Big weekend for underage hurling in Waterford

It’s the last weekend of Waterford, so that can mean just one thing, its time for the annual Tony Forristal and Sony Walsh Under 14 Inter County Hurling tournaments to take place in Waterford City.

It’s hard to believe that this is the 33^rd running of this tournament. From a small beginning it has grown and grown over the years, and while a decision was taken some years back to cut the number of counties that visit Waterford each August, it still remains to be one of the best run competitions in all of Ireland, with the most of the strongest counties each year sending two teams to take part, meaning that almost 50 of each counties best up and coming hurlers will taste competitive inter county hurling for the first time.

Some of the best players that have graced hurling fields over the past 30 years or so have taken part in this years competition, and this years competition is expected to have a number of players take part that will become house hold names in the years to come.

Four venues will be used for the league section of this years competition. Games in group’s A and B of Division one as always are set to take place at the splendid Mount Sion Club Grounds, while games in group C and D will take place at the Saint Saviours grounds.

The games in Division two will see group A will take place at the Erin’s Own grounds in Poleberry while group B and C games will take place at the De La Salle grounds in Gracedieu.

The semi finals in Division one will see one game take place at Mount Sion with the other in Saint Saviours, while the Division two semi final involving the group B and C winners clash at the De La Salle venue.

Both the Division One (Tony Forristal) and Division Two (Sony Walsh) finals are fixed for Walsh Park on Saturday evening. The Division two final is penciled in for a 5-40pm start with the Division One final scheduled to start sixty-five minutes later.

FIXTURES:

Division 1 – Group A and B

Laois                          V         Cork                            10am            Mount Sion

Waterford                   V         Offaly                         10-50am        Mount Sion

Laois                          V         Dublin                         11-40am        Mount Sion

Galway                       V         Offaly                         12-30pm        Mount Sion

Cork                            V         Dublin                       1-20pm           Mount Sion

Waterford                   V         Galway                       2-10pm          Mount Sion

Group A Winner       V         Group B Winner           3-50pm           Mount Sion

Division 1 – Group C and D

Clare                          V         Antrim                        10am              Saint Saviours

Limerick                     V         Kilkenny                    10-50am         Saint Saviours

Antrim                        V         Tipperary                   11-40am        Saint Saviours

Limerick                     V         Wexford                     12-30pm        Saint Saviours

Clare                          V         Tipperary                   1-20pm           Saint Saviours

Kilkenny                    V         Wexford                      2-10pm           Saint Saviours

Group C Winner       V         Group B Winner          3-50pm           Saint Saviours

 

Division 2 – Group A

Wexford                     V         Dublin                                    10am              Erin’s Own

Kilkenny                    V         Cork                                        10-50am        Erin’s Own

Wexford                     V         Kilkenny                                 12-20pm        Erin’s Own

Cork                            V         Dublin                                    1-10pm           Erin’s Own

Wexford                     V         Cork                                       2-40pm           Erin’s Own

Kilkenny                    V         Dublin                                    3-40pm           Erin’s Own

 

Division 2 – Group B

Tipperary                   V         Waterford                   10am              De La Salle

Tipperary                   V         Kerry                           11-40am        De La Salle

Kerry                           V         Waterford                   1-20pm           De La Salle

Group B Winner       V         Groups C Winner          3-40pm           De La Salle

 

Division 2 Group C

Clare                          V         Limerick                     10-50am        De La Salle

Clare                          V         Galway                       12-30pm        De La Salle

Limerick                     V         Galway                       2-10pm           De La Salle

Group B Winner       V         Groups C Winner         3-40pm           De La Salle

 

Sony Walsh Final – Division Two                         5-40pm           Walsh Park

Tony Forristal Final – Division One                      6-45pm           Walsh Park

Waterford are Under 16 Champions for 2014

What has proven to be a good year for Camogie in Waterford has just gone better in the last few days.

At the start of the year, if someone told you that Waterford would win one title at a national level, most would have gladly snapped off the hand of the person that said it.

Imagine now, as we approach September what people are thinking after the county has seen sides not win one title, but five, and there is still time for more titles to come the way of Waterford.

