Big Weekend for Two Waterford Senior Inter County Teams

Saturday afternoon into early on the same evening is going to be an important few hours for two of the counties senior teams as they face important championship games that could well make or break their years, even with one game each to play after this weekend.

Ciaran Curran’s Waterford Senior Ladies Football team are up against All-Ireland Champions Dublin in what will be a very difficult All-Ireland Championship opener at Portlaoise, closer to home after that game has finished Donal O’Rourke’s Waterford Senior Camogie team take on Clare in a must win game at Walsh Park.

For the ladies footballers, this is the first of two games that they will play in the round robin part of this year’s championship. The championship sees 12 teams split into four groups with the four provincial champions kept apart in four groups of three teams. The four provincial runners up are also involved and the groups are designed so that two teams that played each other in a provincial final cannot play each other at this stage of the competition, while the third team in each group consists of four sides from Munster and Ulster which failed to reach a provincial final. In both Leinster and Connacht just two teams competed in both championships.

In Camogie 11 teams are competing in the senior championship, split into two groups, Group One consisting of five teams and six in Group Two, the group which Waterford play in. In both groups each team play each other once either at home or away, and at the end of five rounds of games the top team in both groups gets a passage to the All-Ireland Semi Finals with the second and third placed teams in the two groups crossing over to play each other in the quarter finals.

  Ciaran Curran’s side will not need any telling of the task which they face in Portlaoise, against the reigning All-Ireland Champions who recently won an eight Leinster Final in a row, beating Westmeath (4-11 to 1-7) for the fifth year in a row.

Pundits were saying going into that game that the gap between Dublin and Westmeath was closing, but even without the brilliant Sinead Ahearne who exited this game after just 11 minutes with an injury they still had enough firepower to win the game by 13 points.

Whether Dublin will be able to call on Sinead Ahearne for this game remains to be seen. If she is not fit to play a part it will come as a blow to her side, but they know from beating Westmeath recently that they have more than enough fire power within their camp.

Players like Oonagh Whyte, Niamh McEvoy, Nicole Owens, Noelle Healy, Sinead McGoldrick, Ciara Trant, Siobhan McGrath, Lauren Magee and Lyndsey Davey are al vastly experienced players that they will be able to call upon in different sectors of the field.

Waterford under Ciaran Curran this year have impressed as he has continued on the work started by another Dungarvan club man Pat Sullivan with many of the players in this Waterford panel.

Waterford this year did brilliant to beat a fancied Kerry side in the Division Two National League Final. The side from the Kingdom were relegated from Division One last year and many would have made them favourites to go straight back up at the first time of asking.

They beat the same opposition in the first round of the Munster Championship and while they lost their second game to Cork by a big margin, the side played much better in the Munster Final against the same opposition at Fraher Field, and while defeat again was Waterford’s lot, the side were well in contention at the break, but would have to face into a strong wind in the second thirty minutes.

Waterford this year have mixed some young players coming through from successful underage teams with some more experienced heads playing at this level and so far everything seems to be gelling nice for the team.

Rosie Landers has hardly put a foot wrong since she took over the number one shirt and Kelly Ann Hogan in attack is proving to be one of the finds of the year at this level.

The experience can be found in the likes of the Murray and Wall sisters, Caoimhe McGrath, Maria Delahunty, Eimear Fennell, Michelle Ryan, Róisín Tobin and team captain Karen McGrath.

 These two sides last met at the quarter final stages of the championship in 2017 at Nowlan Park and on that occasion the Sky Blues ran out 2-15 to 1-7 winners.

Expect this game to be much closer. Waterford is an improving side at this level, and we have seen that they can hold their own against most sides. When this side gets more experience playing against top sides they will not be too far off the level required to be winning All-Irelands.

In Camogie a win for Waterford over Clare at Walsh Park will give Donal O’Rourke’s side a place in the All-Ireland quarter finals for the second year in a row.

The two sides are having somewhat contrasting years in the championship up to this point. Clare have recorded just the one win, that a one point win against Clare at Navan recently, while they have lost heavily to both Cork and Tipperary.

Waterford looked as if they were going to get their championship off to a brilliant start when they lead a fancied Tipperary side by four points with the hour almost up but a serious injury to a Tipperary player meant that game was not finished on the day and when it was re-fixed at Nowlan Park recently, Tipperary ran out winners on a 4-11 to 2-14 score line, but either side of that defeat for Waterford Donal O’Rourke’s side took maximum points off both Dublin and Meath, and they will be fancying their chances to record a third win this coming weekend.

Clare began the championship this year without players the like of Chloe Morey, Marie McGrath, Aoife Keane and Orlaith Duggan, but in recent weeks they are starting to get some of their more experienced players back into the side and they look a stronger side as a result.

Both Chloe Morey and Orlaith Duggan were involved in last weeks lost to Tipperary and that game will have helped improve their fitness.

But they do not rely just upon those two players as they are strong in many areas, with the spine of their team particularly strong with the likes of Sarah Loughnane in goal. Claire Hehir at full back, Alannah Ryan at centre back, Amy Barrett and Roisin Begley in the middle of the field, Andrea O’Keeffe at centre forward and the likes of Fiona Lafferty, Mairead Scanlon and Eimear Kelly battling it out with Chloe Morey in the full forward line.

