raher from the Saint Anne’s Club is one of the most experienced players on this year’s panel. Charlotte can regularly be seen wearing a white and blue shirt in the half back line for Waterford and never lets the side down.  A nurse by profession she had many honours for Waterford including an All-Ireland Junior medal won in 2011, National League medals as well as Munster Intermediate and Junior medals. In the Green and Red of Saint Anne’s Charlotte has also impressed in the last number of years and has won many County Senior Championships as well as a Munster Intermediate Club Championship. She also had an Ashbourne medal in her collection of medals.

 

Claire Murphy is another relatively new member of the panel. A member of the Saint Annes Club from the middle of the county, she was part of the Waterford panel that won the Division two league final earlier this year beating Laois at Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow in early May. She also has a minor championship medal from 2013 in her collection of medals.

 

Claire Whyte from the Saint Anne’s Club has proven to be a rock solid full back for Waterford all year. She has been involved with Waterford with a few years now winning a Junior All-Ireland Medal in 2011 when Waterford beat Down at Croke Park, an Intermediate medal in 2013 and a Division two league medal this year. She has win two county senior championships with Saint Anne’s and also won a League title with Saint Anne’s as well as minor and under 16 titles. She has also won numerous honours playing Ladies Football.

 

Dawn Power from Dungarvan is another new member of the Waterford panel this year. She was part of the Waterford panel to win the Minor ‘B’ Championship with Waterford last year and added a National League Division two medal to her collection in May. With the Old Boro Club she has had a few impressive years winning titles at Under 12, 14 and 16 levels. Like Claire Whyte she is also an accomplished footballer and has won numerous honours in the last few years and could be someone to look out for in the years to come in both codes.

 

Deirdre Brennan from the Butlerstown has established herself as the number one goalkeeper in the county in the last year or two. She has proven to be key to Waterford’s success in the last few years and has already won two titles with Waterford in the last few years, a Munster Intermediate medal in 2013 and a League Medal this year. I wonder if asked what would President Obama say if asked can Deirdre win a third medal with Waterford this Sunday. With Butlerstown she also has had a great few years, winning Intermediate Championship and League titles, Junior Championship and League medals, under 21, and Minor titles as well as an All-Ireland 7’s title and won the Feile Skills Competition a few years back. She also has titles from her colleges days and was part of the DIT team that lost the Purcell Cup final after a replay this year.

 

Elizabeth McGrath is another member of the Butlerstown club and one of the many young exciting young players that have come through in the county in the last few years.  She was brought into the Waterford panel earlier this year after Waterford’s league final win over Laois. She has is another Waterford player with two inter county medals in her collection winning a Minor ‘B’ All-Ireland last year and a Munster ‘B’ under 16 medal from the previous year. With Butlerstown she has won an Intermediate League final earlier this year and will be looking to add a championship medal to her collection in the coming weeks.

 

Iona Heffernan is from the Ferrybank club and is a player that has began to make a bit of name for herself in the last few years up through the different grades. She has become a regular in the team this year playing in the middle of the field or in the half back line and will be hoping she has done enough to retain her place for Sunday. She has won an under 16B medal with Waterford in 2013 and last year added an All-Ireland medal at minor level to her collection and a League Final medal this year. With Ferrybank she has won a Junior League Medal earlier this year and also has won under 16 and minor medals as well as medals won with Abbey Community School to her collection in the last few years.

 

Jennie Simpson is another long standing member of the panel who can play a number of places on the field. She has won three league medals with Waterford as well as a Junior All-Ireland with Waterford in 2011. She also has a Munster Intermediate medal in her collection and was part of the Waterford under 16 team that beat Armagh in the All-Ireland Under 16B final back in 2003. With her club Saint Anne’s she won senior County finals in 2009 and 2012 and a Munster Intermediate club medal in 2009 and a county senior league medal in 2014. She has also won two Soaring Stars awards an has won Interprovincial and Ashbourne Cup medals.

 

Jenny McCarthy is one of three members of the Cappoquin Club travelling to Croke Park with the Waterford team. She is another player that has achieved a lot in recent years. She was part of the Waterford team that won the 2011 All-Ireland Junior Final, an Intermediate medal in 2013 and a Division two league medal this year. With Cappoquin, she has won an Intermediate League and Championship double in 2014 with further intermediate league titles win in 2012 and 2013. She won a Junior League and Championship double in 2010 as well as winning Minor A and B Championships and at under 16 levels. At under schools level she won titles in 2008 and 2009 and win Fr Meagher and Purcell Cup medals in 2012 and 2015 respectively and also a Division two third level league medal.