Ok, hands up I know that three of the five camogie titles were won by club sides as opposed to county teams, but it should be remembered that while Gailltir, De La Salle and Lismore have won titles, when they entered the competitions they won, they are not just representing their own Parish or their part of the city or county but are representing the county as a whole, and it is therefore right that as a county we celebrate these wins.

Each time a title comes to Waterford, it is important that every side celebrate the win and that the game is promoted even more.

Some might say that Lismore winning an All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final will no nothing for the game in the east of the county, or for De La Salle or Gailltir to win a Feile title will do little for the game in the west of the county, but it does. This time next year Clubs at the opposite end of the county to Lismore, Gailltir or De La Salle or anywhere in between could and should be saying to themselves that if they can do what they achieved, then so can we.

Waterford’s latest success came on Sunday afternoon last when the All-Ireland Under 16 ‘B’ final was won, beating Derry in the final at Leixlip, just a four months on after the counties Minor team won the All-Ireland ‘B’ Final against Derry in Dublin.

Twelve months ago, the counties under 16 team were beaten by Cork in the All-Ireland final at Mallow.

Nine of that panel coached by Shane ‘Shiner’ Ahearne were available to this year’s manager Declan Drohan.

The nine players involved in both 2013 and 2014 are exceptionally good players and their involvement this year always meant that Waterford were going to be serious contenders.

When Waterford and Derry met in the league section of the competition in mid July, Waterford won the game with eight points to spare.

Regular readers on here will know that I have a thing that when two sides meet in close proximity in all grades, maybe with the exception of Senior Hurling and Football, I have a tendency to favour the team that lost the first day to win the second game. I often have a feeling that the winner of the first game often go into the second game a little over confident, something that I believe is a dangerous thing.

However, for last Sunday’s All-Ireland final, something was telling me that this game was going to be different. I had this feeling that Waterford were going to win.

However, early in the game it looked as though my hunch was going to be wrong.

Waterford were slow to start in this game and as a result Derry capitalised.

Faoiltiama Burke opened the scoring for Derry with an early point and when Niamh Gallagher followed up with a goal with just under four minutes played, the signs were not looking good for Waterford.

The measure of a good side however is how they recover from conceding a goal, and did Waterford recover.

The Waterford team showed tremendous character, hitting back with five points in a row, three from player of the match – De La Salle’s Beth Carton and the other two from team captain Aisling Power from the Cappoquin club who played a real captains roll over the hour.

After fighting back from an early blow, Waterford were dealt another when The Oak Leaf girls through Claire Mulholland.

Again Waterford needed to respond what had happened and again what a way Waterford responded with Beth Carton sent the umpire reaching for a green flag.

Waterford were now back in front (1-5 to 2-1), but the lead was not a long lived one as Meabh McGill and Dara McGuckin struck points for Derry to give them a one point advantage, but the sides would retire at the break all square after Beth Carton struck her fifth score of the game.

If the first half was tight, the second half could not be described to be like that.

Team captain Aisling Power hit a further three points to the two she hit in the opening half. Beth Carton hit a six second half points while Kate McMahon and Anne Corcoran also got in on the act.

However the story of the half was the goals scored.

Beth Carton scored a second Waterford goal five minutes after the re-start. Derry hit points from Jackie Donnelly and Dara McGuckin, but the half belonged to Waterford.

Kate McGrath set up a brilliant goal for Niamh Murphy. Galltir’s Anne Corcoran then did brilliant to set up Niamh Murphy for her second and Waterford’s fourth goal.

Waterford were not finished yet, and further goals from Kate McGrath and Róisín Uniacke followed which gave Waterford an unassailable lead.

Derry did manage a late goal through Jackie Donnelly, but it was too little too late.

This is a win that could well have a positive effect for the game in Waterford. At adult level, great progress has been made in the last few years. Much of that progress and success stems from Waterford’s All-Ireland under 16 win back in the early part of the last decade.

Many of that team now form part of the present Waterford Intermediate team and hopefully they will be around for some time to come.

This years under 16 panel and indeed the minor panel is as talented as if not more talented than the last under 16 All-Ireland winning panel. It is only a matter of time before some of the players in these panels (and some have already) make the break through to the counties intermediate and hopefully in the not to distant future senior panel.