Waterford in the championship has a very settled look to the team. Last time out against Meath Donal O’Rourke and his management team left Trish Jackman out of the side possibly with this weekend’s must win game in mind while players like Beth Carton, Iona Heffernan and Annie Fitzgerald were replaced again with this game very much in mind haven won that game from an early stage.

Waterford will be fielding a strong as possible team in a bid to get the win they need and not to have to go into their final group game against Cork to secure the win they need there.

Whether Caoimhe McGrath who is rock solid all year will be involved here remains to be seen. Caoimhe is also involved with the Ladies Footballers and it is a pity that the two games are scheduled to go almost head to head which forces a player who is interested in playing both codes has to make a choice, possibly in consultation with the two managers. Surly the time has come for both Associations at National Level to come together to structure fixtures in such a way where players that want to play both codes can do so.

Brianna O’Regan is likely to start in goal, Iona Heffernan will be at full back, Trish Jackman is likely to come into the half back line, Lorraine Bray and Áine Lyng will be in the half back line or centre field, while in attack Sarah Lacey, Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton are almost certain to start, while other positions are likely to be filled by the likes of Kate Lynch, Mairead Power, Shone Curran, Fiona Morrissey, Ashling Power, Claire Whyte, Clodagh Carroll and Aoife Landers to name but a few.

Games between Waterford and Clare in recent years have proven to be close affairs and this one is expected to be no different. Waterford are good enough to win this one, but they won’t mind by what margin so long as they bring their points total from six to nine on the league table.

Waterford Edge Closer To Knockout Qualification

Waterford are within touching distance of reaching the knockout stages of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship for the second year in a row after Donal O’Rourke’s side recorded a comprehensive win over Meath at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon last.

Donal O’Rourke’s sides ability to hit the back of the net in this game proved to be a major difference between the sides as they scored four in the opening half and turned around holding a 4-6 to 0-6 advantage on the scoreboard after Waterford put in a brilliant shift in the opening quarter in particular, but the home side did manage to draw closer in the second quarter.

With next Saturday’s home game with Clare now a very much win at all costs scenario when the sides clash at Walsh Park on Saturday with the game won from an early stage, the Waterford management team opted to take a number of key players off here, saving them having to play the full sixty minutes with next Saturday’s game in mind.

Waterford had a great start to this game with Fiona Morrissey, Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton putting over very early scores. The home side however would hit back with a Jane Dolan free and an effort from open play by Aoife Maguire to leave just the one between the sides with eight minutes on the clock.

Beth Carton hit the first of Waterford’s goals on nine minutes which put the visitors five in front and from there, there was no turning back.

The De La Salle player added a point from a free on 11 minutes before Annie Fitzgerald, one of the rising stars of the game within the Déise County netted a second goal for Waterford two minutes later which put sent the visitors into a commanding 2-4 to 0-2 lead.

Jane Dolan from a free reduced Waterford’s lead marginally on 16 minutes but with the next attack Waterford netted a third goal in this game as Gailltir’s Annie Fitzgerald got for herself her second of the afternoon.

The home side for the next ten minutes had the better of the exchanges when it came to scoring as Jane Dolan nailed two placed balls with Grace Coleman hitting one in between which left the home side trailing 3-4 to 0-6 with four minutes of the first half remaining.

Waterford however would finish the half strong as Sarah Lacey whose grandfather helped Waterford win the 1959 All-Ireland Final and who is making a name for herself in her first year playing senior inter county Camogie having from through from successful underage teams split the posts on 27 minutes and moments later Beth Carton netted her second and Waterford’s fourth goal of the game. The same player just before the break split the post to give Waterford a four clear goal cushion at the break.

The home side began the second half with Jane Dolan firing over three minutes after the restart and moments later Waterford had a chance to stretch their lead when Fiona Morrissey won a penalty, but Beth Carton saw her effort from 20 metres was stopped on the line.

Fiona Morrissey extended the Waterford lead with a point before Niamh Rockett who is playing the captain’s part to perfection this year netted Waterford’s fifth goal after 37 minutes.

After Beth Carton was replaced Niamh Rockett took over free taking duties and she split the posts with eight minutes remaining, but the home side would have finish slightly the better of the two as Jane Dolan and Megan Thyme split the posts before Niamh Rockett again split the posts from the 45 metre line with the hour played. Meath however would hit one more score from Aoife Minogue.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Kate Lynch, Iona Heffernan, Mairead Power; Caoimhe McGrath, Shona Curran, Lorraine Bray; Áine Lyng, Claire Whyte; Niamh Rockett, Fiona Morrissey, Ashling Power; Beth Carton, Annie Fitzgerald, Sarah Lacey.

Subs: Aoife Landers for Iona Heffernan, Áine Power for Annie Fitzgerald, Clodagh Carroll for Beth Carton.

