Waterford ladies to make it third time lucky

Waterford and Tipperary clash at the unusual venue of Clane in Co Kildare on Saturday afternoon in the final of this years Lidl National Ladies Football League Division three final, a game that could well prove to be one of the best games played in 2016.

The two sides in the group section of the competition proved to be the best two sides in the Division and in their respective semi finals against Leitrim and Wexford, Waterford and Tipperary once more proved to be the best two sides in the competition with both recording good wins.

This will be the second meeting of the two neighbouring counties this year. They played in the opening round of games back in the last weekend of January at Piltown in Co. Kilkenny.

It was Tipperary that lead for much of the game and were in control at the break having played with the wind at their backs. But Waterford in the second half were able to call on some of their big guns as for the second year in a row, Waterford manager Pat Sullivan having worked with some exciting young prospects on the under age scene in the last few years gave some of them the chance to show what they could do on the bigger stage, but withdrew some of them from the action as the game went on in favour of the more experienced players and this experience stood to the team as they began to eat into the Tipperary lead built up at the interval.

Going into the closing minutes of the game the Premier ladies lead by a point buy a point from the experienced Linda Wall levelled matters and just as it was looking that both sides would have to settle for a share of the spoils, younger sister Aileen kicked the winner in a 0-18 to 2-11 win for Waterford.

This is Tipperary’s biggest game since they lost to Cavan in the All-Ireland Intermediate Final at Croke Park in 2013. After that game they appointed former inter county hurler John Leahy as their manager a controversial appointment in some quarters.

This year they are under the guidance Donegal man Gerry McGill who lead the Dublin Senior Ladies Footballers to the All-Ireland finals in 2009 and 2010 winning the latter against Tyrone.

Since then he was ad advisor to the Tipperary ladies football team in 2013 and has also held position in different male football teams in his adopted county where he teaches.

He has seen a remarkable turn around in the fortunes of Tipperary and has got experienced players back into the set up as well bringing in some of the hugely exciting players within the county that have played on successful colleges teams in Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel and Cahir in recent years.

Under his guidance with Waterford now out of the way having won the last seven Intermediate ladies football finals, he and his side will be very confident that they can win this years final later in the year and to even go on to greater things later in the year.

Ladies Football in Waterford is on a bit of a crest of a wave right now. The county has won a number of underage titles at provincial and national levels and some of players involved in these successes have been brought into the senior set up since Pat Sullivan took over the team at the start of last year and the players many of whom he worked with on the underage front have not left him down for the faith he has shown in them.

Like Tipperary, many of the Waterford players that are coming through at the moment have come through from successful college sides in Carrick-on-Suir, Dungarvan and Ring.

Waterford go into this weekend’s final with a perfect record beating Tipperary, Offaly, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Wexford, Down and Roscommon in the league section of the competition and last time out they had an excellent win over Leitrim at Portarlington.  Tipperary’s only defeat so far coming against Waterford.

Both sides have named strong teams for Saturday’s game. Tipperary look to be set to start with the stronger side. They have named Patricia Hickey (Brian Borus) in goal ahead of Ballymacarbry’s Lauren Fitzpatrick, but apart from that the team printed on the programme for Saturday is along expected lines.

Brid Condon (Aherlow), Samantha Lambert (Ardfinnan) and Sinead Delahunty (Foxrock-Cabinteely) make up the full back line with Ann O’Dwyer (Cappawhite), Jennifer Grant (Brian Borus) and Claire Carroll (Galtee Rovers) playing in front of them.

In the middle of the field the Premier management team have a solid look to it with Lorraine O’Shea (Mullinahone) and Sheelagh Carew (Cappawhite) set to contest the throw in.

In attack Tipperary could case Waterford’s defenders a lot of heartache. Catriona Walsh (Na Fianna), Mairead Morrissey (Brian Borus) and Niamh Lonergan (Moyle Rovers) are named in the half forward line with Aisling Moloney (Cahir) Gillian O’Brien (Moyle Rovers) and Edel Hanley (Aherlow) playing closest to the Waterford goal.

No side is complete without backup and the Tipperary management team for this game will be able to call on Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbry), Grainne Condon (Aherlow), Bernie and Aoife Ryan (Cappawhite), Eimear Myles (Brian Borus), Edith Carroll (Galtee Rovers), Maria Curley (Templemore), Kelly Hackett (Moycarkey Borris), Roisin Crowe (Thurles Gaels), Claire Mullins (Aherlow), Erin Slattery (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Siobhan Condon (Aherlow), Aoibhe O’Shea (Mullinahone) and Aisling McCarthy (Cahir).

The Waterford management team have named a team with a mix of youth and experience.

Katie Hannon (Ballyduff Upper) will start between the posts. In front of her Mairead Wall, Michelle McGrath and Linda Wall (all Ballymacarbry) remain in tact from last year All-Ireland Intermediate Final win against Kildare. In front of them Emma Murray (Comeragh Rangers) is joined with Louise Ryan (Ballymacarbry) and Aisling Mullaney (Stradbally) in the half back line.