Success at Club and underage inter county levels does not always mean success at adult inter county levels. Waterford are moving in the right direction and I have a feeling that these successes will see Waterford move to the next level on the ladder when it comes to the inter county game in the near future.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Sinead Cunningham, Sinead O’Brien, Aoife Shanahan; Laura Murray, Megan Dunford, Saoirse Bonner; Courtney Healy, Siebel Harney; Kate McGrath, Beth Carton, Aisling Power; Niamh Murphy, Kate McMahon, Anne Corcoran. Subs: Sharon Williams for Niamh Murphy, Ellen Curran for Sinead Cunningham, Roisin Uniacke for Aoife Shanahan, Collette Hogan for Anne Corcoran, Sally Brown for Saoirse Bonner.

Scorers: Beth Carton 2-10, Niamh Murphy 2-0, Aisling Power 0-5, Kate McMahon 1-1, Roisin Uniacke 1-, Anne Corcoran 0-1.

Derry: Erin Burns; Meaghan Lagan, Chloe Henry, Orla McNeill; Bronagh Walsh, Aoife McNabb, Megan Kearns; Faoiltiama Burke, Shannon O’Kane; Sinead McNabb, Claire Mulholland, Meabh McGill; Dara McGuckin, Jackie Donnelly, Niamh Gallagher. Subs: Therese Mellon for Meaghan Lagan, Aisling Craig for Megan Kearns, Ellis McGrath for Sinead McNabb, Brooke Scullion for Therese Mellon, Aine McGill for Niamh Gallagher.

Scorers: Jackie Donnelly 1-1, Niamh Gallagher and Claire Mulholland 1-0 each, Dara McGuckin 0-2, Meabh McGill and Faoiltiama Burke 0-1 each.

Referee: Peter Dowd (Meath).

Meanwhile Waterford's Patricia Jackman emerged victorious from a host of big names at the rearranged 2014 M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada Finals on Sunday Afternoon last, getting the afternoon off to a terrific start.

The Gailltir sharp shooter won her sixth successive title in nine years. In the three years before she won the title, Patricia finished second three years in a row.

Patricia was always the favourite to win a sixth title, finished ahead of her main rival Catriona Daly from Galway who finished in second place and Martine McMahon in Limerick who finished third.

Her sixth All Ireland Camogie Poc Fada title in succession was won in dramatic fashion.

The top three all completed the course in twenty nine pucks. Patricia Jackman however won as her final shot finished sixty-two metres beyond the line with Daly’s landing forty-seven metres over the line and McMahon’s fifteen metres pas the line.

 

Link to piece done about Under 14 Camogie team back in September 2012. http://deiseabu.blogspot.ie/2012/09/waterford-camogie-building-for-future.html

 

Senior Hurling Championship is down to eight

This years JJ Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Hurling Championship began last May with twelve clubs in the frame to represent the County in the Munster Club Championship, and as we head to September, ten clubs still have something to play for.

Following the final round of games in the league section of the championship over the weekend, the eight teams that will play in the quarter finals of this years championship are now known, while the two sides fighting to retain their status for another year are also known.

2013 champions Passage secured their place in the last eight of the championship by virtue of beating a previously unbeaten De La Salle at Walsh Park on Saturday evening.

The champions got off to a great start in this game, when former inter county hurler Eoin Kelly cracked an early goal which gave his side a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.

In what was a close game throughout, the Passage man’s early effort was cancelled out six minutes from the break when Jake Dillon finished to the net. Passage however soon went back in front courtesy of a Conor Carey goal which gave his side a 2-8 to 1-8 lead at the break.

In the second half, the game continued to be a closely fought battle with both sides hitting six points each.

Abbeyside secured their place in the last eight of the championship when they beat Roanmore at Kill.

The city side for much of the game proved to be the better of the two sides and at the break they held a 0-10 to 0-7 advantage.

A goal from Tiernan Murray proved crucial for Abbeyside in the second half crucial. Emmet O’Toole and Eoin Madigan struck second half goals for the city side in the second half but it was not enough to help their side from going under on a 1-20 to 2-12 score line.

Despite earning a draw with Lismore, the end result for Fourmilewater was not good enough to help them avoid a relegation play off in the coming weeks. The Ballymacarbry based clubs finished bottom of the group with three points from a maximum of ten, the same tally as Roanmore who finished above Fourmilewater as a result of winning the head to head game between the two, even though the western club had a better score difference.