 

Kate McMahon from Butlerstown is another brilliant young player that has come into the panel this year from successful underage teams. Earlier this year she was given the chance to impress in the side after a place in the team became available after Emma Hannon moved abroad after Waterford’s league final win and she grasped her chance with both arms and has not looked back since. She has won Munster Under 16 ‘B’ medals in 2013 and 2014 and win Under 16 and Minor Medals in 2014 and this year added a Division two league medal to her collection. Don’t rule out the possibility of more being added in the very near future.

 

Lorraine Bray from Cappoquin first came to my attention a few years back when she lined out for Waterford in the league against Wexford at Fraher Field and have been very impressed with her since. In the White and Blue of Waterford she has already won a string of honours including a Munster Minor ‘B’ title in 2012, a Munster Intermediate Medal in 2013, a Minor ‘B’ All-Ireland in 2014 and a Division Two league final medal this year.  With Cappoquin she also has won a string of honours including Intermediate and Junior League and Championship medals as well as honours at Minor and Under 16 at A and B Level. She was selected on the Munster panel this year for the Inter provincials and also win a Munster Colleges Junior Medal in 2012.

 

Molly Curran is from the Brickey Rangers Club and has made an impact in her first year playing for the County Intermediate side and has made headlines on more than one occasion with some big performances and hitting some very important scores.  She has in her collection of medals from playing with Waterford a Munster under 16 B medal, an All-Ireland Minor ‘B’ Medal and a Division two league medal. With her club she has won an under 14 B medal and is one of a number of players in the panel who is also an excellent footballer and has won different honours in the game.

 

Niamh Rockett from the Saint Anne’s Club is another very experienced member of the panel who will be looking to get a run out at Croke Park on Sunday. She is one of a number of players in the panel who has played in Croke Park before winning a Junior All-Ireland medal there in 2011 when Waterford beat Down. She is the holder of three league medals with Waterford as well and an Munster Intermediate medal won in 2013. With Saint Annes she has won Munster a Munster Intermediate Medal with Waterford and won county senior medal in 2009 and 2011. She also has in her collection a County Senior League medal and also has medals from the under 16 and minor grades. She also has in her collection Munster and All-Ireland colleges medals from 2012.

 

Nicola Morrissey from Lismore is another hugely experienced player. She like others in the panel win an All-Ireland Junior final with Waterford in 2011 and also has four league final medals. She also has helped Waterford win two Munster Intermediate Camogie Championships, and a Munster Junior Championship. With Lismore she has also won an impressive array of medals, including five Senior County titles, four Munster Intermediate titles and one All-Ireland Intermediate title. She also has won a Soaring Star award and had been selected to represent Munster in the Inter Provincials.

 

Orla Flynn from the Clonea Club is another of the brilliant underage players in recent years to get a call up to the Waterford Intermediate panel this year by Sean Fleming and his management tea. Orla was part of the Waterford team that won the Minor ‘B’ All-Ireland last year against Derry and was a sub for the Intermediates when they beat Laois at a wet Dr Cullen Park in May. With her club she has won an under 14 title. Another player is equally as good at football as camogie she has also won honours in the big ball code.

 

Saoirse Bonner is another member of the Saint Anne’s Club. She is another of a brilliant crop of young players that have come through the underage ranks, where she helped Waterford win successive Munster ‘B’ under 16 titles in 2013 and 2014 and last year she was also part of the Waterford panel that won the Under 16 ‘B’ All-Ireland final. Having tasted success with the Intermediate’s earlier this year winning a National League medal she will be heading to Croke Park this weekend hoping to add an All-Ireland Intermediate Championship medal to her collection. With her club she helped Saint Anne’s win a County Senior League final in 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shona Curran from the Lismore Club made a welcome return to the Waterford set up in time for their semi final win over Meath recently at Nowlan Park, where she came on at the break and made a huge impact and scored 1-1. She has helped Waterford win a Munster Intermediate Munster Final two years ago and also has been impressive with her club winning four County Senior titles and four Munster Intermediate titles and of course an All-Ireland Intermediate title in 2014 when she captained the side. Again another player who is as equally as good a footballer as at camogie, she has helped Waterford win a number of Intermediate Munster Ladies Football finals in recent years.

 

Sibeal Harney from Saint Anne’s is another young player who impressed with the county under 16 and minor teams in recent years and who received a call up to the Waterford panel earlier this year. A player that is equally good in the middle of the field or in attack, she has helped Waterford win Munster Under 16 B Finals in 2013 and 2014 as well as Under 16 and Minor ‘B’ All-Ireland Finals last year and this year won a first medal in the adult grades as an inter county player when Waterford won the league final against Laois. With Saint Annes, she helped her side win a County Senior League Final just over 12 months ago.