In the middle of the field there is a youthful but experienced look to it with Megan Dunford (Abbeyside) and Katie Murray (Comeragh Rangers) are set to start.

In attack just like with Tipperary Waterford has a dangerous look to it for opposing defenders.

Maria Delahunty (Abbeyside), Michelle Ryan (Ballymacarbry) and Caoimhe McGrath (Abbeyside) will fill the shirt numbers from ten to twelve while inside them in Aileen Wall (Ballymacarbry), Liz Devine (Kilrossanty/Brickeys) and Sinead Ryan (Ballymacarbry) who captains the team this year are players that know where the posts are.

In the past, Waterford’s bench has won many a game and this time around things are expected to be no different.

Roisin Tobin (Abbeyside), Hannah Power (St. Pats), Grainne Kenneally (Ballyduff Upper), Ciara Hurley (Dungarvan), Nicola Fennell (Stradbally), Caragh McCarthy (Abbeyside), Aoife Landers (St. Pats), Chloe Fennell (Stradbally), Lauren McGregor (Dungarvan), Laura Mulcahy (Ballymacarbry), Bronagh Condon (Na Déise), Shauna Dunphy (Comeragh Rangers), Niamh Power (Stradbally), Hannah Power (Old Parish) and Becky Hogan (Ballymacarbry) are all players that have played a roll to get to Waterford to this weekend’s game with Tipperary and if they were to get a run in this game or maybe even from the start it would hardly come as a surprise.

Don’t be surprised either if others that have played for the side throughout the league but who are not named on the programme were to be added to the team sheet before the game and also to get a run out.

Some statistics suggest that this could well be a very high scoring game as both sets of forwards have been literally on fire in the seven games played to date, but at the other end of the field both defences have proven to be hard to break down and if the defenders on both sides were once more to be on top of their game on Saturday afternoon it could well prove to be a low scoring game.

In their eight games to date Waterford have hit 23 goals and kept four clean sheets at the back. Tipperary in their eight games has raised 30 green flags and has four clean sheets at the back.

Waterford have averaged just over 22.5 points per game and conceded just under 10.5 points a game while Tipperary’s average in their eight games sees them hit just over 23.5 points per game and concede just over 11.5 points per game.

This is Waterford’s third league final in a row. This year’s side will travel to the Kildare venue intent on making up for the disappointments of 2014 when they lost to Armagh and last year to Sligo.

The experience of winning last years All-Ireland Intermediate title will stand to the team in this game and will know that the best way to go into the upcoming Munster Championship and All-Ireland series is on a high and how high can you go into a game other that safe in the knowledge that you won your last competitive game, a game that would mean that another medal is to be added to an already collection of honours for many.

Waterford have it in them to make up for the disappointments of 2014 and 2015. If as expected the game will go to the wire and is not won till the final minutes or even seconds of the game just like back in January when the two sides clashed, experience will be important and so will the bench and Waterford look to be the stronger in both cases but the side wont need telling that they wont have thing easy in this game.

Déise Hurlers Seek Fourth League Title.

Waterford senior hurlers on Sunday afternoon next set out to win what would only be a fourth ever National Hurling League Final when they take on a fancied Clare side at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

The meeting of the two is the first since the sides met at Cusack Park in Ennis in March 2014 when the home side ran out 5-18 to 0-20 winners, a for Davy Fitzgerald’s side that went a long way towards relegating the county they he had managed previously.

As we all know now, Waterford played in Division 1B last year, a division they won with some ease and went on to win the league proper beating Cork in the final. By strange coincidence Waterford as they do this year played the side they were due to face in the Munster Championship last year a few weeks later where again Derek McGrath’s side recorded a win over the rebels and will be hoping that history repeats itself this year.

Clare will head to Thurles looking for a first win in a league final since 1978 and are appearing in their first final in eleven years.

Twelve months ago Davy Fitzgerald’s side were relegated from Division 1A when they lost a relegation play off to Kilkenny, and like Waterford last year came through the Division 1B league this year with some ease and will be looking to do on Sunday what Waterford did twelve months ago winning the league outright from the second level of the competition.

While the two sides at Thurles on Sunday have a big clash five weeks later at the same venue, neither side will go in the game looking ahead of this clash. Waterford certainly won’t. All talk of the Munster Championship and what might come after it will have to be put to the back of the minds of the players and the supporters.

This Sunday’s game is a National Final and when it comes to such events and hurling in Waterford they are like hens teeth. Win or loose the Munster Championship game between the two sides both sets of players will have another chance to win an All-Ireland Medal something every player craves for, but loose on Sunday and whether you or the youngest or oldest man involved you might never get the chance again to play in a league final again let alone win one.

On the respective semi final results Clare will have to go into Sunday’s game with the favourite’s tag around their necks.

Waterford were full value for their win over Limerick but it must be said that the side laboured in the first half, while Clare had a good win over Kilkenny and any day you beat Brian Cody’s side you do well and it will give you plenty of confidence for the next day and will believe now that they can beat the holders this weekend.