Lismore at the break lead 2-5 to 0-5, the goals coming from the Shanahan brothers Dan on the quarter of an hour mark and Maurice two minutes from the break.

Fourmilewater with surgery done on the team for the second thirty minutes proved to be the better of the two sides. Dermot Ryan hit two early second half points and then set up county minor star Conor Gleeson for a goal on forty-one minutes.

With time running down, Fourmilewater were leading and looked as though they were going to force Lismore into a relegation play off but a late Maurice Shanahan point from a free saw Lismore head to the quarter finals and Fourmilewater to a relegation play off.

Ballygunner are the only remaining team with a 100% win record in this years championship after they beat Ballyduff Upper in the first of two games played at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

Ballygunner had a dream start to this game hitting three goals in the first ten minutes of the game.

The first goal of the game will in the will possibly rank as the greatest in this years championship as Barry Coughlan ran from his own half back line before beating John Twomey in the Ballyduff goal with an unstoppable shot.

The city side added two further goals in the tenth minute courtesy of Conor Power and Brian O’Sullivan which helped them to a 3-8 to 0-10 lead at the turn around.

Ballyduff Upper had former minor star Mikey Kearney firing on all guns in this game as he hit 1-14 of his sides 1-18, but on the other side Pauric Mahony was also in fine form hitting 0-10 for Ballygunner who ran out 3-21 to 1-18 winners.

Prior to the meeting of Mount Sion and Dungarvan at Walsh Park on Saturday evening, both sides were through to the last eight of the competition.

At the break a Patrick Curran goal for Dungarvan proved to be the difference between the sides as they turned around with the Old Boro leading 1-5 to 0-7.

However, in the second half the flood gates opened mid way through the half. Gavin Crotty hit a brace of goals in the third quarter which gave Dungarvan a ten point lead, a lead that was further extended when Cormac Curran struck a fourth goal for the Old Boro on forty eight minutes.

Austin Gleeson struck a late goal for Mount Sion from a penalty, but it proved to be a mere consolation score as Dungarvan ran out 3-14 to 1-19 winners.

For the second year running the Clashmore venue was the place to be for goals in the final round of games in the league section of the competition as Tallow and Ardmore shared six goals.

Evan Sheehan hit three goals for the Bride-siders in the opening half which gave his side a 3-7 to 1-10 lead at the break, with Cathal Hennessy hitting the Ardmore goal.

Ardmore finished the game with only thirteen players on the field after both Conor O’Shea (two yellows) and David Gartland (Straight red) were sent off. Tallow however even with a numerical advantage  were pushed by Ardmore to the very end. The Bride-siders secured their place in the last eight of the competition however with a 3-17 to 3-15 win.

In the quarter finals, Ballygunner as group two winners will play Lismore while De La Salle as group one winners will play Tallow. In the other quarter finals, Abbeyside will play Mount Sion while Passage play Dungarvan. This years relegation play off will see Ardmore take on Fourmilewater.

Dates, times and venues for all five games are expected to be confirmed this evening by the County CCCC.

 

Waterford look to move one step closer to All-Ireland Glory

Waterford last chance of appearing in an All-Ireland Final to be played at Croke Park this year rests on the shoulders of the counties Intermediate Ladies football team.

Since Waterford lost their senior status in 2008 after playing senior for over 20 years having won the Junior Final in 1986, the first to be played and won at Croke Park, they have played some very good football.

Just over a month ago, Waterford won their six successive Munster Intermediate final.

While Waterford has been very consistent when it comes to the game at National level, but have gone close on a number of occasions.

Waterford has reserved some of their best football since dropping to intermediate for the even number year.

In 2010 the side lost to Donegal at Croke Park in the All-Ireland Final and two years later opposition from Ulster, this time Armagh were to end Waterford’s hopes of getting back up to senior.

In previewing the All-Ireland Camogie semi final last week, I made reference to the superstitious amongst us, and how they believe 3 to be a lucky number, so as 2014 is the third even number year that has come our way since Waterford dropped a grade, hopefully it will be a case of third time lucky.