 

Trish Jackman from Gailltir is a player that few if any sports fans in Ireland will not have heard of. She is the unofficial Queen of the Cooley Mountains having win the last seven Camogie All-Ireland Poc Fada’s and finished as runner up for a few years before she won her first title in 2009. A Very versatile player she can play in any position she is asked to she has helped Waterford win an All-Ireland Junior Final in 2011 and also two division two and one division three league finals and was part of the Waterford Under 16 team that won the All-Ireland B Final against Armagh back in 2003 at Portlaoise. With her club she has helped the ladies from the Barony win two Senior County Finals and one Munster Junior title. She is the proud owner of five Ashbourne Cup medals won with WIT.

 

Valerie O’Brien from the Roanmore Club is another that returned to the panel having spent a short period of time in the United States during the summer. She like Shona Curran came on against Meath as a sub in Waterford’s 3-10 to 3-9 win and will be hoping to have done enough to be given game time again this time round.  She is the owner of two Munster under 16 medals, one minor and 1 intermediate medal and helped Waterford win this years Division two league final earlier this year before moving to the states for the summer. With Roanmore she has won an under 14 medal and last year she played a major part in the Sky Blues winning the Junior County Final. She also helped WIT win an Ashbourne Cup this year and in the past has win a colleges title and Féile Skills title. She like others in the panel is also an excellent Basketball player who has won honours in the sport.

 

Vikki Falconer from the Butlerstown Club is another very important member of the panel. Like many others in the panel she is hugely experienced having helped Waterford win the 2011 Junior All-Ireland in 2011 and a Munster Intermediate title in 2013. She has also helped Waterford win Division two league finals in 2011 and 2015. Could we read something into the fact that Waterford made a trip to Croke Park in 2011 and will be doing so again this year and they also won Division two league finals in both 2011 and 2015. With Butlerstown she has helped them win the Intermediate Championship in 2013 and this year helped the side in Royal Blue win the intermediate league. In both of the latter years she also helped WIT win the Ashbourne Cup and was the captain of the side this year.

County Senior Ladies Football Final ends prematurely due to unforeseen circumstances

Ballymacarbry will have to wait a little longer if they are to be crowned County senior Ladies Football Champions for the 34^th year in a row after this year’s decider was abandoned twenty-five minutes after a hold up after sixteen minutes of the second half.

The hold up happened as Comeragh Rangers full back Ciara Dunphy collapsed to the ground and needed immediate medical assistance by medical personal involved with both sides and by players on both sides who have a knowledge of providing first aid.

With the player coming up on half an hour on the ground, match referee in consultation with County Board Officials and both participating sides decided to abandon the game nearly twelve minutes after the game was scheduled to finish as an Ambulance which was called for to help provide further assistance had not arrived at the ground.

Having fought out the last two County Finals, this final was expected to be just as exciting, but Ballymacarbry throughout the time played proved to be the better of the two sides by some distance and should have been much further ahead that the 2-10 to 0-3 showing on the score board when the game was prematurely brought to an end.

The games opening score arrived on four minutes when Sinead Ryan who bought her impressive inter county form into this game kicked a point from a free.

Both sides were somewhat slow to settle and the next chance did not come for another five minutes when Aoife Murray crashed the ball off the crossbar with Tipperary Inter County Goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick in the Ballymacarbry goal well beaten.

Ballymacarbry kicked their second point on eleven minutes from the boot of the pacey Aileen Wall and after this the reigning champions never looked back and never looked to be in any danger.

Michelle Ryan hit the upright on twelve minutes but it fell kindly to younger sister Sinead and she made no mistake in splitting the posts to give her side a three point advantage.

Another Sinead Ryan point, this time from a free on thirteen minutes extended Ballymacarbry sides lead to four but Comeragh Rangers got on the scoresheet just before the quarter of an hour mark when Ruth Kirwan kicked her sides first score from a free.

Sinead Ryan hit her fourth of the game very early in the second quarter and seconds later Ballymacarbry went further in front when her older sister Michelle linked well with Aileen Wall for the towering corner forward to blast past Marian Hogan in the Comeragh Rangers goal.

Seven points up and still with nearly all of the second quarter to play, Ballymacarbry refused to ease up on the pressure they were putting on the Comeragh Rangers goals. Linda Wall’s effort for goal on seventeen minutes came crashing off the cross bar and two minutes later Michelle Ryan was to suffer the same fete when she attempted to raise her second green flag of the day.

And three minutes from the break Michelle Ryan again showed that she was not afraid to try her luck for a goal despite her previous miss but this time her shot hit the side netting at the recycling Plant corner of the field.

On the half hour mark Linda Wall attempted her luck to get on the score sheet but her effort came crashing off the upright but the side in Blue and White would add to their tally before the break as in added time Michelle Ryan split the posts to give her side a 1-6 to 0-1 lead as the sides headed to the dressing rooms.

Ballymacarbry came out for the second half and took up where they left off at the end of the first half and attacked the Comeragh Rangers goal from the off.

Eibhlis Cooney kicked a point nineteen seconds after the restart and before the first minute had elapsed Sinead Ryan who was a number of players impressing here hit her fifth point of the game.