Most will expect Sunday’s final to be a cagey affair with defences on top but in the two semi finals we saw the forward units of both sides hit some impressive tallies and if they were to be at the top of their game again this time around then both sets of defences could well be in for a tough afternoon.

It will be interesting to see how both Davy Fitzgerald and Derek McGrath will line out their teams on Sunday, but both would be expected to be along familiar lines.

Patrick Kelly will be between the posts for Clare while the likes of Oisin O’Brien, Cian Dillon, Patrick O’Connor, Brendan Bulger, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan, David McInerney, Seadna Morey and Conor Ryan will fight it out for places in defence.

David Reidy and Colm Galvin could well start in the middle of the field while in attack John Conlon and Shane O’Donnell are reported doubts but is this a case of paper never refusing ink. If they are out however Davy Fitzgerald will still have plenty of options open to him with the likes of Conor McGrath, Podge Collins, Aaron Cunningham, Bobby Duggan, Darach Honan, Colin Ryan and Tony Kelly to call on.

Waterford too should be along familiar lines. Maurice Shanahan missed the win over Limerick and is reported to be a doubt as well again this weekend. If the Lismore club man does not start it will be a blow to Waterford but as we know there is plenty of other options open to Derek McGrath.

Stephen O’Keeffe will start with the number one on his back while Barry Coughlan, Shane Fives, Noel Connors, Austin Gleeson, Tadhg de Búrca and Philip Mahony forming the full back line while Darragh Fives will drop back as well from centre field where he will be partnered by Jamie Barron.

In attack should Maurice Shanahan miss out expect Kevin Moran, Shane Bennett, Michael Walsh, Patrick Curran, Jake Dillon and Colin Dunford all to start in the Clare half of the field at the start but there would be no surprises either if the likes of Brian O’Halloran, Shane McNulty, Tom Devine, Pauric Mahony or Shane O’Sullivan got get the nod to start and if not to play a major part in the game as it goes on.

Expect this year’s league final to be a much closer affair than the one twelve months ago when Waterford beat Cork much easier than anyone expected. Clare after beating Kilkenny in the semi final will have to be considered favourites. Confidence is going to be high in their camp.

But come tea time on Sunday there can only be one winner and I am expecting that it will be the supporters from the Déise County that will leave Thurles the happier of the two.

Wins for Stradbally and Rathgormack in first round of Senior Football Championship

Just two of the six games scheduled to take place in the first round of this year’s JJ Kavanagh and Sons County Senior Football Championship took place this weekend.

Because of the heavy overnight rain which continued right throughout Sunday, the double headers at Kill and Fraher Field were called off in the hours leading up to the games.

Reigning champions Stradbally opened their bid to win back to back titles with a five point win over last years Intermediate Champions Ballinameela at Fraher Field in the first game of this year’s championship at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

It was last years intermediate champions that opened the brighter of the two teams kicking the first three scores of the game, the first two a brace of frees from Jim Curran followed by a fisted effort from Brendan Phelan after a Michael Shine ’45 fell short.

The side in Blue and White were at this stage unlucky not to have been even further in front as they had an effort from Tom Curran taken off the line by Cathal Cusack.

Stradbally hit their first score of the game on twenty minutes when Michael Sweeney put over a free and followed it up with another effort again from a free moment’s later.

Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh levelled matters on twenty three minutes and a minute later the Cove Men hit the first goal of the game when Shane Ahearne finished from close range.

That score gave Stradbally a 1-3 to 0-3 lead at the break but Ballinameela were unlucky not to have gone in all square as two minutes from the break, Jim Curran and Rob Shine linked up with Brendan Phelan but his goal effort was deflected for an un-converted ’45 by Eoin Cunningham who made an excellent save with his legs.

Ballinameela began the second half by drawing level as Michael Culloo found Rob Shine who beat Eoin Cunningham in the Stradbally goal.

Stradbally however for the remainder of the game would prove to be the better of the two sides as Shane Ahearne landed a hat-trick of points, Michael Sweeney hit a brace and Tony Grey and Stephen Cunningham both hit one each to give Stradbally a 1-10 to 1-4 lead with the hour played.

In the middle of this sequence of scores the Cove Men lost Robert Ahearne after he was flashed a black card by referee Tommy O’Sullivan.

In added time Brendan Phelan pulled a consolation score back for Ballinameela which could well prove valuable at the end of the league section of the competition if Ballinameela were to finish level on points with other sides.

The second game at Fraher Field on Saturday evening saw Rathgormack record a 1-7 to 0-8 win over Brickeys.

Brickeys were first out of the traps in this game with a point from a Cormac O’Grady free.

However for the remainder of the half it was Rathgormack that proved to be the better of the two sides as Conor Murray landed three points, Jason Curry landed a brace and Michael Curry hit one to give their side a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after twenty minutes.

Brickeys did manage to come more into the game in the last ten minutes of the half as Cormac O’Grady put over a brace of frees and Mark Scanlon hit one from play to leave two between the sides, but on the stroke of half time Jason Gleeson hit the games only goal to give his side a 1-6 to 0-4 advantage on the score board as the sides headed to the dressing rooms at the break.