Scorers: Beth Carton 2-3 (0-1F), Annie Fitzgerald 2-0, Niamh Rockett 1-3 (0-1f, 0-1 ’45), Fiona Morrissey 0-2, Sarah Lacey 0-1.

Meath: Maggie Randle; Sophia Payne, Claire Coffey, Maeve Clince; Áine Keogh, Cheyenne O’Brien, Louise Donoghue; Aoife Minogue, Aedin Slattery; Lisa Foley, Grace Coleman, Áine McNerney; Megan Thynne, Kane Dolan, Kristina Troy.

Scorers: Jane Foley 0-6 (0-4F, 0-1 ’45), Megan Thynne, Aoife Minogue 0-2 each, Grace Colman 0-1.

Referee: Fintan McNamara (Clare).  

Waterford Pull Off Unexpected Win

Waterford’s under 20 (Previously under 20) football team ended a 13 year wait without a championship win at Fraher Field on Tuesday evening last, when they accounted for a Clare side that many had fancied to advance to a Munster Semi Final against Cork.

Manager Gavin Whelan and his selection team had only a short few weeks to prepare their side for this game, for which they deserve great credit, as they scoured the city and county for the best players eligible to play in this grade and who were willing to make themselves available for selection.

While it was a late point from Tom Barron that won this game for Waterford as the Nire club man split the posts with two minutes remaining on the clock, at which time the game looked as if the attendance of 363 would have to sit through another 20 minutes to find a winner, the hero of this game as far as Waterford were concerned was Saint Saviour’s club man Darragh Corcoran.

The youngster from a famous football family hit 1-7 for the home side over the course of the hour, 1-3 of which came from open play. Those that saw Corcoran play would have done so for the county the first time, having never played underage football for the county before Tuesday evening last, proof if ever it was needed that not all inter county players come through from the various underage development squads, and his story shows that there is always hope for players with aspirations of playing for the county.

The sides were locked together 1-6 on the scoreboard at the break with the Saint Saviours man accounting for all but one point of Waterford’s tally of scores up to this point.

Early on it did not look good for Waterford, and the early signs were that Waterford who lost out last year to Kerry in the same grade by whopping 30 points a similar beating could be on the cards again this time.

The visitors had the ball in the Waterford net after just 18 seconds as Cillian Rouine and Sean O’Brien combined for Rouine to fire past Jack Coffey in the Waterford goal.

Waterford however refused to throw in the towel despite the worst possible start and with the next attack win a free which resulted in Jayme O’Sullivan receiving a black card and from the free kick at goal Corcoran made no mistake, and when Billy Power followed up with a point the early Clare lead was whittled down to one.

Clare however restored a three point lead by the seventh minute thanks to efforts from Diarmuid O’Donnell and Seamus Casey. Waterford would hit three wides in a row and Ronan Callinan in the Clare goal was forced to make an excellent save from Stephen Curry as Waterford began to pile on the pressure.

Waterford levelled matters with 12 minutes played when Man of the Match Darragh Corcoran lopped Callinan and then edged his side in front with another point.

Diarmuid O’Donnell levelled matters once more but Corcoran at the other end of the field was proving to be a handful as he hit the next three points to give Waterford a richly deserved 1-6 to 1-3 lead with six minutes of normal time in the first half remaining.

Clare however would finish the half stronger as they kicked the last three points of the opening half, two from O’Donnell and one from Seamus Casey to go in level at the break despite the early lead which they took.

Waterford missed two chances to open their second half account but when the ball went to the other end of the field Diarmuid O’Donnell gave the visitors the lead. Jack Coffey made an excellent save from Cian Shannon before Darragh O’Keeffe levelled matters for the fourth time in this game eight minutes after the restart.

O’Donnell and Corcoran swapped scores for their respective sides with the game entering its final quarter. The Clare contingent inside the ground thought that Dermot Coughlan had a strong shout for a penalty when he appeared to be brought down by Reece Stringer but referee Sean Lonergan waved away any calls from the visitors.

Eleven minutes of the final quarter was played when the next score came as Corcoran put over an effort from the 45 metre line to edge Waterford in front, but Coughlan was showing what Corcoran could do at one end he could do at the other as he split the posts from close range to level matters once more.

Waterford however would end this game advancing to a Munster semi final against Cork as Tom Barron a younger brother of All-Star hurler Jamie split the post with a fantastic effort after he was picked out by Sean Whelan Barrett after Waterford worked a free up field after Coughlan was pulled up for over carrying the ball.

Waterford: Jack Coffey; Reece Power, Reece Stringer, Liam Fennell; Mark Twomey, Tom Barron, Sam Fitzgerald; Dan Booth, Brian Lynch; Sean Whelan-Barrett, Stephen Curry, Billy Power; Darragh O’Keeffe, Larry Walsh, Darragh Corcoran.

Subs: James Walsh for Larry Walsh (39), Dean Beresford for Darragh O’Keeffe (52).

Scorers: Darragh Corcoran 1-7 (4fs), Tom Barron, Billy Power, Darragh O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Clare: Ronan Callinan; Dara Conneely, Jayme O’Sullivan, Iken Uguaru; Tiernan Hogan, Sean Rouine, Colm McNeilis; Danny Griffin, Dan Keating; Cian McDonough, Cillian Rouine, Sean O’Brien; Colm O’Brien, Diarmuid O’Donnell, Seamus Casey.