Eibhlin Power pulled a point back for Comeragh Rangers on thirty-three minutes but within a minute Sinead Ryan cancelled it out with another point for Ballymacarbry to give them a 1-9 to 0-2 lead.

Aoife Dunne and Linda Wall swapped scores in a two minute spell to keep Ballymacarbry ten in front with twenty one minutes still to play.

On the three quarter of an hour mark the hugely impressive Sinead Ryan twisted and turned with the ball in the danger zone for Ballymacarbry and when she had her chance she finished to the ten and it was looking that the game was well over as a contest.

But this was to be the last action of note as when Comeragh Rangers were making a sub shortly after this the roar went up from the River end of the ground to halt the game and medical personal from both sides of the field quickly raced towards the Comeragh Rangers goal.

The County Intermediate Final between Ballyduff and Clashmore is pencilled in to take place this weekend but whether this game will be rescheduled and fitted in on the day is not yet known as many of the players involved here will be involved in the All-Ireland Intermediate Final against Kildare in  three weeks time and it may not be gambled to allow the players involved play in fear of picking up an injury, but on the other hand, the gamble is been taken with four Ballyduff players involved with Waterford. The County Board will also be thinking of the Munster Club Championship as well went allowing next weekends game go ahead.

Ballymacarbry: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Becky Hogan, Michelle McGrath, Treasa McGrath; Mairead Wall, Karen McGrath, Laura Mulcahy; Linda Wall, Louise Ryan; Marian Ryan, Eibhlis Cooney, Aileen Wall; Danielle Hallahan, Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan. Sub: Lauren Guiry for Danielle Hallahan.

Scorers: Sinead Ryan 1-6 (0-2f), Michelle Ryan 1-1, Aileen Wall, Eibhlis Cooney, Linda Wall 0-1 each.

Comeragh Rangers: Marian Hogan; Nora Dunphy, Ciara Dunphy, Aisling Hahessy; Ann Dunphy, Stacey Whelan, Clodagh Keane; Emma Murray, Eibhlin Power; Kate Hahessy, Shauna Dunphy, Katie Murray; Aoife Dunne, Ruth Kirwan, Aoife Murray. Sub: Mairead Wall for Shauna Dunphy.

Scorers: Ruth Kirwan (f), Eibhlin Power, Aoife Dunne 0-1 each.

Referee: Timmy Organ.

Comeragh Rangers take Junior Ladies Football County Final despite trailing Na Déise for almost 55 minutes.

Comeragh Rangers Junior Footballer s pulled off a dramatic comeback to win this year’s Ladies Football Championship at Dungarvan’s Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon.

In the early stages of this game it looked as if it was the club from West Waterford would win this game by what ever margin they set their minds to but in the end training with their Senior side was to prove to be a major plus for the mid county side as they hit a number of late goals to win the game by three points.

For almost fifty five minutes of this game it was Na Déise that lead in this game, but as Comeragh Rangers showed here no game is over till the final whistle is sounded and their persistence would pay off.

Na Déise had a great start to this game kicking 1-3 inside the opening four minutes.

Clodagh Ryan opened the scoring on two minutes with a point. Marion Troy who was involved in with the great Waterford senior side of the 90’s in its latter years extended her sides lead a minute later and within seconds their lead was stretched again as Margurita McCarthy who has played senior camogie with Limerick where she is living but who continues to play football with her home club slotted between the posts.

And when Bronagh Condon who has played under 14 and 16 for Waterford in the last couple of years hammered in the first goal of the game on four minutes it was looking as though the side in green and yellow would win the game by a massive score as they were tearing the Comeragh Rangers defence apart.

Comeragh Rangers however steadied the ship with a brace of points both from frees off the boot of Belinda O’Neill with six minutes played.

Another brace from Bronagh Condon was sit for Na Déise which gave them a 1-5 to 0-2 lead with only ten minutes played.

The scoring rate in the first half slowed down after this.

Clodagh Ryan and Katie Buckley landed further points for Na Déise by the eighteenth minute but Comeragh Rangers would finish the half slightly the stronger of the sides.

Clodagh Power knocked over her sides third score of the game on twenty minutes and five minutes later Catherine Power from a misdirected free out finished to the Na Déise net to give her side hope going into the second half as they trailed by just four points (1-7 to 1-3).

The third quarter proved to be a low scoring affair which Na Déise just shaded on the score board.

Katie Buckley opened the scoring on thirty-five minutes only for her score to be cancelled out five minutes later by Belinda O’Neill’s third score of the game from a free.

Abbey Dalton another player to play under 14 and 16 with Waterford in the last few years and Mary Kate Morrissey a panel member with the current Waterford Intermediate team helped increase Waterford’s lead to six on forty-four minutes but it was cut by one a minute later when Jodie Nugent split the Na Déise posts.