Brickeys in the second half proved to be the better of the two sides but some poor shooting when presented with chances would cost them.

Cormac O’Grady put over three more frees by the fifty-third minute and a minute later Shane McGrath pointed to leave the minimum between the sides.

Rathgormack registered their only score of the second half on fifty six minutes when Jason Curry from a free split the Rathgormack posts but it was good enough to seal a deserved win for his side.

Details have also been announced for games in round two of the championship.

Because of Waterford’s involvement in the National League semi final against Limerick on Sunday next in Thurles, three games involving players involved in Derek McGrath’s Waterford set up, will not take place until Tuesday week.

Ballinacourty and An Rinn get next weekend’s round of games underway on Friday evening when they play at Fraher Field, the game having a 8pm throw in.

On Saturday evening there is a double header at the same weekend. Saint Saviours and Ardmore clash at 6-30pm and will be followed ninety minutes later with the clash of Brickeys and Kilrossanty.

The three games on Tuesday week all have 7-30pm throw ins.

The Nire and Gaultier clash at the Saint Molleran’s grounds at Carrickbeg. Clashmore and Ballinameela meet at Fraher Field while Stradbally and Rathgormack meet at Lemybrien.

Limerick win at Carriganore but Waterford are moving in the right direction

Limerick made it two wins from two games as they beat Waterford 2-11 to 0-8 at Carriganore on Sunday afternoon, the second game that Waterford lost by a nine point margin in this years league.

Played in front of the TV Camera’s for the Six-One news on the same evening and also for a posting on the Camogie Associations Facebook Page, the visitors always had the upper hand over Waterford and were 1-6 to 0-3 up at the break.

Niamh Mulcahy was influential throughout for the visiting side hitting 0-9 over the course of the hour, five of which came from play.

While Waterford were beaten by nine points, they had some fine performers on the day with Mairead Power at corner back, Fiona Morrissey at centre back, the centre field pairing of Trish Jackman and Lorraine Bray and Niamh Rockett at centre forward the stand out performers in a team where all players used on the day tried their hardest.

The Waterford management team of Sean Fleming, Chris Dempsey, Ita Murphy and David Murphy made four positional changes to the team that lost out to Kilkenny at Piltown two weeks ago bringing in Deirdre Brennan, Becky Kavanagh, Aisling Power and Sibeal Harney in from the start with Tracey Kiely, Claire Murphy, Zoe O’Donoghue and Kate McMahon the players to miss out, and also made a number of positional changes and in the main will be happy with what they saw in this game.

Limerick too made changes from their win in their only game in the league to date when they beat Cork, bringing Modeligo woman Marguerite McCarty in for Noreen Barry, Deborah Murphy for Sinead McNamara, Muireann Creamer for Cliona Lane all having come on against Cork and did enough in that game to stake a place in the team from the off for this game while Niamh Ryan also came in for Sarah Carey and just like the Waterford management team the Limerick mentors also made positional changes from the win over Cork for this game.

In time to come, quiz buffs might be asked to name the first Waterford player to score on home soil in a top flight camogie game and they would do worse than forget the name of Trish Jackman as it was the Gailltir Club player that opened the scoring in this game on three minutes when she put over a 21 metre free.

Limerick hit back with a brace of Niamh Mulcahy points, both helped over the crossbar by Deirdre Brennan with Caoimhe Costello adding a goal from close range for the visitors in between following some good work by Muireann Creamer and Niamh Ryan in the build up.

Two more Trish Jackman frees on twenty and twenty-three minutes left just two points between the sides in Limerick’s favour but the visiting side would end the half strong, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Niamh Mulcahy who shoot over four unanswered points, three from 21 metre frees in the last six minutes of the half.

There was a lively start to the start of the second half as Niamh Mulcahy and Trish Jackman swapped scores from placed balls inside the opening five minutes before Caoimhe Costello ran at the Waterford defence and shot over the head of Deirdre Brennan to give her side a 1-8 to 0-4 lead after thirty-seven minutes.

Waterford from the restart after Caoimhe Costello’s score attacked up field and quickly got the ball to Beth Carton who saw an effort for goal cleared off the line and when the sliotar found its way to the De La Salle player seconds later another effort for goal came crashing off the Limerick crossbar.

Caoimhe Costello and Beth Carton swapped scores before Trish Jackman put over a free on forty-three minutes.

Limerick added a second goal at the end of the third quarter when Niamh Ryan picked out Sinead McNamara who had replaced Siobhan Enright just before the break ran at the Waterford goal after getting inside the defence and when one on one with Deirdre Brennan she gave the Butlerstown club player no chance as she gave her side a 2-9 to 0-6 advantage.

The final quarter proved to be a even contest with both sides landing two further scores each.

Trish Jackman put over her second ’45 of the game on forty-seven minutes awarded when the umpires at the dressing room end of the ground brought to the attention of the referee that Claire Keating was advancing further than she should when restarting the game after the ball had gone dead.