Subs: Conor DeLoughrey for Jayme O’Sullivan (BC 3), Dermot Coughlan for Sean O’Brien (20), Cian Shannon for Cian McDonough (HT), Philip Talty for Dan Keating (39), Connor Downes for Seamus Casey (51), Morgan Garry for Colm O’Brien (56).

Scorers: Diarmuid O’Donnell 0-5 (4fs), Cillian Rouine 1-0, Seamus Casey (1f), Dermot Coughlan (1f) 0-2 each.

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)

Forget Rocketman – It’s All about Rockett Woman

            The talk amongst film lovers in recent weeks is all about the Dexter Fletcher directed film Rocketman, a biographical musical film based on the life of British musician Elton John, but for those that saw Waterford record a first win in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship at Walsh Park on Saturday, the talk was not about Rocketman, but Rocketwoman.

            Anybody that is following the fortunes of the Waterford Camogie scene in recent years will only be too well aware that great work is being done within the game in the Déise County and that within the county there are players who can hold their own with anyone within the game, including those that play with what some would call the traditional super powers within the game.

As an example of this last year when Waterford narrowly missed out on a place in the National League semi finals and reached the All-Ireland quarter finals where they lost out to a more experienced Tipperary side, it was no real surprise to see Waterford with four players (Áine Lyng, Lorraine Bray, Niamh Rockett and Beth Carton) named as All-Star nominations. Maybe it was somewhat a bit of a surprise that Waterford had only four nominations, and it certainly was a surprise to some that Waterford had only one player (Beth Carton) named in the overall team of the year.

Last weekend it looked as if Waterford were going to record a memorable victory when they lead Tipperary with four minutes of normal time to play in the opening game in this year’s All-Ireland Championship, only for the game to be abandoned because of a serious injury to a Tipperary player. Had Waterford won that game it would have given the side coached by Donal O’Rourke plenty of coverage going into the remaining games in the group stages of the competition.

Because that game was not finished, (it will now take place next Saturday in Nowlan Park with the game having a 3pm start), it was imperative that Waterford against Dublin got their campaign off to a winning start and the side did so in an impressive manner.

On the day the Dublin defence kept a close eye on Waterford All-Star Beth Carton. This is something that most sides set out to do, and when they do and in a way succeed in what they set out to do, it gives the other players the chance to shine and be the Waterford Hero and on Saturday afternoon one player that really stood up to the mark was team Captain Niamh Rockett.

The brilliant Saint Anne’s player finished the game with 1-2 behind her name and could well have finished with more as she was involved in a lot of what Waterford did in the Dublin half of the field. Those that have read media reports in the last number of years will know that the brilliant Saint Anne’s player is lucky to be playing the game as she was told some years back that Injuries could force her to give up the game that she loves, but sometimes when you get news like this it can make you become more determined and it obviously has for Niamh.

But she was not the only Waterford player to impress on the day. While the Dublin backs were able to restrain Beth Carton somewhat from play by not allowing her to break free of their shackles she still finished the game with eight points behind her name.

Other Waterford players that stood out on the day were Brianna O’Regan on the day, Trish Jackman who is back in the side this year after three years away and at times her experience was clear to be seen, duel star Caoimhe McGrath was once again impressive, while Lorraine Bray and new comer this year Sarah Lacey also impressed, while veteran Áine Lyng covered a lot of ground before she was replaced in the second half.

Dublin had first use of the strong wind which blew from the city end of the ground, but it was the home side that had the better start as Niamh Rockett put over a fine score from the sideline on the bank side of the field with just 17 seconds played which was followed with an effort from Orla Hickey on two minutes and a delightful score from a tight angle off the stick of Beth Carton just second later.

Aisling Maher opened the visitors account on nine minutes and they followed it up with an effort by Orla Beagan on 16 minutes. Niamh Rockett however would stretch Waterford’s lead just seconds later following some good work by Beth Carton in the build up.

The game’s first goal came on 24 minutes. A high ball in around the Waterford goal was broken by Brianna O’Regan but she was not able to catch the dropping ball which fell to Kerrie Finnegan who made room for herself by moving out field with the sliotar from where she beat Brianna O’Regan with a well placed effort into the corner of the net.

This proved to be the last score of the half at the end of which the visitors retired to the dressing rooms at the break holding a 1-2 to 0-4 lead.

Waterford just as they had in the first half started the second half brightly with Beth Carton putting over a brace of frees inside three minutes of the restart to go one on front.

Aisling Maher levelled matters from a free on 35 minutes and two minutes later Dublin went back in front with an effort from Kerri Finnegan.

Beth Carton from a free pulled the sides level on 39 minutes and five minutes later she put Waterford in front from which point Donal O’Rourke’s side never trailed.

Aisling Maher levelled matters with 12 minutes left on the clock, but this was to prove to be the visitors last score of the game.