Mary Kate Morrissey from a free and Catherine Power swapped scores to keep Na Déise five in front with just over ten minutes to play, but it would be Comeragh Rangers finished the stronger of the two sides.

With eight minutes to play the mid county side won a penalty and from twelve metres Shauna Power made no mistake in beating Helen Walsh in the Na Déise goal to leave two between the sides.

A point from a Belinda O’Neill free made life a little more uncomfortable for Comeragh Rangers heading into the last five minutes and moments later Comeragh Rangers took the lead for the first time when they won a free from about thirty-five metres and when Catherine Power kicked her effort it looked as if it was going to go over the crossbar but dipped and fell into the Na Déise net.

Now trailing 3-7 to 1-11 Na Déise pulled a point back from a Mary Kate Morrissey free with three minutes remaining and moments later when her side won another free in front of goal it looked as if the Inter County player would level matters but she never connected right with the ball and it was easily cleared.

In added time, Shauna Power secured the win for Comeragh Rangers when she finished to the net for a fourth goal for her side and while Na Déise would hit one more point through Bronagh Condon it was too little too late.

It has to be confirmed by the County Board but there could be some good news yet for the West Waterford club as their season might not be over just yet.

In the men’s championship’s if a second string side wins a county final they are not permitted to take part in the Provincial championships and if it’s the same in Ladies Football, the county board will have to nominate someone to represent the county  in the Munster Club Championships and normally when this happens, the side beaten in the final or the none second string side that goes the furthest in the county championship are given first option at representing the county.

Comeragh Rangers: Cailin Power; Claire Hennebry, Annette O’Connell, Lauren Galvin; Helena Power, Jodie Nugent, Keeley Corbett Barry; Maria Power, Shauna Power; Eileen Fitzpatrick, Orla Kelly, Halannah White; Beth Norris, Catherine Power, Belinda O’Neill. Subs: Aoife Flynn for Helena Power, Emma Curry for Eileen Fitzpatrick, Trisha Kelly for Claire Hennebry.

Scorers: Catherine Power 2-2, Shauna Power 2-0, Belinda O’Neill 0-4 (4f), Jodie Nugent 0-1.

Na Déise: Helen Walsh; Michelle Condon, Maria O’Donovan, Michelle Walsh; Linda Foley, Trish Kiely, Nicole O’Byrne; Margurita McCarthy, Mary Kate Morrissey; Abbey Dalton, Marion Troy, Katie Buckley; Bronagh Condon, Clodagh Ryan, Catherine Fitzgerald.

Scorers: Bronagh Condon 1-3, Mary Kate Morrissey 0-3 (2f), Katie Buckley, Clodagh Ryan 0-2 each, Marion Troy, Margurita McCarthy, Abbey Dalton 0-1 each.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan

Brianna’s hoping for a better result in her second Croke Park visit.

Waterford won a first Under 16 ‘B’ All-Ireland Camogie title in 2003 when a side captained by Lismore’s Laura Buckley comprehensively beat Armagh 6-11 to 1-4 at Portlaoise.

Since then Waterford have appeared in five other finals, loosing to Derry 3-14 to 2-2 in 2007 after a replay was required after a 2-7 to 3-4 draw.

Two years later, Waterford were again back in a final, but again defeat was to be Waterford’s lot as they narrowly lost out to Wexford on a 2-11 to 1-12 score line.

And to show that Waterford are moving in the right direction when it comes to Camogie, Waterford appeared in the last two finals, loosing to Cork in 2013 but won the last two finals, the latter as late as last weekend, beating Derry and Dublin in the finals in the respective years.

In two of these three finals Brianna O’Regan, one of Waterford’s rising stars played a major roll for the side in White and Blue as she lined out in goal against Cork in 2013 at Mallow and against Derry twelve months later at Leixlip and for good measure she also lined out with the County minors last year as they too won the championship decider again beating Derry.

After Sean Fleming was appointed as Intermediate team manager for 2015, having worked with many of the promising players coming though the underage scene in Waterford in recent years, it was no surprise that the brilliant De La Salle teenager got called up to the Waterford panel for the year ahead.

Throughout the year she has provided back up for the experienced Deirdre Brennan in the Waterford set up.

The De La Salle club player who can be instantly recognised by many Camogie supporters around the country despite still having another season to play in the minor grade and not yet being a regular in starting line up was the number one choice for the number one shirt for the Waterford minors this year who played in the ‘A’ grade for the first time admits that being back up goalkeeper to the intermediate at times can be a little frustrating as she sees many of the subs get a run out on a regular basis but she also admits that the experience she is gaining just being involved at such a young age will stand to her in the future.

Brianna is not the only member of last years under 16 and minor teams that received the phone call that every young player looks forward to at the start of the year.

Fellow De La Salle club player Beth Carton also has made a huge impact this year playing in the half forward line hitting many important scores for her side.