Niamh Mulcahy put over her eight score of the game on fifty minutes and two minutes from the hour mark Jennie Simpson with her last action of the game got her name on the score sheet.

Limerick in added time hit the last score of the game with the last puck of the game as the impressive Niamh Mulcahy split the Waterford uprights for the ninth time with a free.

For Limerick in this game, Niamh Mulcahy was a constant thorn in the side of the Waterford defence, while for Waterford there was impressive performers throughout the side with Mairead Murphy, Fiona Morrissey, Lorraine Bray, Trish Jackman and Niamh Rockett the pick of the bunch.

Waterford: Deirdre Brennan; Mairead Power, Iona Heffernan, Becky Kavanagh; Claire Whyte, Fiona Morrissey, Charlotte Raher; Lorraine Bray, Trish Jackman; Sibeal Harney, Niamh Rockett, Beth Carton; Aisling Power, Jennie Simpson, Caithriona McGlone. Subs: Zoe O’Donoghue for Caithriona McGlone (40), Claire Murphy for Aisling Power (50), Kate McMahon for Sibeal Harney (52), Saoirse Bonner for Jennie Simpson (60).

Scorers: Trish Jackman 0-6 (4f, 2 ’45), Beth Carton, Jennie Simpson 0-1 each.

Limerick: Claire Keating; Marguerite McCarthy, Lorraine McCarthy, Judith Mulcahy; Rebecca Delee, Fiona Hickey, Niamh Richardson; Mary O’Callaghan, Karen O’Leary; Siobhan Enright, Muireann Creamer, Niamh Mulcahy; Niamh Ryan, Caoimhe Costello, Deborah Murphy. Subs: Sinead McNamara for Siobhan Enright (29), Cliona Lane for Muireann Creamer (51), Leanne Browne for Niamh Richardson (58), Noreen Barry for Marguerite McCarthy (61).

Scorers: Niamh Mulcahy 0-9 (4f), Caoimhe Costello 1-2, Sinead McNamara 1-0.

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork).

 

League Table Irish Daily Star National League Div 1 Group 2

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
Kilkenny	3	2	0	1	60	29	31	6
Limerick	2	2	0	0	31	17	14	6
Cork	3	2	0	1	42	34	8	6
Waterford	2	0	0	2	24	42	-18	0
Derry	2	0	0	2	10	45	-35	0

 

 

Can Déise ladies secure first win of 2016 against Limerick, or can Déise lady keep Waterford pointless

This weekend is a big one for sport in Waterford.

While the Waterford Senior Hurlers will be looking to extend a league winning steak that now spans two seasons at Walsh Park against Dublin, the side that was the last to beat Waterford in the league in 2014, at the same venue in a game that relegated Waterford from top tier of league hurling for 2015, just down the road the county have another team in action.

History will be made at the WIT Sports Campus at Carriganore sometime between 1-30pm and 2pm on Sunday afternoon when a Waterford team take to the field for the very first time in a top flight Camogie game in the National League with Limerick providing the opposition.

Waterford in 2015 had a great year when it came to camogie first winning the Division Two National League Final against Laois in Carlow and then to beat Kildare in the Intermediate All-Ireland Final at Croke Park.

Waterford went through both campaigns unbeaten, and while that long winning streak has since come to an end with a defeat to Kilkenny in the first round of games at Piltown two weeks ago, all involved would have known that the game against ‘the cats’ was always going to be a tough ask to get something from as they attempt to settle in playing at a higher lever that they were used to in recent years, when the fixtures for 2016 were released now some time back, this was a game that the side would have targeted as won which is very winnable.

This is the first meeting of the two sides in a competitive game since they clashed in the All-Ireland Intermediate Semi Final back in 2014, a game Limerick won 0-9 to 0-8 and went on to win the All-Ireland Final a few weeks later.

That game was the third year in a row that Waterford had reached the penultimate round of games in the championship, having contested the All-Ireland Junior Final three years running before this, which shows the progress made in the promotion and development of Camogie within the county in recent years.

Both sides this Sunday even though that game was played less than two years ago are likely to have a much different look to them.

For Limerick that day Niamh Mulcahy finished as top scorer with seven points behind her name and she is likely to play a key roll again this weekend, while Caoimhe Costello and Aoife Shanahan got their name on the score sheet.

Two years ago, Karen Kelly was Waterford’s top scorer with three points. Karen has since retired from the inter county scene, but Caithriona McGlone and Lorraine Bray who chipped in with two points each and Trish Jackman with one are all expected to play a part in this weekends game.

Limerick in round one of the league had a 1-11 to 0-9 win over Cork and on the day seven players that started against Waterford two years ago started against the All-Ireland Champions.

Judith Mulcahy was the only player to start in the same position in both games at left corner back. Karen O’Leary moved from right half back to the middle of the field, Sarah Carey moved from centre back to centre field, Rebecca Delee swapped with Karen O’Leary, Mary O’Callaghan who was in the middle of the field two years ago played against Cork starting at corner forward, Niamh Mulcahy moved from centre forward to left half forward and Caoimhe Costello moved from left half forward to full forward.