However, before Waterford are crowned All-Ireland Champions, they have a long way to go first, starting this weekend with an All-Ireland quarter final against Fermanagh this Saturday at Blanchardstown in Dublin.

The challenge of Fermanagh will one that Waterford will not be taking lightly. Waterford will know from their All-Ireland defeats to Donegal and Armagh in recent years as well as last years All-Ireland quarter final defeat to Cavan, that ladies football in Ulster at this point is strong and that more and more sides want to join the likes of Armagh and Monaghan amongst others playing at the top table.

The sides clashed in the semi final in 2010 and on that occasion the two sides played out a very close battle which Waterford won on a 2-10 to 0-14 score line, and it would be no surprise if this weekend’s battle was to prove to be just as tight.

The two sides played in different divisions in this year’s National League. Fermanagh played in division two, where they lost all seven games they played and found themselves relegated as a consequence for the 2015 league.

Waterford played in Division three, where they won five games in the league section of the competition, loosing to Sligo and Armagh before loosing to Armagh again in the final at Parnell Park.

On that day, it was only late in the second half that Armagh pulled away from a Waterford sides that really put it up to the eventual winners. On the day, not for the first time lady luck was not with Waterford. A penalty was missed and Armagh intercepted a pass out of the Waterford defence before half time and scored a goal from it.

Fermanagh in the Ulster Championship lost to down in their first game before beating Antrim and then lost to Down again in the Provincial decider.

The Ulster side have an advantage going into this game in that they have played a competitive game between their Ulster Final loss and this game. They played Antrim again recently in the second round of qualifiers, a game they won 4-18 to 1-4.

Every side has at least one star player and Fermanagh have one in Caroline Little. She could well prove to be a thorn in the side of the Waterford defence on Saturday afternoon, but in saying that Waterford most certainly have the players that can keep Caroline Little quiet.

The problem about keeping one particular player quite at times is that you run the risk of allowing others to be the star for the day, and in the likes of Kirsty McGuinness, Lynn McFrederick and Edel Campbell the ulster side have other match winning players other than Caroline Little.

In the Munster Championship, Waterford again had a good campaign.

After a struggle for much of the game with Limerick in the opening game of the league section of the competition, Waterford were pinned to the collar by a dogged Limerick side and it was only late in the game that Waterford were able to hit the scores that secured the win.

In Waterford’s second game played at Carrick-on-Suir against Tipperary, Waterford had no such worries and easily accounted for John Leahy’s charges, which set up a Munster Final against Limerick who had beaten Tipperary between the time they played Waterford and when Waterford beat Tipperary.

In the Munster Final, Waterford easily beat Limerick in the curtain raiser to the Cork and Kerry senior final.

Waterford were always on top in this game. Sometimes, when two teams meet in close proximity, the advantage lies with the team that lost the first game as the winners of the first game might have a mental thing at the back of their mind telling them that because they won the first day they will win the second. Not having seen the game, I cant sat that Limerick might be over confident going into the Munster Final and may have underestimated how strong Waterford are.

Taking a look at the Waterford panel will show how strong the side is. Many of the side are around now with a few years, while Pat O’Brien has brought in some new blood this year which had freshened up things as well, something that can only be good in any panel.

Linda, Mairead and Aileen Wall, Michelle and Karen McGrath, Michelle and Louise Ryan, Grainne Enright, Aimee Jordan, Grainne Kenneally, Nora Dunphy, Elaine Power, Hannah Landers, Mary Foley, Shona Curran and Margaret Revins all very experienced players at this level while the likes of Liz Devine, Megan O’Connor, Lauren McGregor and Shauna Dunphy have settled in nicely to the panel this year and have made their mark in different games.

On what has happened in competitive games so far this year, Waterford could well go into this game as the favourites.

But lets not under-estimated the challenge of Fermanagh too quickly or to easily. They may have not won a game in the league, but they played against what some might say were stronger opposition to Waterford and this is something that should stand to the team. They also have had the advantage of a competitive game against Antrim recently. Waterford too played games, but no challenge game comes near a competitive game, and they have also played in what is a very competitive Ulster Championship, where when teams win and move up to senior, they are more than a match for anyone else.

However, in saying this, I for one expect Waterford will come out on top in this game. The side is very experience, and even on the bench this year, a great deal of experience can be sprung at any stage.  