With eight minutes of the hour remaining a Trish Jackman sideline cut landed in around the Dublin goal which was broken down and Niamh Rockett was in the right place to collect and send the ball to the Dublin net giving Waterford a 1-8 to 1-5 advantage on the score board.

Beth Carton from a free four minutes later and then from a ’45 three minutes further on gave Waterford a 1-10 to 1-5 advantage, but with considerable time to be added by Cork Referee Cathal Egan there was still time for the visitors to get something from this game, that is of course they could get through what was a watertight like Waterford defence.

The visitors however were unable to break through the Waterford defence and four minutes into added time Waterford secured the win and at the same time helped improve their score difference on the league table in case that should come into play at the end of the round robin section of the competition, with an eight point off the stick of Beth Carton.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Kate Lynch, Iona Heffernan, Caoimhe McGrath; Sibheal Harney, Trish Jackman, Áine Lyng; Emma Hannon, Lorraine Bray; Niamh Rockett, Annie Fitzgerald, Keeley Corbett-Barry; Beth Carton, Orla Hickey, Sarah Lacey.

Subs: Claire Whyte for Áine Lyng (36), Clodagh Carroll for Keeley Corbett Barry (39), Mairead Power for Sibheal Harney (51), Aoife Landers for Annie Fitzgerald (63), Clara Griffin for Niamh Rockett (65).

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-8 (6f, 1 ’45), Niamh Rockett 1-2, Orla Hickey 0-1.

Dublin: Ciara Tierney; Deirdre Johnstone, Eve O’Brien, Orla Gray; Emma O’Byrne, Gráinne Quinn, Róisín Baker; Laura Twomey, Aisling Carolan; Ali Twomey, Aisling Maher, Ellen McGovern; Sinéad Wylde, Kerrie Finnegan, Orla Beagan

Subs: Martha O’Donoghue for Orla Gray (23), Siobhan Keogh for Ellen McGovern (41), Alex Griffin for Sinead Wylde (47), Emma Flanagan for Emma O’Byrne (62).

Scorers: Kerrie Finnegan 1-1, Aisling Maher 0-3 (3f), Orla Beagan 0-1.

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)

Cork Prove Too Strong For Waterford In Munster Final

Waterford’s wait for a first Munster Senior Ladies Football title for the first time since 2002 continues as a fancied Cork side proved too strong for in this year’s Provincial Final at Fraher Field on Sunday evening, running out winners with 11 points to spare over a Waterford side that never gave up.

Ciaran Curran’s side will take plenty from this game going forward. When the sides clashed at the Cork IT Grounds three weeks previously the Rebellettes recorded a 3-22 to 0-7 victory which would have suggested that Waterford had no hope going into this game, but had lady luck shone on Waterford a few times in this game, the outcome could well have been much different.

In the second half of this game Katie Murray saw a goal bound shot come off the bottom of the post five minutes into the second half after she was played in by Karen McGrath and when the ball came back out to the Waterford attack, winning a free on the 21 metre line but Maria Delahunty saw her effort come crashing off the crossbar when struck dead straight in front of goal, and just three minutes later Róisín Tobin played in  a ball in front of the Cork goal which looked to be going just wide of the upright, but Michelle Ryan managed to keep it in play, but her fisted effort hit the post and went wide.

It should be pointed out that Waterford in this game were without six players that would normally be considered for selection from the start, as they were without Rebecca Casey, Megan Dunford, Caragh McCarthy, Liz Devine, Aisling Mullaney and Katy Hayes.

Waterford played with the aid of the stiff breeze which blew towards the road goal in the first half and early on it looked as if they were really going to test Cork as the side hit the opening two scores inside two minutes.

Maria Delahunty opened the scoring with 45 seconds on the clock and just over a minute later when Waterford won a free out on the bank side of the field the Abbeyside player stood over it. Her effort looked to be sailing over the Cork crossbar but fell short at the last second, but Michelle Ryan was on hand using her height to full advantage to punch the size four over the bar.

Cork opened their count on five minutes when Niamh Cotter split the Waterford post and two minutes late Orla Finn levelled matters from a free.

But Waterford would hit back with the next two scores first from Chloe Fennell and then Kelly Ann Hogan to open up a two point advantage for the second time in the game with 11 minutes played.

The visitors to Fraher Field broke through a backed Waterford defence on 14 minutes when Aishling Hitchings played in the brilliant Saoirse Noonan who slotted past Rosie Landers to give her side a 1-2 to 0-4 advantage.

Two points from Maria Delahunty within a minute of each other put Waterford back in front, before Eimear Kiely levelled matters with 11 minutes of the first half remaining.

Two minutes later Maria Delahunty sent Katie Murray through on a one on one with Cork goalkeeper Martina O’Brien but the Comeragh Rangers player saw her effort rise just over the Cork crossbar when it looked as if a goal was on the cards.

Cork however would finish the half the stronger of the two sides as points from Orla Finn, Saoirse Noonan and Daire Kiely were registered  to give the eventual winners a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the second half Cork proved to be too strong for Waterford.

Points from Orla Finn, Saoirse Noonan and Niamh Cotter were hit in the first three minutes of the second half to stretch the Cork lead to five.

When the ball went to the other end of the field Katie Murray saw the ball come back off the blue stripe at the bottom of the upright at the Country end of the ground and when the side playing in a changed Navy strip for this game won a free just seconds later Maria Delahunty saw her effort come crashing back off the cross bar.

Daire Kiely extended Cork’s lead to six on 38 minutes and they stretched that to nine on 41 minutes when Niamh Cotter, Libby Coppinger and Saoirse Noonan all combined before the latter palmed to the Waterford net.

Libby Coppinger got her name on the score sheet on 43 minutes and just seconds later it looked as if the Rebellettes would hit a third goal when Ciara O’Sullivan bore down on goal. The Mourneabbey player collided with the advancing Rosie Landers and with both players on the ground it the ball went in the direction of the Waterford goal, but Katie Murray.

Orla Finn extended Cork’s lead with a free nine minutes from time before Maria Delahunty opened Waterford’s account for the second half four minutes from time when she put over a free.

Ciara O’Sullivan and Saoirse Noonan pointed for Cork within sixty seconds of each other and while Waterford would hit a point inside the last minute of the game from another Maria Delahunty free it proved to be but a mere consolation score for Ciaran Curran’s side.

Waterford: Rosie Landers; Kate McGrath, Caoimhe McGrath, Mairead Wall; Róisín Tobin, Karen McGrath, Shauna Dunphy; Emma Murray, Katie Murray; Kelly Anne Hogan, Chloe Fennell, Maria Delahunty; Eimear Fennell, Michelle Ryan, Aileen Wall.

Subs: Lauren McGregor for Eimear Fennell (44), Brigita Valuntaite for Róisín Tobin (53).

Scorers: M Delahunty 0-5 (3f), K Murray 0-1, KA Hogan 0-1, C Fennell 0-1, M Ryan 0-1.

Cork: Martina O’Brien; Hannah Looney, Eimear Meaney, Melissa Duggan; Shauna Kelly, Aishling Hutchings, Eimear Kiely; Niamh Cotter, Orlagh Farmer; Ciara O'Sullivan, Eimear Scally, Daire Kiely; Libby Coppinger, Saoirse Noonan, Orla Finn.

Subs: Marie O'Callaghan for Orla Farmer (h-t), Áine O'Sullivan for Niamh Cotter (43), Emma Spillane for Daire Kiely (43), Rhona Ní Bhuachalla for Libby Coppinger (45) Claire O'Shea for Shauna Kelly (55).

Scorers: Saoirse Noonan 2-3, Orla Finn 0-4 (2f), Daire Kiely, Niamh Cotter 0-2 each, Eimear Kiely, Ciara O'Sullivan, Libby Coppinger 0-1 each.

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).

Waterford and Tipperary Must Do It All Again As Game Is Abandoned Due To Serious Injury

Waterford’s opening fixture in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship was abandoned three minutes from the end of normal time on Saturday evening with Waterford leading by four points at The Ragg following a serious head injury picked up by Tipperary Corner forward Nicole Walsh.

Within minutes of the Borris-Ileigh player falling to the ground as she challenged for a dropping ball it quickly became apparent that professional medical advice would be needed and an ambulance was called for to attend the ground.

When after 25 minutes no ambulance had arrived at the ground, something that has angered many with an interest in player welfare a call was made to summon an air ambulance to the ground and transfer the player to hospital for the treatment that she needed.

Thankfully, the players injuries were not as serious as first feared and she was released from Hospital on Sunday afternoon and is recovering at home and hopefully will be back playing in the maroon and white of Borris-Ileigh and the Blue and Gold of Tipperary sooner rather than later.

Waterford were leading by four points at the time and looking good to begin this year’s competition with a win at the time of the Borris-Ileigh club player was injured needing the arrival of professional medical personnel to be summoned to the ground to treat the injured player who fell heavily while challenging for a dropping ball, resulting in her picking up a neck injury.

With no ambulance present at the ground and it taking some time to get one to the Mid-Tipperary venue and with a significant period of time elapsed before the injured player was able to be removed from the play, referee Andrew Larkin quite wisely opted to bring the game to a premature end, meaning the game will have to be replayed at a later date.

Waterford had made two changes to the published team ahead of this game as Brianna O’Regan started in goal in place of Ciara Jackman, while the Gailltir Club players older sister Trish made her first start for the county in three years, partnering Shona Curran another player who has returned to the Waterford set up this year again after a number of years away from the panel in the middle of the field.

Beth Carton had hit 11 points for Waterford up to the time the game was prematurely ended by the Cork referee, while Orla Hickey had hit 1-2.

When the sides clashed at the same venue at the same venue a few weeks previously in the Munster Championship the home side had a comfortable win, but this game proved to be a much different affair with Waterford proving to be the better of the two sides on the evening.

It was the home side that started this game the brighter of the two side and raced into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with just nine minutes played.

Those expected Waterford to roll over and allow the home side to control proceedings however would be left disappointed.

Points from Beth Carton and Orla Hickey followed to give Waterford a 0-4 to 0-3 lead while playing against the breeze. The home side however responded with three efforts from Orla O’Dwyer with Beth Carton pulling two back for Waterford to level matters (0-6 each) with three minutes of the first half remaining.