Sile Moynihan who started in goal against Waterford was replaced between the posts for the Cork game by Claire Keating, while others to start against Waterford two years ago, Fiona Hickey, Michelle Casey, Claire Mulcahy, Deborah Murphy, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Aoife Sheehan and Mairead Fitzgerald did not start against Cork to be replaced by Noreen Barry, Lorraine McCarthy, Fiona Hickey, Niamh Richardson, Siobhan Enright, Cliona Lane, Niamh Mulcahy, Mary O’Callaghan and Sinead McNamara.

Waterford too showed numerous changes from that loss against Limerick two years ago for their recent 3-16 to 3-7 loss against Kilkenny.

Tracey Kiely replaced Deirdre Brennan between the posts. Mairead Murphy, Pauline Cunningham, Shauna Prendergast, Sinead Cummins, Emma Hannon, Shona Curran, Karen Kelly and Ruth Geoghegan who also started against Limerick in the 2014 All-Ireland Intermediate Semi Final did not start against Kilkenny two weeks ago.

Waterford last year introduced some new faces to the in the likes of Kate McMahon, Beth Carton, Aisling Power, Saoirse Bonner, Sibeal Harney and Brianna O’Regan and when given their chances they have not disappointed.

This year some new players have been added to the panel in the likes of Mairead Power, Ciara Jackman, Aoife Shanahan, Caoimhe Drohan, Niamh Murphy and Niamh Ahearne and when it comes to them getting their chance it is envisaged that they will not disappoint just like those introduced last year.

And while new players have been introduced some that have been away from the intercounty scene with a little while have come back in 2016 and it will be interesting to see will the likes of Tracey Kiely, Fiona Morrissey and Zoe O’Donoghue win for themselves a regular place in the side for the year ahead and then to see who from last year who will miss out.

As already pointed out this is a game that Waterford will have target as one where the points on offer are very achievable.

Just one point separated the sides when they last played in a competitive game. Both sides as already stated are going to be very different sides this time around.

Limerick will have benefitted a great deal from playing in the senior grade last year from the last meeting between the sides, but so too will Waterford be a much more experienced side as not just will winning the League and Championship double stand to Waterford, so too will the successes recorded in the under 16 and minor grade in recent years, as will the experience picked up by players playing in the third level education competitions.

Limerick are going to be serious opposition to Waterford. They had a first round game in the league where they beat Cork and had a bye in the second series of games. Beating Cork is not mean achievement and the win will give the side plenty of confidence travelling to Waterford on Sunday.

Waterford playing their first game on home soil as a senior side are good enough to win here. The only pity is that the county senior hurlers are playing up the road at Walsh Park and this is likely to take from the attendance at Carriganore.

Isn’t it a pity that we could not have both games on the same programme of games. It happens in other counties but for what ever reason it seldom happens in Waterford and when it does the game that would be regarded the curtain raiser in other counties is pushed back to become the second game and the crowd does not stay inside the crowd to support a second inter county side.

Something that might be of interest to some in this game is that a Waterford lady will be lining out in the green and white shirt on the day hoping to deny her home county a hat-trick of points on the league table.

Modeligo woman Marguerite McCarthy is based in Limerick with the last few years and plays club camogie with the Ahane Club. Her performances on the club scene in recent years has caught the eye of the Limerick senior selectors and they have called her up to their panel and has caught the eye with a number of impressive performances.

Last time out against Cork, she came on as a sub for Noreen  Barry and will be hoping to have done enough to win a place in the team from the start against Waterford this weekend.

Marguerite is also a footballer of note and ply’s her trade with the Na Déise Club here in Waterford which picks from players in the Touraneena, Modeligo, Affane and Cappoquin areas.

Scoil Mhuire prove too strong for Coláiste Íosagáin in All-Ireland Colleges Final

A question to begin with, who is the last Kilkenny player to win a Senior All-Ireland Football Medal?

The answer to the above question is one that will have those into their historical facts and figures racking their brains, but don’t do too much thinking on that question.

In this All-Ireland Senior ‘A’ Colleges Victory for Scoil Mhuire from Carrick-on-Suir there was five players from the Piltown area, Emily McCarthy, Lisa Norris, Jennifer O’Dea, Aoife Doyle and Kelly Ann Doyle involved with the rest of the players coming from South Tipperary and the Comeragh Rangers Club in Co. Waterford.

Played at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, the Murray Triplets, Katie, Aoife and Emma all played a pivotal park as did the likes of Kelly Ann Doyle, Keeley Corbett-Barry and Geraldine Power in this win for Scoil Mhuire while for the loosing side, Tarah Ní Shuilleabháin, Grace Ní Shé, Hannah Ní Dheá and Michelle Ní Chiardha all performed well.

The Carrick-on-Suir side never trailed in this game.

They settled quickest kicking an early point through Aoife Murray from a free, but it was soon cancelled out with an effort from Michelle Ni Chiardha. Katie Murray and Hannah Ni Dheá followed up with points for  their respective sides after which Aoife Murray and Michelle Ni Chiardha from a free swapped scores to level matters for the third time.

For the rest of the first half Scoil Mhuire were well on top kicking 1-4 without response.

Aoife Murray from a free got the ball rolling after which Keely Corbett-Barry struck for the games first goal following some good work by Angela McGuigan in the build up.

Geraldine Power gave Scoil Mhuire a 1-5 to 0-3 lead before Katie Murray landed a brace of scores to give her side a 1-7 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

The second half began with Aoife Murray extending her sides lead before Coláiste Íosagáin hit a purple patch as Billy-Kate Huggard, Grace Ó Shé and Michelle Ni Chairdha landed successive scores to cut the Scoil Mhuire lead to 1-8 to 0-6.

Points from Aoife Murray and Áine Power before another Aoife Murray score from a free was registered to give Scoil Mhuire a 1-11 to 0-6 lead with forty-two minutes played.

Geraldine Power landed the first of her two goals to extend her sides lead to eleven points and it was starting to look as if the South Tipperary College side would pull away but Coláiste Íosagáin hit back with a brace of Sinead De Bhuilde goals and a Michelle Ni Chiardha point from to leave just four between the sides with eleven minutes on the clock.

Grace Ni Shé and Geraldine Power swapped scores before a second goal from Geraldine Power for Scoil Mhuire put some further day light between the sides with time ticking down and when Katie Murray followed up with a brace of scores it was looking good for the South Tipperary side.

Keeley Corbett-Barry and Katie Murray laded further points for Scoil Mhuire and Beth Norris goal shortly before the end proved to the last score of the game and one which helped the Carrick-on-Suir College side to a double score victory.

This was a fantastic win for Scoil Mhuire and one that will do a great deal to promote the game in the three counties from which the panel was picked.

The win was all the more special when you consider that just a few short years ago, Scoil Mhuire were competing in the Munster ‘D’ Colleges Championship and are now All-Ireland ‘A’ Champions, proving that when the work is put in the fruits of it will be reaped.

Scoil Mhuire: Cailín Power; Emily McCarthy, Kate Hahessy, Hallanah White; Áine Power, Jodie Nugent, Aoife Doyle; Kelly Ann Doyle, Emma Murray; Geraldine Power, Katie Murray, Beth Norris; Keeley Corbett-Barry, Aoife Murray, Angela McGuigan. Subs: Heather Phelan for Angela McGuigan (61); Cora Murray for Beth Norris (61). Unused Subs: Jenni O’Dea, Ciara Hahessy, Emma Curry, Cora Murray, Lisa Norris

Scorers: Geraldine Power 2-2, Aoife Murray (4 frees) Katie Murray 0-6 each, Keely Corbett Barry 1-1, Beth Norris 1-0, Áine Power 0-1.

Coláiste Íosagáin: Clodagh Ní Shíocháin; Ruth Ní Nualláin, Laoise Nic An Tuille, Eavan Nic Gearailt; Muireann Ní Ghormáin, Tarah Ní Shuilleabháin, Kim Ní Fhearáin; Hannah Ní Dheá, Michelle Ní Chiardha; Laura Ní Chatháin, Billy-Kate Huggard, Lasairíona Huggard; Niamh Ní Chairdha, Niamh Ní Shíocháin, Grace Ní Shé. Subs: Sinead De Bhuilde for Laura Ní Chatháin (HT); Louise Ní Shé for Eavan Nic Gearailt (47); Grainne Ní Dhrisceoill for Niamh Ní Shíocháin (52). Unused Substitutes: Orla Dhúill, Niamh Ní Chiardha, Naoise Ní Mhaonaigh, Orlaith Seoighe, Aifric Ní Fhaoláin, Caoimhe Blennerhasset, Aoibheann Nic Giolla Ríogh, Sinéad Ní Dhonnchú, Sadhbh Nic Uilegóid, Meadbh Ní Ghallachóir, Síobhra Nic Aindriú

Scorers: Sinead De Bhuilde 2-0.Michelle Ní Chiardha 0-4 (3 frees), Grace Ní Shé 0-2, Hannah Ní Dheá, Billy Kate Huggard 0-1 each,

Referee: Mel Kenny (Mayo)

No joy for Saint Augustine’s College in All-Ireland Camogie Final

Despite other attractions happening on the day and a bitter wind, a big crowd showed up at the WIT Sports Campus in Carriganore on Sunday afternoon for this years All-Ireland Senior ‘D’ Colleges Camogie Final between Saint Augustine’s College from Abbeyside and Our Lady of Lourdes Secondary School from Rosbercon outside New Ross.

Both stands at the Carriganore venue were almost full with a small number standing in the area between the stands and against the fence around the field ahead of this game and they did not have to wait very long before the first score of the game.

There can be no disputing that on the day the better team over the hour took the winners trophy away with them, but it must be said that the West Waterford college side did have their chances on the day to take the spoils.

St Augustine’s did have chances on the day but many of them were to fall just short of their intended target or went just wide of the posts.