But many others from last years victorious under 16 and minor teams last year have made the step up including Saoirse Bonner, Siebel Harney, Aisling Power, Kate McMahon, Iona Heffernan, Lorraine Bray (who is involved with a few years now), Molly Curran, Orla Flynn and Dawn Power.  

The De La Salle shot stopper however has been watching those coming behind her and after seeing Waterford retain the Under 16 ‘B’ All-Ireland last weekend when they beat Dublin 2-8 to 1-7 at Nenagh, she feels that there is others coming along that could well form part of the Waterford set up in recent years, including fellow De La Salle players Taylor Healy and Aisling Madigan, Gailltir’s Shauna Fitzgerald, Dungarvan’s Kaiesha Tobin who in recent weeks won Under 16 Ladies Football and Camogie All-Ireland Final medals and for good measure was judged to be the Player of the Game in both games, and she also lists Laura Murray from Cappoquin as those that should have an eye kept on in the coming years.

The Cappoquin player who was influential in getting her club to the final of the County Senior Camogie League Final earlier this year in the clubs first year playing senior, but despite an excellent performance in that game at Tallow was powerless in stopping her side going under to neighbours Lismore, was ruled out of this years under 16 championship because of Injury.

Brianna, like the rest of the panel has put in a massive commitment this year and it is paying off. She was part of the Waterford side that beat Laois in the League Final back in May at Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow and now looking to add a Intermediate All-Ireland Medal to her already impressive collection of medals.

When she runs onto Croke Park on September 13 with the rest of the Waterford players it will be her second time to run onto the field having done so in the past with her club side De La Salle in a Féile Division 2 Final in 2012.

On that occasion, Brianna’s visit to Croke Park was to end in disappointment as her side which included the likes of Taylor Healy, Abbey Flynn, Beth Carton, Colette Hogan, Aisling Madigan, Chloe Dempsey, Niamh Murphy, Katie Ryan, Courtney Healy and Caoimhe Drohan lost out to Clare side Inagh/Kilnamona on a 5-5 to 2-3 score line.

The De La Salle youngster no doubt will be hoping for a better outcome this time around and having beating All-Ireland opponents Kildare twice already this year in the League Semi final (1-15 to 1-7) and again in the last game of the group stages of the groups stages of the Championship (4-11 to 1-10) who’s to say that there wont be a better outcome this time around this time for Brianna.

Will it be Senior County Final win number 34 for Ballymacarbry or win number 1 for Comeragh Rangers?

A week on from Waterford qualifying for this year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football All-Ireland Final against either Kildare or Offaly, supporters of the game in Waterford could be in for a real treat this coming weekend with the playing of the County Senior Football Final between Ballymacarbry and Comeragh Rangers.

Twelve months ago I attended my first game in nearly 12 months after been laid up following surgery the previous October. The game was the County Senior Ladies Football Final between Ballymacarbry and Comeragh Rangers again at Fraher Field.

For anyone that was at the game regardless of what side you were supporting, all will agree that the two clubs served up a magnificent final, one that could have gone either way.

I’m sure much of the talk on Saturday evening when it comes to the G.A.A. will be on the All-Ireland Semi Final replay between Dublin and Mayo at Croke Park.

Given the choice of watching a similar fair to what we say in Croke Park last Sunday or what we saw when Ballymacarbry and Comeragh Rangers clashed at Fraher Field last year, and was told I could watch just one of the games, I for one will be staying as far away from the Croke Park game as is possible.

Twelve months ago Ballymacarbry won their thirty-third successive County Senior Final in a row. Comeragh Rangers who were formed in 1999 are seeking a first title having won many titles up through the different underage grades, but surely it’s only a matter of time before the Mid-County side do win that maiden title.

In last years final Ballymacarbry had six points to spare at the end of the hour, but for much of it, Comeragh Rangers who were understrength on the day pushed their neighbours from over the Comeragh Mountains all the way and for a while it looked as if that first title was coming their way.

Ballymacarbry for much of the opening half played second fiddle to a very determined Comeragh Rangers side who should had lady luck being on their side at times would have gone to the dressing rooms with a much bigger advantage than the 1-6 to 0-6 lead that they actually held.

Comeragh Rangers in that game had Aisling Hahesy sin binned in the second time at a time when they lead 2-6 to 1-8. But while they were a player down for ten minutes, Ballymacarbry called on all their experience and put 1-4 past Comeragh Rangers with a response.

Ballymacarbry eventually ran out 2-14 to 2-8 winners. Marian Ryan finished the game with five points, Sinead Ryan who is in terrific form this year his 1-2, Lauren Guiry hit 1-1, Shauna Ryan and Aileen Wall hit 0-2 each and Michelle Ryan and Linda Wall hit 0-1 each.

In addition to these players Michelle and Karen McGrath as well as Mairead and Linda Wall who won her seventeenth county senior medal that day all had excellent games.