There was time however for both sides to land further scores before the half time whistle. Orla O’Dwyer put one over for the home side with Beth Carton landing a brace of scores for Waterford to give Waterford a slender 0-8 to 0-7 at the break.

Waterford however were unlucky not to turn around even further in front as Donal O’Rourke’s side created two goal scoring chances late on, both falling to corner forward Annie Fitzgerald who saw her first effort on 27 minutes blocked by Aoife McGrath and three minutes later she saw an effort smothered by Tipperary goalkeeper Caoimhe Bourke.

The home side marginally enjoyed the better of the third quarter and turned a one point defecate at the break into a one point lead with 47 minutes of the game played.

Cáit Devane, Nicole Walsh and Orla O’Dwyer fired over points for the Premier Ladies inside the opening five minutes of the restart, only for Sarah Lacey and Beth Carton to land points for Waterford to tie the scoring at 10 points each, and by the 47 minutes they found themselves 0-12 to 0-11 in front.

Waterford however in the next ten minutes were outstanding. Orla Hickey levelled the matters with 12 minutes remaining on the clock, before Beth Carton took on the Tipperary defence and picking off a fine score from her left side.

The De La Salle sharp shooter converted a free to extend Waterford’s lead before Waterford struck the only goal of the game with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Dungarvan’s Orla Hickey the player to scramble the ball over the line.

Beth Carton put Waterford six in front on 52 minutes when she split the posts from a free, but Tipperary over the next five minutes put over two frees from the stick of Cáit Devane to leave four between the sides.

Next up for Waterford is a game against Dublin at Walsh Park this Saturday evening.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Iona Heffernan, Áine Lyng, Sibheal Harney; Kate Lynch, Lorraine Bray, Caoimhe McGrath; Shona Curran, Trish Jackman; Keeley Corbett-Barry, Orla Hickey, Niamh Rockett; Beth Carton, Sarah Lacey, Annie Fitzgerald.

Subs: Emma Hannon for Shona Curran (22), Mairéad Power for Áine Lyng (35), Aoife Landers for Keeley Corbett-Barry (42).

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-11 (0-5f, 0-1 ’45), Orla Hickey 1-2, Niamh Rockett, Sarah Lacey 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Caoimhe Bourke; Julie Anne Bourke, Caroline Mullaney, Eimear Loughman; Clodagh Quirke, Karen Kennedy, Gemma Grace; Aoife McGrath, Megan Ryan; Orla O'Dwyer, Cáit Devane, Ereena Fryday;  Nicole Walsh, Miriam Campion, Grace O’Brien.

Subs: Niamh Treacy for Ereena Fryday (48), Mary Ryan for Aoife McGrath (53), Laura Loughnane for Megan Ryan (56.

Scorers: Cáit Devane 0-6 (5f), Orla O’Dwyer 0-5, Ereena Fryday, Nicole Walsh, Grace O’Brien 0-1 each.

Referee: Andrew Larkin (Cork).

Big Weekend for Déise Ladies

Last weekend the Waterford Senior Hurling and Football teams played their final games in this year’s Championships. For most of the players involved in them games and those that were part of the extended panels for both sides they have a weekend off this week before they return to action again the weekend after in the second round of the County Senior Hurling Championship or in the Divisional Intermediate or Junior Hurling Championships.

But for Waterford all hopes for 2019 to be another disappointing year are not dashed, as this weekend two of our county senior sides who at times don’t get the recognition they deserve are in action.

On Saturday evening Donal O’Rourke and his Senior Camogie side make the trip to ‘The Ragg’ a few miles outside Thurles to take on Tipperary in the first round of this year’s All-Ireland Championship and 24 hours after that games finishes Ciaran Curran’s Senior Ladies Football team face a daunting task against Cork in this year’s Munster Final which is set to go ahead at Fraher Field.

For the Camogie team this will be the third time which they have faced off up to Tipperary this year and the fourth time in less than 12 months and on each of these previous occasions victory has gone to the Premier County side, but no needs telling that a run of victories for one side over another has to come to an end sometime and it would be nice to think that it could happen for Waterford this coming weekend.

When the sides met in the National League at the De La Salle Club Grounds back in February a depleted Waterford side lost out 1-11 to 0-10 and when they clashed a few weeks back in the Munster Championship again at ‘The Ragg’ Tipperary once more proved to strong winning 2-23 to 1-8, but the question has to be asked with the Munster Championship coming third in importance to most sides after the National League and All-Ireland Championship how much of his hand did Donal O’Rourke show to the opposition for this weekend.

The two sides played in opposite groups in last year’s All-Ireland Championship and Waterford despite losing their two opening games against Galway and Kilkenny did enough to secure a place in the quarter finals for the first time in the modern era where they took on Tipperary at Pairc Ui Chaoimh after the Premier County side finished second in their group.

Waterford on Lee-side played remarkably well but on the night Tipperary’s greater experience at this level proved vital for them as they ran out winners on a 1-14 to 1-7 score line.

Little will or should be read into the last game between the two sides, not for Waterford anyway. Tipperary as we know are going to be a strong side, but Waterford since coming up to the senior grade after winning the Intermediate title in 2015 are making steady progress, and with some excellent underage players coming through and experienced players in the panel, going forward there could well be some great days in store for the ladies from the Déise County.

Waterford will know plenty about Tipperary for this game. Nobody will need telling how good star player Cáit Devane can be. She is a terrific striker of the ball from both play and from frees and is also a quality team player.

But like all top sides Tipperary are by no means a one player team and in the likes of Orla O’Dwyer, Niamh Tracey, Grace O’Brien, Caoimhe Maher, Miriam Campion and Laura Loughnane to name but a few they have players that can win any game even if the opposition managed to keep Devane quiet.

When it comes to Waterford Beth Carton receives most plaudits, and it’s easy to see while as the talented De La Salle player is one of the finest players there is in the game right now.

But just like with Cáit Devane and Tipperary even if you were to keep Waterford’s top scorer quiet there is the likes of Niamh Rockett, Lorraine Bray and Áine Lyng to cope with, three players nominated for All-Stars last year, plus the likes of Ciara Jackman, Brianna O’Regan, Iona Heffernan, Sibheal Harney, Emma Hannon, Aoife Landers, Aisling Power, Claire Whyte, Mairead and   Áine Power, Orla Hickey, Annie Fitzgerald and Kaiesha Tobin to deal with, all players who can be a handful for any side.

Waterford will know that a good start to this competition is vital. They knew last year that they were playing the two strongest sides first and if they got favourable results in their last two games then they would reach the knockout stages, something that was to happen, but this time around the fixture computer has not proven to be as kind to Waterford.

Donal O’Rourke’s side are in a group along with Cork, Dublin, Clare and this weekend’s opponents Tipperary as well as Meath who it could be said are the weakest side in the group, but with only three of the six sides advancing to the knockout stages, there is going to be some disappointed players come the end of July.

On Sunday evening the Waterford Senior Ladies Football Team are in action at Fraher Field when they take on what will be a very strong Cork side in this year’s Munster Final.

The two sides have met already in the Round Robin section of the competition, where Cork ran out very convincing winners on a 3-22 to 0-7 score line at the Cork IT Grounds in the second series of games in the Round Robin part of the competition.

Cork as anyone that knows anything about Ladies Football will tell you are a powerfully strong side, who have won so much in the last ten years or so.

Sometimes when a side comes along and compete at the top as the players get older and begin to pull away from the Inter County side, the county often finds it hard to replace some players, but the structures in Cork are such that when a leading player retires they have another player who is equally as strong and sometimes even stronger to come into their place, and as a result they are able to stay at the top for so long.

When the sides clashed recently Cork had a fantastic start and scored two goals inside a minute of each other before the fourth minute of the game was complete, and as a result of this start Waterford were always playing catch up.

By the break they were 2-11 to 0-3 in front and before they kicked their third goal of the game they kicked half a dozen unanswered points at the start of their second half to extend their lead.

Waterford will know that if they are to win on Sunday evening, one player that they will have to keep very quite is Orla Finn. She hit 11 points in the recent win over Waterford and hit another nine in her sides win over Kerry recently. Before these two games she hit five points for her side in this year’s Division One National League Final where Cork beat Galway 1-12 to 2-7 at Parnell Park.

But even if Waterford were to keep her quiet they will have also to keep the likes of Ciara O’Sullivan, Niamh Cotter, Daire Kelly, Libby Coppinger, Saoirse Noonan and Eimear Scally quiet if they are to get something from this game. To keep one quiet will be difficult. To keep all quiet, while not impossible, will be extremely difficult.

But while Waterford will not be fancied to get something from this game, they only have to think back to 2017 when they played both Kerry and Cork at Fraher Field in the Round Robin section of the Munster Championship and with many of the players involved that day again said to be involved on Sunday evening, Ciaran Curran’s side will believe that they can cause a shock.

Just like with the Camogie team great progress is made with Ladies Football in the Déise County since they won the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship in 2015, and just like in Camogie there is some brilliant young players coming through who are challenging the more established players for a place in the starting team and not just settle for a place on the panel.

Players like Aileen and Mairead Wall, Michelle Ryan, Eimear Fennell, Maria Delahunty, the Murray sisters, Karen McGrath, Róisín Tobin, Shauna Dunphy and Caoimhe McGrath are all vastly experienced players at this point.

Also part of this panel of players are some brilliant young players the likes of Rosie Landers, Rebecca Casey, Kelly Ann Hogan, Chloe Fennell, Kathy Hayes and Liz Devine, players that we will hear a lot more about in the years ahead.

In both the Camogie and Ladies Football games this coming weekend Waterford will enter them as the underdog. Will this bother the Waterford players and management? I for one can’t answer that question for them, but somehow I don’t think it will let it affect them. I can even see it as a motivation. The talk between players before the games this weekend might well be how nobody is giving them a chance of winning, and suggesting amongst themselves how they will go out and show those doubters or knockers a thing or two.