Despite playing second best in the final quarter of the game the Saint Augustine’s girls never gave up and were unlucky not to have hit a second goal late in the game as Elizabeth Phelan did well to keep an effort from Kaiesha Tobin out with three minutes remaining in normal time, but had the Dungarvan club players effort had hit the net, you cant but feel that it would have proven to be a mere consolation score.

The game was just thirty five seconds old when the umpires at the Butlerstown end of the ground were reaching for a green flag.

Referee Gerry McGough award the Leinster champions a free in the middle of the field which Darcy Bolger hit but it was blocked from going between the posts by Shauna McGrath but she was powerless to keep the rebound from the impressive Oonagh Doyle from hitting the net from close range.

An interesting statistic from this game was that Saint Augustine’s hit 1-2, all of which came from placed balls of the stick of Molly Curran who was part of Waterford’s All-Ireland Intermediate Championship winning panel last year and all three scores came from within centimetres of the ’45 metre line.

The first of her scores came on eight minutes when a free on the ’45 metre line which looked to be sailing over the crossbar at the dressing rooms end of the ground dipped and caught Elizabeth Phelan off guard and fell into her net to level matters for the first of four times.

Two minutes later the same player from just behind the ’45 metre line split the posts with a free, but the sides were level by the end of the first quarter as Oonagh Doyle hit her second score of the afternoon.

Molly Curran again edged Waterford back in front on eighteen minutes when she put over a ’45 but the sides would go to the dressing rooms locked at 1-2 each after Oonagh Doyle put over a free on twenty two minutes.

The Friary as they are often referred to came out for the second half all guns blazing. Molly Curran saw an attempt from a free blocked by Elizabeth Phelan between the posts and from the rebound Aoife O’Neill shot just wide.

Kaiesha Tobin had Waterford in front four minutes into the second half when she registered her sides only score from play, a score that was also to prove to be their last of the game.

On thirty five minutes it looked as if the eventual winners were going to rattle the net for the second time through Alison Foskin but a quite brilliant hook by Megan Dunford kept them at bay.

Waterford won a free on thirty seven minutes but Kaiesha Tobin’s effort fell just short and two minutes later the sides were level for the fourth time when Oonagh Doyle again split the posts from play.

At the end of the third quarter Oonagh Doyle taking a ’45 from the stand side of the field saw her effort to give her side the lead deflected for a ’45 on the other side of the field and at the second time of asking she made no mistake.

The same player followed up with efforts on fifty and fifty one minutes before the Rosbercon side ensure the title would be theirs with six minutes remaining as Annie Kirwan tapped in from close range to give her side a double score 2-6 to 1-3 advantage.

Elizabeth Phelan did well to keep an effort out from Kaiesha Tobin on fifty seven minutes as she attempted to make it a three point game.

Oonagh Doyle made life a little more comfortable for the winners on the hour mark with her eight score of the game, the last of the game but Saint Augustine’s did have another chance in added time as a Molly Curran effort from a free was put out for a ’45 which failed to result in a score.

For Saint Augustine’s College on the day they were best served by Megan Dunford at centre back while Molly Curran and Kaiesha Tobin at Centre and Full Forward also impressed while for the winners apart from the excellent Oonagh Doyle, Aimee Hanrahan in the middle of the field impressed.

St. Augustine’s College: Shauna McGrath; Sibeal Duggan, Sarah Morrissey, Kirsten O’Connor; Rachel Donnelly, Megan Dunford, Megan Phelan; Dáiríni Ní Sheanlaoich, Caroline Dwyer; Catherine Hahessy, Molly Curran, Aisling O’Connor; Siobhan Morrissey, Kaiesha Tobin, Aoife O’Neill. Sub: Roise Ni Mhuirí for Aoife O’Neill (43 Mins). Rest of panel: Meadhbh Ni Chuirín, Sinead Morrissey, Saidbh Walsh, Eithine Nic Mhirchú, Áine O’Neill, Kailyn O’Donnell, Clara Curran, Tara Fraher, Caoimhe Kiely, Aoibhin Connaughton, Luice Denzinger, Mary Kiely.

Scorers: Molly Curran 1-2 (1-1f, 0-1 ’45), Kaeisha Tobin 0-1.

Our Lady of Lourdes: Elizabeth Phelan; Niamh Higgins, Rachel Buckley, Laura Hackett; Aisling Cullen, Mairead O’Shea, Darcy Bolger; Sarah O’Sullivan, Aimee Hanrahan; Oonagh Doyle, Alison Foskin, Hannah Moran; Sinead Lanigan, Annie Kirwan, Eimear O’Shea. Subs: Chloe Mullally for Niamh Higgins (47 mins), Rhys Hogan for Eimear O’Shea (49 mins). Rest of Panel: Lauren Dollard, Michelle Kinsella, Jennifer Dollard, Amy Hogan, Oonagh Murphy, Eimear Lyons, Siobhan Cummins, Clodagh Knox, Fiona O’Shea, Ciara Corish.

Scorers: Oonagh Doyle 1-7 (1f, 1 ’45), Annie Kirwan 1-0.  

Referee: Gerry McGough (Dublin)