For Comeragh Rangers Aoife Dunne was top scorer with four points while current inter county panellists Katie Murray and Shauna Dunphy hot 1-0 each, Aoife Murray hit 0-2 while Eibhlin Power and Kate Hahessy hit 0-1 each, while Emma ad Katie Murray, Nora, Ciara and Anne Dunphy, Mairead Hogan and Eibhlin Power also impressed.

This year’s Blue ribbon Ladies Football game in the county promises to be a real cracker.

If it’s near as exciting as last years final then those that turn up for the game are in for an entertaining affair.

It’s no surprise that these two sides are back in the final. The standard of Ladies Football within the county at the moment is high, but at this level these two sides are a little above the level the rest are at and little separates the two.

Co-incidentally the two sides met in the final two years ago and just like last year six points separated the sides on the scoreboard, Ballymacarbry winning out 1-11 to 0-8.

Both sides have quality players available to them.

For Ballymacarbry they will be looking to the likes of the Ryan sisters, Michelle, Louise and Sinead, the Wall sisters Linda, Mairead and Aileen, the McGrath sisters Karen and Michelle as well as the likes of Lauren Guiry, Becky Desmond and Becky Hogan not to mention Teresa McGrath, Lauren Fitzpatrick and Shauna Ryan who all play inter county football with Tipperary.

Comeragh Rangers will be looking to the likes of Nora, Anne, Ciara and Shauna Dunphy, Aoife, Emma and Katie Murray, Kate and Aisling Hahessy, Geraldine, Mairead and Eibhlin Power, Aoife Dunne and Marian Hogan.

The last two finals between these two sides were close. Something is telling me that this year’s final is the closest yet. Could we see the two sides having to replay possibly after the All-Ireland Final at the end of the month, if any replay needed is not slotted in before Waterford’s Croke Park date as Pat Sullivan will be trying to keep as many of his players playing competitively in the run up to the final.

Whenever a winner is found, be it after a first game or any subsequent game or games, I expect Ballymacarbry to be crowned champions for a thirty-fourth year in a row. But should Comeragh Rangers win a first title, I for one won’t be too surprised because going on the performances they served up in the last two years they are not far from winning that maiden title.

The game in Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon has a 4pm throw in and will be preceded by the meeting of Comeragh Rangers second team and Na Déise in the Junior ‘A’ Final at same venue two hours earlier.

Two Out of Three (under 16 Camogie titles) Ain’t Bad.

Waterford under 16 Camogie team are All-Ireland Champions for the second year in a row after they beat a strong Dublin side in this years final at Nenagh on Sunday last.

Looking back at the report of last years final win over Derry at Leixlip, the first line of my report read “What has proven to be a good year for Camogie in Waterford has just got better in the last few days”.

If 2014 was a good year for Camogie in Waterford, 2015 is even better.

Prior to this game massive progress has been made.

The Counties Intermediate team won the Division two League Final against Laois in Carlow. The same side only a week prior to this game came from nine points down early in the second half to beat Meath by one in the All-Ireland Intermediate semi finals, the fourth year in a row that Waterford qualified for the same stage of the competition.

Throw in Lismore reaching another All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final, Mercy Secondary School from Waterford won a Junior All-Ireland and Gailltir won a Division One Féile Final after winning two Division two finals in the two previous years.

Each time Waterford be it an Inter county or a club side records a success it helps promote the game within the county and this latest victory, I have no doubt will be no different.  

The panel that won the 2014 final was a good one with some excellent players.

It was no surprise that members of that team, the likes of Aisling Power, Beth Carton, Brianna O’Regan, Sibeal Harney, Saoirse Bonner and Kate McMahon were called up to the Intermediate panel this year by Sean Fleming and its no real surprise that some of them will start in the All-Ireland Final against Kildare in a little over a weeks time at Croke Park.

Whether any of this year’s under 16 panel will get a call up to the panel for 2017 is hard to know yet.

Nine of last years panel were involved the previous year under Shane Ahearne when Waterford were beaten in the final against Cork in Mallow, and last year the experience of those nine players was crucial to Waterford.

The same could well be said of the player involved last year and again this year with Declan Drohan.

The panel does contain some very good players, and the likes of Saoirse English, Chloe Dempsey, Niamh Murphy, Taylor Healy, Sinead Cunningham and Anne Corcoran who now have two All-Ireland Medals won if called up to the panel will not let the side down and would be an addition to the set up.

The same could well be said of the likes of Ciara Jackman a sister of Trish, Kate Lynch, Kaiesha Tobin, Faye Curley and Aisling Madigan amongst others.

When Waterford and Dublin clashed in the league stages of the competition at Walsh Park, it was the home side that emerged 2-9 to 0-10.