Waterford look for All-Ireland glory against Derry

Twelve months ago, Waterford were beaten in the All-Ireland under 16 Camogie Final against Cork at Mallow.

This coming weekend Waterford will be hoping to make up for that defeat, for when they play Derry at Leixlip on Sunday afternoon.

Waterford manager Declan Drohan has assembled what is an experienced panel this year, and he and his charges will take to the road on Sunday morning, confident of winning, but at the same time will respect the challenge that Derry will serve up.

Nine members of last year’s panel are included in this year’s panel. Brianna O’Regan, Courtney Healy and Beth Carton from De La Salle, team captain Aisling Power from Cappoquin and Club mate Clodagh Glavin, Megan Dunford of the Brickeys, Kate McMahon as well as the Saint Annes duo of Sibeal Harney and Saoirse Bonner can all have a big influence on this game. Having done it all before, they could surely be used in the dressing room and in the build up to the game to talk to other players about what they can expect when playing in an All-Ireland final.

Since loosing to last years final to Cork, some of these players would have gained some extra experience which should stand to them in this game.

Brianna O’Regan, Courtney Healy, Beth Carton and Sibeal Harney were part of the Waterford minor that won this years All-Ireland Minor ‘B’ Final, while the De La Salle three-o also helped Presentation College Waterford to a Junior Camogie final earlier in the year. Even if defeat was to be the sides lot on the day, playing in such games is extra experience and loosing out in such occasions could make you even more determined to win should you get to play in another All-Ireland Final.

Both sides in this years final have come from the one group in the league stages of the championship, meaning that both will be familiar with each other and should know the others strengths and weaknesses and will be working on this over the past few weeks at training.

Derry began their championship campaign with a round two game against Cork at Donaghmore against Cork, a game they won 4-5 to 2-5.

The two sides met at Donaghmore in the third round of games, where Waterford came out on top, winning 4-13 to 3-8. After this, the Oak Leaf county recorded two wins with wins over Antrim (4-15 to 0-4) and Tipperary (8-7 to 2-6) to secure their place in the semi finals.

If Derry’s path to the knock-out stages of the championship is impressive, to find an adjective to describe Waterford’s path to the semi final is hard to find.

In the first game of the competition, Waterford easily beat Cork 5-15 to 0-10 at Walsh Park. In round two, Waterford made the trip to Donaghmore, a home away from home for many sides from the south of the country who play northern opposition in Camogie and returned home with a 7-112 to 3-9 win against Antrim.

It was back to the County Meath venue for a round three game with Derry, where another win for Waterford was secured and the side rounded off the league section of the competition in round four with a 3-16 to 0-6 win over Tipperary at The Ragg.

In the semi finals, both sides again put up impressive tallies on the score board. At Inniskeen, Derry had little trouble in beating Dublin 7-12 to 3-8 while Waterford travelled to the Capital to play Down at O’Toole Park in Crumlin, winning the game on a 1-014 to 0-4 score line.

Both sides head to Leixlip this Sunday and will feel that they can win.

Having lost the earlier game between the two sides, Derry will feel that they will have learned more from that game. Often the side that looses the first day when sides meet in the same competition in the one year, goes on to win the second game.

Waterford’s experience picking up in winning two Munster ‘B’ Finals in a row, playing in last years final, as well as having players that have helped the county win a Minor ‘B’ All-Ireland final and playing in an All-Ireland Colleges final this year has to count for something.

Waterford Panel: Saoirse English (Tramore);  Roisin Oates (Ferrybank), Roisin Uniacke, Laura Murray, Sinead O' Brien, Clodagh Glavin, Aisling Power, (all Cappoquin), Chloe Dempsey, Collette Hogan, Beth Carton, Caoimhe Drohan, Niamh Murphy, Brianna O' Regan, Courtney Healy, Taylor Healy, (all De La Salle), Sinead Cunningham, Anne Corcoran, (both Gailltir), Sharon Williams, Ellen Curran, (both Lismore), Sibeal Harney, Saoirse Bonner, Rachel McDonald, (all Saint Annes), Aoife Shanahan, Kate McMahon, Sally Brown (Butlerstown), Meagan Dunford, Kate McGrath (both Brickeys)