Waterford played with the wind at their backs in the first half that day and turned around leading 0-6 to 0-4 with Niamh Murphy hitting five of Waterford’s points and Faye Curley the other.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Dublin drew level within six minutes of the restart and with ten minutes remaining they took the lead when Rebecca Lewis put the sliotar over Ciara Jackman’s crossbar.

In the final ten minutes however, Waterford’s experience came to the for as Aisling Madigan and Saoirse English struck goals to give Waterford a deserved win.

Last Sunday’s game was expected to prove to be equally as tight an affair and so it proved to be.

Waterford had a dream start to the game when Kaiesha Tobin raised the first green flag of the day. The Dungarvan player I warned listeners to Community Radio Youghal GAA Programme, GAA This Week hosted by Mike O’Brien last Friday evening was one to keep an eye out for in this game and in the years ahead.

The goal which was the first score of the game came as result of a penalty awarded by County Wexford referee Justin Heffernan after Aisling Madigan was pulled to the ground.

Rebecca Lewis pulled a point back for Dublin but two points in a row, one from play the other a free off the stick of Niamh Murphy who played a huge part for Waterford all year put Waterford 1-2 to 0-1 up at the end of the first quarter.

With seven minutes of the first half to play, the side from the Capital moved to within one of Waterford when Sarah Murphy finished to the Waterford net after she was set up by Sinead Wylde.

The impressive Anne Corcoran who first came to prominence on the big stage two years ago when she was outstanding for Gailltir in helping the young Barony Ladies to the first of their three Féile titles in a row beating Portaferry at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, slotted over Waterford’s last score of the first half to give her side a two point advantage but Dublin would finish the half hitting the half with two points from Aisling Andrews and Sarah Murphy to turn around locked 1-3 a piece.

The third quarter proved a real dig dong affair at the end of which Waterford held a 1-6 to 1-5 lead as Player of the Match Kaiesha Tobin slotted over two frees and Aisling Madigan pointed from play with Dublin responses coming from Aoibhe Dillon and Chloe Mullen.

The most crucial score of the game came on thirty seven minute as Niamh Murphy set up by Aisling Madigan finished to the Dublin net for a second Waterford goal which gave the reigning champions a 2-6 to 1-5 lead.

Substitute Aisling Baumann edged Waterford five in front with ten minutes to go which was followed with a trading of points from Beth Whyte and Kaiesha Tobin both from frees with time ticking down.

Dublin continued to put Waterford under pressure in the closing minutes of the game but the Waterford defence held out strong, reducing the side in sky blue to just one point from Saoirse Mullen for all their pressure.

Some excellent work is taking place to promote Camogie in Waterford.

Two All-Ireland titles in three years shows that things are moving in the right direction.

There is some excellent players coming through. Some of last years panel have broken into the Waterford Intermediate panel this year and its only a matter of time before some on this years under 16 panel make the step up, but hopefully it wont be in the Intermediate grade but in the senior grade.

Success at underage level does not always mean success at adult level, but it does help.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, Camogie in Waterford is moving in the right direction. The success Waterford club and Inter county sides have had in the last few years, plus Trish Jackman winning seven All-Ireland Poc Fada titles in a row does Waterford the world of good.

Hopefully now other young girls will get to see what is happening and that it will encourage others to take up the game.

Hopefully G.A.A. Clubs where Camogie is currently not played will set up clubs in their area or with the co-operation of one or two neighbouring clubs. The more players we have playing Camogie in the coming years will surely mean it is helps Waterford reach even greater heights.

Waterford: Ciara Jackman; Sinead Cunningham, Taylor Healy, Clodagh Curran; Ciara Griffin, Shauna Fitzgerald, Colette Hogan; Kate Lynch, Anne Corcoran; Chloe Dempsey, Aisling Madigan, Faye Curley; Saoirse English, Kaiesha Tobin, Niamh Murphy. Subs: Aisling Baumann for Chloe Dempsey, Grainne Heffernan for Saoirse English.

Scorers: Kaiesha Tobin 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-3 f), Niamh Murphy 1-2 (0-1f), Anne Corcoran, Aisling Madigan, Aisling Baumann 0-1 each.

Dublin: Megan Thomas; Aoife Farrell, Niamh Mulroney, Emily Browne; Laura Morgan, Rebecca Lewis, Nicole Malcomson; Zoe Couch, Caoimhe Hughes; Sinead Wylde, Aisling Andrews, Emma O’Byrne; Sarah Murphy, Aoibhe Dillon, Chloe Mullen. Subs: Beth Whyte for Caoimhe Hughes, Saoirse Mullen for Sinead Wylde, Siobhra Andrews for Emma O’Byrne.

Scorers: Sarah Murphy 1-1, Rebecca Lewis, Beth Whyte (both frees), Aisling Andrews, Aoibhe Dillon, Chloe Mullen, Saoirse Mullen 0-1 each.

Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford).