Rebels too strong for Waterford at Walsh Park

Waterford will have to get a result in Ennis in the last round of games of this year’s National Hurling League if they are to advance to the knockout stages of the competition for the third year running.

This is because Waterford lost for the second time in the competition over the weekend and the four points which they have already collected in the competition might not be enough to see them advance to the knockout stages of the competition because of the way results in Division 1A are panning out.

Waterford’s saving grace however is that they have beaten both Kilkenny and Dublin who are behind them in the league table going into the last round of games and both of these sides are playing each other in the last round of games, so Waterford will be hoping for a draw is the result of that game.

Even if Waterford do get through to the last eight on four points, they could be served up a number of banana skin semi-final games, one of which could well be South East Neighbours Wexford who could well become the third side in a row to win the League having won Division 1B, following in the footsteps of Waterford in 2015 and Clare last year.

Waterford won the toss and opted to play against the stiff breeze, a decision that many would have questioned, and with the breeze at their backs in the opening thirty five minutes Cork made full use of it, turning around with a 0-14 to 1-4 lead showing on the scoreboard.

The first quarter of this game was a very even contest, as the sides were level on three occasions.

The key score in the opening quarter was a fifth minute goal by Shane Bennett who could well prove to be the solution to Waterford’s goal scoring problems in big games in recent years. The Ballysaggart Club Man was fed by Michael Walsh and the dangerous inside forward duly dispatched Anthony Nash in the Cork goal.

Waterford lost Jamie Barron after 15 minutes with an injury. The Fourmilewater Club man is one of Waterford’s most consistent players in recent years and one has to wonder if he was able to complete the 70 minutes what the outcome of this game would have been.

However the goal failed to ignite Waterford and instead Cork lead by Conor Lehane and Seamus Harnedy lead 0-8 to 1-2 after eighteen minutes.

Pauric Mahony and Austin Gleeson pulled points back for Waterford, but the eventual winners finished the half strong, reeling of the last five scores of the half to head to the dressing rooms leading by double scores.

In front of an attendance of 6,629 many were wondering what roll the wind would play in the second half when Waterford would have it at their backs.

The answer proved to be not much.

Cork started the second half as they ended the first, extending their lead with a fine effort from Michael Cahalane.

Waterford hit back with three points from Pauric Mahony and one from Maurice Shanahan, before Brosnan and Meade Struck for the visitors which was followed with another for the Ballygunner Club man.

Although the home side  were whittling the Cork lead down to four with time in the third quarter ticking down, a goal from Luke Meade who raced through the Waterford defence and finish past Stephen O’Keeffe to give his side a 1-17 to 1-10 lead with twenty one minutes plus stoppage time still to play in the game.

Ten minutes later, Maurice Shanahan was issued with a straight red card for an incident involving Dean Brosnan.

Cork throughout the game were the dominant side and over the course of the game they had twelve different scorer, Conor Lehane finishing the game with eight points, seven of which came from placed balls.

Cork too would finish the game with only fourteen men as Barry Kelly sent Seamus Harnedy for an early shower when he collected a second yellow card two minutes from the end of normal time.

Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Darragh Lyons, Tadhg de Búrca, Kevin Moran; Jamie Barron, Shane Bennett; Colin Dunford, Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony; Stephen Bennett, Michael Walsh, Maurice Shanahan. Subs: Conor Gleeson for Jamie Barron (15), Tom Devine for Colin Dunford (48), Patrick Curran for Shane Bennett (51), Brian O’Halloran for Austin Gleeson (64), Thomas Ryan for Michael Walsh (64).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-8 (8fs); Shane Bennett 1-0; Patrick Curran 0-2; Austin Gleeson, Maurice Shanahan, Stephen Bennett 0-1 each.

Cork: Anthony Nash; Stephen McDonnell, Damien Cahalane, Colm Spillane; Christopher Joyce, Mark Ellis, Mark Coleman; Bill Cooper, Lorcan McLoughlin; Dean Brosnan, Conor Lehane, Luke Meade; Alan Cadogan Seamus Harnedy, Shane Kingston. Subs: Michael Cahalane for Alan Cadogan (31), Patrick Horgan for Shane Kingston (64), Killian Burke for Stephen McDonnell (66), Chris O’Leary for Lorcan  McLoughlin (68)

Scorers: Conor Lehane 0-8 (7fs); Luke Meade 1-1; Bill Cooper 0-3; Anthony Nash (f), Christopher Joyce, Mark Coleman, Dean Brosnan, Shane Kingston, Seamus Harnedy, Michael Cahalane, Lorcan McLoughlin, Patrick Horgan 0-1 each.

Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)

STRONG SECOND HALF SHOWING BY CORK RESULTS IN SECOND DEFEAT FOR WATERFORD

Cork’s Senior Camogie Team made it three wins from three games in this year’s National Camogie League having nineteen points to spare over Waterford at the WIT Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The winners had twelve of the seventeen players used in last year’s All-Ireland Final lost to Kilkenny in their starting team for this game, and in the second half with the wind at their back’s their greater experience showed.

At the break just two points separated the sides in favour of the victors, but Waterford will be somewhat disappointed that they did not go to the dressing rooms with the score on the scoreboard in their favour.

While a nineteen point loss might look big to most people, Waterford will learn a lot from this defeat.

They are still finding their feet at this level having moved up a grade in the League and Championship for last year’s competitions and the side are playing the game nearly at the same pace now as the top sides in the game.

Waterford on the day had Beth Carton as their top scorer finishing the game with seven points, five of which came from placed balls, while Niamh Rockett was very industrious, hitting two points, while at the other end of the field, Waterford had impressive performances from Fiona Morrissey while Brianna O’Regan between the posts was powerless to keep the goals out.

For Cork, Linda Collins was very impressive hitting 1-5 from play, while Katrina Mackey went one better hitting 1-6, 0-4 of which came from placed balls.

Cork attacked the Waterford goal from the off but they hit wides either side of the uprights and Katrina Mackey also sent a 30 metre free high off the right hand upright which was cleared to safety by the Waterford defence.

Niamh Rockett opened the scoring on five minutes when she put over from play, but Cork would respond with points from Katrina Mackey from a free and Linda Collins by the ninth minute to give them a 0-2 to 0-1 lead.

A brace of Beth Carton frees on eleven and sixteen minutes put Waterford back in front, but it was a short lived lead as Linda Collins ran at the Waterford defence and while her shot was brilliantly saved by Brianna O’Regan in the Waterford goal, the rebound fell back to the Courcey Rovers player and on the rebound she made no mistake in poking past the De La Salle player.

Points from Orla Cronin and Any O’Connor inside a minute of each other further stretched the Cork lead, which was followed with an exchange of scores by Beth Carton and Linda Collins.

Two more points both from Beth Carton frees reduced the Cork lead to just two by the twenty seventh minute. Katrina Mackey extended the Cork lead on twenty eight minutes and from the restart Waterford attacked the Cork goal and resulted in Beth Carton attempting to rattle the Cork net but her effort which seemed destined for the top corner was somehow deflected for a ’45 which Waterford were unlucky to convert.

On the stroke of half time the De La Salle player again attacked the Cork goal and send over the score of the game from out near the sideline and about 45 metres from goal to leave Waterford trailing 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.

Waterford were first out for the second half and were left waiting a good five minutes by Cork who only came out after the referee twice went to the dressing room to signal that it was time to restart the game.

Whatever was said in the Cork dressing room during the break obviously worked, as they came out a much better side calling on all their experience.

Katrina Mackey (X3), Linda Collins (X3), Amy O’Connor, Gemma O’Connor and a brace from Julia White hit points by the forty-ninth minute to give Cork a 1-16 to 0-7 lead.

Cork’s second goal came nine minutes from the hour mark when Niamh McCarthy hand-passed past Brianna O’Regan to well secure the three points on offer for the visitors.

Beth Carton and the industrious Niamh Rockett landed scores for Waterford, but they were to be mere consolation scores, but Cork were not finished yet.

Substitute Rachel O’Shea got in on the act before Laura Tracey broke forward to land a good score on fifty six minutes and a minute later Katrina Mackey rounded off a good afternoon’s work with a goal. The same player completed the scoring two minutes short of the hour mark when she put over her seventh score of the afternoon.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Mairead Power, Fiona Morrissey, Claire Whyte; Áine Power, Jenny McCarthy, Marie Russell; Aoife Landers, Shona Kiernan; Kate McMahon, Niamh Rockett, Iona Heffernan; Catriona McGlone, Beth Carton, Valerie O’Brien. Subs: Annie Glavey for Iona Heffernan (46), Ciara Twomey for Marie Russell (49), Niamh Ahearne for Kate McMahon (55), Becky Kavanagh for Valerie O’Brien (61).

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-7 (5f), Niamh Rockett 0-2.

Cork: Aoife Murray; Rena Buckley, Laura Tracey, Leanne O’Sullivan;  Chloe Sigerson, Aisling Thompson, Pamela Mackey; Jennifer Barry, Gemma O’Connor; Amy O’Connor, Orla Cronin, Julia White; Linda Collins, Niamh McCarthy, Katrina Mackey. Subs: Finola Neville for Jennifer Barry (42), Rachel O’Shea for Julia White (49), Roisin Killeens for Leanne O’Sullivan (54), Lauren Homan for Amy O’Connor (54).

Scorers: Katrina Mackey 1-6 (0-4f), Linda Collins 1-5, Amy O’Connor 0-3, Niamh McCarthy 1-0, Julia White 0-2, Orla Cronin, Roisin O’Shea, Laura Tracey 0-1 each.

Referee: Fintan McNamara (Clare)

 

Bennett Goals Help Beat Dublin

Waterford claimed a second win in this year National Hurling League on Saturday evening when they overcame the challenge of Dublin in the opening game of a double header played at G.A.A. Head Quarters in Croke Park.

Stephen Bennett scored a brace of goals for the winners, netting the first on five minutes and the second two minutes into the second half.

With a number of years Waterford are lacking a major goal scoring treat in around the opposition goal and going on what we saw in this game, the Ballysaggart man could well prove to be the man that Waterford needs to raise green flags in the big games.

Over the course of the game the Ballysaggart man hit an impressive 2-2 for the winners, but he was not to finish the games top scorer as Pauric Mahony hit a dozen points, all but two of which came from placed balls while Donal Burke finished with an impressive 1-7 for the home side, while Eamon Dillon again impressed hitting four points all from play.

Waterford had a good start to this game as Pauric Mahony opened the scoring in the first minute and four minutes later the visitors added a goal when Stephen Bennett reacted quickest to a Pauric Mahony free which hit the upright.

The impressive Donal Burke got his sides first score on eight minutes when he put over a free, and they followed it up with points from Eamon Dillon and Chris Crummey to leave just the minimum between the sides with eleven minutes played.

Dublin levelled matters on fourteen minutes when Donal Burke put over another free and they took the lead seconds later when Eamon Dillon raced through the Waterford defence and shot over the head of Ian O’Regan.

Pauric Mahony levelled matters on fifteen minutes when he put over a free which was followed with a purple patch for Dublin as Rian McBride and Eamon Dillon hit points to open up a 0-7 to 1-2 lead and when Chris Crummey found Donal Burke the Na Fianna Club man made no mistake in beating Ian O’Regan.

With Dublin now five points up and Eamon Dillon causing plenty of problems for the Waterford defence, it was important that Waterford forwards began to find the range or the home side might start to pull away, playing on a ground that has not been too kind to the Waterford senior hurlers in the last decade.

Pauric Mahony made it a four point game when he put over a free on twenty three minutes, but Donal Burke made it five point game once more a minute later when he put over a free.

It was Waterford’s turn to have a bit of a purple patch in the following minutes. Pauric Mahony put over another Waterford free following a foul on Patrick Curran, which was followed with a Dillon point for the home side but Waterford followed up with a brace of points from Kevin Moran and one from Austin Gleeson to move within two of the home side and when Pauric Mahony put over a fifth point and a third from a free with two minutes to play plus stoppage time things were looking good for Waterford but a point from Donal Burke shortly before the half time whistle ensured that the sides would turn around with the home side having a two point advantage on the score board.  

Waterford however would not be behind for long in the second half as with the first meaningful attack of the half Conor Dooley rushed out of his goal only to lose control of the Sliotar and Stephen Bennett drilled to an unguarded net from 20 metres to give Waterford a 2-8 to 1-10 lead.

The same player followed up with a point for the winners, after which Pauric Mahony and Donal Burke swapped scores from frees.

Ryan O’Dwyer and Austin Gleeson swapped scores, to keep Waterford two in front with eight minutes of the second half played.

Burke and Mahony again traded scores keeping the game close, before Mahony again pointed to give Waterford a three point lead on fifty four minutes.

A wonderful score from Stephen Bennett made thinks a little more comfortable for Waterford, and things would get even better when Pauric Mahony put over yet another free, but Niall McMorrow pulled one back for Dublin with thirteen minutes remaining.

Points from Pauric Mahony and Maurice Shanahan made it a six point game for Waterford with seven minutes remaining.

Rian McBride pulled a point back for Dublin after which Stephen Daniels was sent off by referee Johnny Ryan after he collected a second yellow card.

Respective free takers Donal Burke and Pauric Mahony swapped late scores for their sides which gave Waterford a deserved five point victory.

Waterford: Ian O’Regan; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg de Búrca, Stephen Daniels; Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran; Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony, Michael Walsh; Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett, Shane Bennett. Subs; Maurice Shanahan for Patrick Curran (49), Mikey Kearney for Jamie Barron (50), Brian O’Halloran for Shane Bennett (61), Jake Dillon for Stephen Bennett (66), Darragh Lyons for Conor Gleeson (67).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-12 (0-10f), Stephen Bennett 2-2, Austin Gleeson, Kevin Moran 0-2 each, Maurice Shanahan 0-1.

Dublin: Conor Dooley; James Madden, Eoghan O’Donnell, Shane Barrett; Ben Quinn, Liam Rushe, Chris Crummey; Niall McMorrow, Caolán Conway; Rian McBride, Eamon Dillon, Eoghan Conroy; Fiontán Mac Gib, Ryan O’Dwyer, Donal Burke. Subs: Cian Boland for Caolán Conway (46), Cian MacGabhann for James Madden (55), Chris Bennett for Caolán Conroy (61), Cian O’Sullivan for Ben Quinn (68), Fionn Ó Riain-Broin for Shane Barrett (72).

Scorers: Donal Burke 1-7 (1-7 frees), Eamon Dillon 0-4, Ryan O’Dwyer, Rian McBride 0-2 each, Chris Crummey, Niall McMorrow 0-1 each.

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)

Beth Points the Way for Waterford

Ray O’Brien’s Waterford Senior Camogie team won a first game in this year’s National League on Sunday afternoon when they overcame the challenge of Dublin at Coolock.

Having gone so close to beating a Wexford side that contested the All-Ireland Semi Finals last year in the opening round of games a week earlier this Waterford side travelled to the Capital in a confident mood.

For the second game running Beth Carton would finish as top scorer for the winners as she followed up the 1-8 which she scored against Wexford with nine points in this game.

The ability of the De La Salle Club player is well known to many that follow the game of Camogie in the county with a few years now, and while she has brought that form into the underage and Intermediate grade on the inter county scene, she is now beginning to make others who might not know of her unquestionable ability to sit up and take notice.

Great credit must go to the players involved on both sides for enduring the atrocious weather conditions on the day, as strong wind and heavy rain were to be found during the course of this game.

This made scoring for both sides very difficult but both sides braved the elements and all things considered served up a competitive battle.

When such elements are to be found the question is often asked what is best to do when a side wins the toss. It was the home side that won the toss and wisely played with the elements at their backs, hoping that as the game wore on that the pitch might get very heavy and make things hard for the visiting side in the second thirty minutes when they had the elements at their backs.

With the wind at their backs it was no real surprise to see the home side take the lead on five minutes through an Ali Maguire effort from a placed ball.

But the next ten minutes belonged to Waterford, as they hit the next four scores in a row, all coming off the stick of the hugely impressive Beth Carton.

Dublin however, refused to lie down and roll over and it was they that hit the next four scores, two from Ali Maguire frees and one each from Miriam Twomey and Siobhan Kehoe to take the lead once more, five points to four.

This is a Waterford side that will punish indiscipline, having done it many times in the past and they done it again here as before the break when Waterford won a free, Beth Carton put over her fifth point of the afternoon to send the sides to the dressing rooms five locked points each.

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first with the home side putting over the first score, another point from an Ali Maguire free, but it was quickly cancelled out with a long range Fiona Morrissey point from a placed ball.

Kate McMahon edged the visitors back in front, but her score was soon cancelled out with another Ali Maguire point from a free. But this was to prove to be her side’s last score of the game.

Discipline was to cost Dublin in the time that remained. Beth Carton put over a brace of frees to give Waterford an 0-9 to 0-7 advantage on the score board and then the home side were dealt another blow when Eva Marie Elliott was sent off on a straight red card by Eamon Cassidy after she collided with Niamh Rockett and from the resulting free Beth Carton again made no mistake in splitting the Dublin uprights.

Dublin before the end was somewhat fortunate not to have had their numbers cut even further. Niamh Rockett was a targeted woman and when she was fouled by Siobhan Kehoe some would argue that she was somewhat fortunate to be left off with a yellow card by the County Derry referee.

From the resulting free, Beth Carton made no mistake and the umpires reached for a white flag to signal a 0-11 to 0-7 victory for the visiting side.

Next up for Waterford is a very tricky home game against Cork on March 12, while on the same date Dublin made the journey down the M9 to play All-Ireland Champions Kilkenny.

Waterford: Brianna O’Regan; Aine Power, Emma Hannon-Roche, Clare Whyte; Aoife Landers, Jenny McCarthy, Mairead Power; Fiona Morrissey, Lorraine Bray; Niamh Rockett, Iona Heffernan, Kate McMahon; Catriona McGlone, Beth Carton, Marie Russell. Subs: Annie Glavey for Iona Heffernan, Valerie O Brien for Niamh Rockett

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-9 (7f) Fiona Morrissey 0-1(f), Kate McMahon 0-1.

Dublin: Grainne Quinn; Aine Woods, Aisling Carolan, Eva Marie Elliott; Leah Butler, Hannah Hegarty, Eve O’Brien; Doireann Mullaney, Siobhan Kehoe; Claire Donnelly, Aisling Maher, Emma Flanagan; Miriam Twomey, Mari Moynihan, Alison Maguire

Subs: Alex Griffin for Doireann Mullaney, Eimear McCarthy for Emma Flanagan, Sarah O’Donovan for Mari Moynihan, Ali Twomey for Claire Donnelly, Zoe O’Donoghue for Aisling Maher

Scorers: Alison Maguire 0-5 (5f) Miriam Twomey, Siobhan Kehoe 0-1 each

Referee: Eamonn Cassidy (Derry)

Difficult Wind Helps Deny Waterford Something Against Dublin

Waterford’s Minor Camogie Team suffered heartbreak in their opening game in this year’s All-Ireland Championship when they went under to Dublin at a windswept WIT Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The outcome of this game was in doubt right to the end, and Waterford could well argue that they were somewhat unlucky not to have got something from this game.

Waterford had a number of chances to get a favourable result from this game, but the difficult cross field wind made it somewhat difficult for Chris Dempsey and Sean Fleming’s side to get something from the game.

Dublin did much of the spade work to secure a narrow victory in this game very early in the game, as their first two scores of the game resulted in them hitting 1-1.

Ciara Holland opened the scoring in the first minute of the game with a point and six minutes later Eimear O’Leary finished to Ciara Jackman’s net following a goal mouth scramble.

Waterford took time to settle after this, hitting their first score on sixteen minutes when Keeley Corbett-Barry split the Dublin uprights following some good work by Margaret Ann Boylan and Abbie Dunphy.

This score gave Waterford confidence and they were to hit the next two scores, the first coming from Kaiesha Tobin and then Abbie Dunphy to leave just one between the sides.

Kerri Finnegan steadied the ship somewhat for Dublin as she put over a point from play, but it was followed up with a Waterford point from the stick of Kaiesha Tobin from a ’45.

Waterford however will count themselves somewhat unlucky not to have gone in at the break in front as just before Kaiesha Tobin’s second score of the game, she was unlucky not to have rattled the Dublin net as she got a touch on a Shauna Fitzgerald effort which was deflected over the end line by the visiting sides defence.

Leading 1-2 to 0-4 at the break, the visiting side began the second half as they did the first putting over the first score of the half from Aoibhe Dillon.

However points from Kaiesha Tobin and Abbie Dunphy by the thirty fifth minute had the sides all square.

While no score would be registered by either side in the next sixteen minutes, Waterford tried very hard.

Kaeisha Tobin hit the side netting of the Dublin goal. Abbie Dunphy was proving to be a danger to the Dublin defence and they were forced to foul her and from the resulting free Kaiesha Tobin saw her effort caught by the win and veer just wide.

With nine minutes remaining Waterford scored again, Annie Fitzgerald caused problems in the Dublin half of the field and they were forced to foul her and from the resulting free the Dungarvan Club player made no mistake in levelling matters for the second time in the game.

With two minutes remaining Waterford were dealt a blow when Aoife Whelan was fouled and from the resulting free Eimear O’Leary made no mistake in edging the visiting side back in front.

Waterford continued to fight hard and it looked good for Waterford when Kate Lynch who helped Gailltir reach the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Semi Final recently won a free for her side but Kaeisha Tobin saw her effort go to the right of the uprights. And from the restart Waterford looked to have one last chance of getting a share of the spoils as Shauna Fitzgerald won the puck out but as she shot at the Dublin posts she saw her effort foiled by the Dublin defence.  

Waterford: Ciara Jackman (Gailltir); Sinead Cunningham (Gailltir), Collette Hogan (De La Salle), Clodagh Curran (Dungarvan); Niamh Murphy (De La Salle), Sadie Mai Rowe (Butlerstown), Mary Kate Curran (Modeligo); Clara Griffin (Tramore), Kate Lynch (Gailltir); Keeley Corbett Barry (Clonea/Saint Molleran’s), Shauna Fitzgerald (Gailltir), Caoimhe Drohan (De La Salle); Kaiesha Tobin (Dungarvan), Margaret Ann Boylan (Portlaw), Abbie Dunphy (Tramore). Subs: Annie Fitzgerald (Gailltir) for Caoimhe Drohan, Aisling Baumann (Dungarvan) for Abbie Dunphy.

Scorers: Kaiesha Tobin 0-4 (3fs, 1 45’), Abbie Dunphy 0-2, Keeley Corbett Barry 0-1.

Dublin: Megan Thomas (Erin’s Isle); Sarah Meagher (Ballinteer/Saint John’s), Niamh Gleeson (Niamh Gleeson), Emma O’Byrne (Good Council); Orla Gray (Na Fianna), Rachel Brennan (Saint Peregrines), Niamh Rock (Na Fianna); Evelyn Twomey (Saint Vincent’s), Chloe Mullen (Faughs Celtic); Eimear O’Leary (Ballyboden Saint Enda’s), Kerri Finnegan (Faughs Celtic), Aisling Andrews (Castleknock); Ciara Holland (Naomh Mearnog), Aoibhe Dillon (Naomh Mearnog), Aoife McKearney (Lucan Sarsfields). Subs: Karla Whelan (Castleknock) for Aisling Andrews, Aoife Whelan (Castleknock) for Aoife McKearney, Amy Burke (Ballinteer Saint John’s) for Evelyn Twomey.

Scorers: Eimear O’Leary 1-1 (1f), Aoibhe Dillon 0-2, Kerri Finnegan, Ciara Holland 0-1 each.

Referee: Michael Sheehan (Cork)

Waterford goes top with big win over Kildare

Waterford moved to the top of Division 2 of this year’s National Ladies Football League with a comprehensive win over Kildare at the WIT Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Waterford welcomed Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan into the team for the first time this year and the experienced duo both played a major part in recording a fifteen point win for the home side.

While Waterford included Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan for the first time, they were without a number of first team regulars. Katie Hannon is out with an injury and Gráinne Kenneally is out because of her involvement with the Irish Army on UN Duty. Karen McGrath and Aileen Wall were amongst the subs while Michelle McGrath while listed was not considered for selection.

Kildare made the journey down the M9 having lost all of their three previous games in this year’s league which gave Waterford confidence of getting a second win under their belt in this year’s league and also hoped to add considerably to their score difference on the league table. The game also gave Pat O’Sullivan to blood some new talent which he has brought into the panel in the last year or two and they did not fail to impress.

Waterford defended the dressing room end of the main field in the first half of this game and got off to a good start when Lauren McGregor who has deputised for Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan on free taking duty, opened the scoring on three minutes when she put over a placed ball from the right hand side of the field.

Three minutes later from the opposite side of the field, Maria Delahunty put over another free to extend the home sides lead and a minute later following some good work by Mairead Wall and Michelle Ryan, Maria Delahunty again split the Kildare posts this time from play.

Kildare opened their account on nine minutes when Róisín Byrne put over a free, but the score failed to get the Lilly-whites going as Waterford again moved up a gear.

Róisín Tobin who is in fine form for Waterford this year extended Waterford’s lead on eleven minutes and a minute later Geraldine Power made it a four point lead.

By the midway point in the first half Waterford had further stretched their lead as Michelle Ryan and then Lauren McGregor from a free had the umpire reaching for the white flag.

Leading 0-7 to 0-1 as the game entered its second quarter Waterford went even further in front after the side worked the ball in well from the middle of the field towards the Kildare goal and once Maria Delahunty got procession of the ball she made no mistake from close range in rattling Aoife Molyneaux net.

Kildare enjoyed a bit of a purple patch in the minutes that followed as Roisin Byrne put over a brace of points four minutes apart and followed it up with a point from Ellen Dowling six minutes from time to leave Kildare trailing 1-7 to 0-4.

However, Waterford finished the half the stronger of the two sides as they were for much of this game as Maria Delahunty kicked a brace of points which gave Waterford a 1-9 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

Scores were hard won by in the opening minutes of the second half. Kildare were somewhat unlucky to have their numbers cut six minutes after the restart when Rachel Cribbin was issued a yellow card by referee Kevin Phelan which meant she had to watch the next ten minutes from the Kildare dug-out.

Michelle Ryan opened the scoring for Waterford only for Molly Price to cancel it out with a free on forty-three minutes. Maria Delahunty and Michelle Ryan followed up with points to give Waterford 1-12 to 0-5 lead with the game about to enter its final quarter.

With Waterford in control, the Waterford management team began to empty their bench and those that came on also played a part in this win.

Katie Murray got her name on the score sheet on forty six minutes and a minute later Aileen Wall smashed the ball past Aoife Molyneaux for a second Waterford goal, which came about after Waterford won the restart after Katie Murray’s score.

Roisin Byrne hit her sides last score of the game nine minutes from time.

While Waterford had this game won, they still pressed on for as many scores as they could in case Score Difference would be needed at the end of seven rounds of games, and they were rewarded when first Nicola Fennell split the posts just before she was replaced and moments later Eimear Fennell got her name on the score sheet helping Waterford to what was a much deserved win.

Next up for Waterford is a tricky trip to Ulster to play Cavan on March 19 while the day before Kildare have home advantage against Sligo.

Waterford: Jessica Fitzgerald; Mairead Wall, Caoimhe McGrath, Dearbhaile Ni hAodha; Rebecca Casey, Megan Dunford, Hannah Power; Emma Murray, Nicola Fennell; Maria Delahunty, Geraldine Power, Katie Murray; Roisin Tobin, Michelle Ryan, Lauren McGregor. Subs: Aileen Wall for Roisin Tobin (40), Hannah Landers for Lauren McGregor (47), Karen McGrath for Hannah Power (47), Eimear Fennell for Emma Murray (53), Chloe Fennell for Michelle Ryan (53), Aoife Murray for Maria Delahunty (57), Lauren Guiry for Nicola Fennell (57), Caragh McCarthy for Megan Dunford (59), Kate McGrath for Mairead Wall (59)

Scorers: Maria Delahunty 1-5 (0-3f), Aileen Wall 1-0, Michelle Ryan 0-3, Lauren McGregor 0-2, Roisin Tobin, Geraldine Power, Katie Murray, Nicola Fennell, Eimear Fennell 0-1 each.

Kildare: Aoife Molyneaux;  Tara Hallinan, Rose Mernagh, Rachel Cribbin; Shauna Kendrick, Rachel Corrigan, Trina Duggan; Roisin Byrne, Aisling Curley; Orlaith Kirwan, Molly Price, Eadaoin Connolly; Louise Scully, Ellen Dowling, Mikaela McKenna. Subs: Joanne Mulligan for Tara Hallinan (27), Grace Clifford for Eadaoin Connolly (HT), Aine Mulligan for Ellen Dowling (51), Chloe Foy for Grace Clifford (59), Aoife Wosser for Aoife Molyneaux (60).

Scorers: Roisin Byrne 0-4 (2f), Ellen Dowling, Molly Price 0-1 each.

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois)

Waterford Fall Just Short Against Sligo

Waterford Senior Ladies Football Team suffered defeat in 2017 on Sunday afternoon when they lost out to Sligo at Cloonacool Community Park in Sligo.

Waterford made the long journey to the North West on Saturday staying close to the venue to ensure that the side took to the field with no effects of the long journey in their system.

Pat Sullivan and his management team had to make changes to the side which beat Laois two weeks previous, as regular goalkeeper Katie Hannon was ruled out and was replaced by reserve goalkeeper, Clashmore’s Jess Fitzgerald.

Roisin Tobin who played in the draw with Clare but who missed the game with Laois was back in the team, replacing Lauren Guiry who played in her place in the win against Laois.

In their two games ahead of this game in the league, Waterford have played better in the first half then in the second, and so it proved once more in this game.

To some this might well prove to be a worry but this team will not need telling that this will come right as fitness levels get better and when players who are currently missing out on a place in the team from the start are back in contention.

For Waterford it’s the championship that is most important this year, as two sides are going to be relegated to the intermediate grade at the end of the championship for 2018 and therefore while they will want to keep their division two place in the league its more important that for fitness to be peaking in June, July and August than it is in January, February and March.

The impressive Ciara Gorman opened the scoring for Sligo from a free only for Geraldine Power to cancel it out.

The same two players scored one more to lock the scores at two points each on the score board, before Waterford took control of the game.

Lauren McGregor put over a brace of scores for Waterford to give them a double score lead. The Dungarvan player has taken over free taking duties in the absence of the injured Maria Delahunty and with Michelle and Sinead Ryan not in the team, and is proving to be another option should one be needed when the side is at full strength.

Roisin Tobin and Emma Murray helped extend Waterford’s lead to four before the home side were given a chance to come right back into the game as they were awarded a penalty on twenty one minutes after Stephanie O’Reilly was fouled, but Mary Ann Kennedy’s effort was saved by Jess Fitzgerald on her inter county debut.

Waterford continued to dominate and points from Nicola Fennell and Aileen Wall followed, but Sligo would finish the half strong as they hit points from Stephanie O’Reilly and Karen Maloney with an effort from Aileen Wall in between which gave Waterford a 0-9 to 0-4 lead at the break.

While Waterford hit the first score of the second half through Lauren McGregor, the home side in the second thirty minutes proved to be the stronger side.

Ciara O’Gorman and Karen Maloney kicked points to bring the home side to within four of Waterford.

There is an old saying that goals win game and so it proved in this game.

The home side hit two of them in a five minute spell, the first coming on thirty nine minutes through Ciara Gorman and the same player five minutes later struck again to give her side a 2-6 to 0-10 lead.

Ciara Gorman brought her tally to 2-4 for the day and to give her side a 2-7 to 0-10 lead with time ticking down, but Waterford would not throw in the towel just yet as Roisin Tobin hit her second of the game.

Waterford continued to try hard to get something from the game, but the scores that they needed and deserved did not come their way and the home side held out for a two point victory.

Waterford: Jess Fitzgerald; Mairéad Wall, Michelle McGrath, Kate McGrath; Dearbhaile Ní Aodha, Caoimhe McGrath, Megan Dunford;  Karen McGrath, Hannah Power; Emma Murray,  Nicola Fennell, Geraldine Power; Róisín Tobin, Aileen Wall, Lauren Mc Gregor.

Scorers: Lauren McGregor 0-3 (2f), Nicola Fennell, Geraldine Power, Roisin Tobin 0-2 each, Aileen Wall, Emma Murray 0-1 each.

Sligo: Noelle Gormley; Michelle McNamara, Gráinne O’ Loughlin, Jacqui Mulligan; Etna Flanagan, Elise Codd, Anne Marie Coleman; Bernice Byrne, Sarah Reynolds; Laura Anne Laffey, Stephanie O’Reilly, Rachel Monaghan; Karen Maloney, Ciara Gorman, Mary Ann O’Kennedy

Scorers: Ciara Gorman 2-4 (0-4f), Karen Maloney 0-2, Stephanie O’Reilly 0-1.

Referee: G McMahon (Mayo)

Tipp Top Division 1A After Two Round’s

There was no joy for Waterford at Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon as they went under to All-Ireland Champions Tipperary who had six points to spare at the end of seventy minutes in the second round of games in this year’s National Hurling League.  

Just as many in Waterford won’t get over excited about beating Kilkenny a week earlier playing them at Nowlan Park, few will get too excited about losing to the Munster and All-Ireland Champions at Walsh Park.

Both sides started without several players that provided they are injury or suspension free as well as not carrying a run of poor form will be in their championship sides come the summer.

We saw over the course of the seventy minutes that Tipperary will not give up their Munster and All-Ireland titles without a real fight this year as players that were brought in to replace some regulars, coped more than adequately whether the big guns are in the team or not, they have plenty of talent and when they did introduce some of the big guns as the game went on they showed the hunger to steer them to victory.

We also saw on Sunday that Stephen O’Keeffe might not automatically be the number one goalkeeper for Derek McGrath as for the second week running Ian O’Regan impressed when called upon.

The Mount Sion man saved a fifty-second minute penalty struck by John O’Dwyer after Tadhg de Búrca pulled down Stephen O’Brien as he made his way to the Waterford goal.

The one on one for penalties in hurling is something that was brought in in recent years to make it easier for the striker to rattle the net after a number of penalties were saved meaning players were having to go inside the twenty metre line to try and gain an advantage when it was three against one.

But as we have seen already in this year’s league, goalkeepers are winning the one on ones, which beggars the question is the problem more with the striking of the sliotar is the problem and if so, what sort of coaching is taking place when players can’t score from twenty metres.

Ian O’Regan was not at fault either when it came to the only goal of the game, as he had saved brilliantly from Noel McGrath but he was powerless to keep younger brother John’s effort from the rebound out after he doubled on a ball above head high with the Mount Sion man trying to regain his footing after making the initial save.

Waterford will be disappointed that they did not raise a green flag or two of their own over the course of the seventy minutes.

Shane Bennett saw a chance from the bank side of the field as he attacked the city end goal zip just wide of the far post on eighteen minutes.

The same player drew a great save from Darragh Mooney seven minutes from time and when the ball fell to older brother Stephen on the rebound he was found guilty of wasting time picking the ball rather than strike along the ground, but in defence of the Ballysaggart man he possibly took the right option as the height of the grass was not contusive to ground hurling.

The first half of this game proved to be a very even affair with the sides level on ten occasions.

John McGrath opened the scoring with a free in the first minute, only for the score to be cancelled out two minutes later when Tom Devine put over from play.

McGrath edged the visitors back in front when he pointed again from a free on five minutes only for Pauric Mahony to cancel it out a minute later with the first of his scores from a free.

The same player gave Waterford the lead for the first time when he pointed on eight minutes only for John McGrath to level matters once more on ten minutes, this time from play.

With the wind at his back Pauric Mahony hit a massive free from his own sixty-five metre line to put Waterford back in front after twelve minutes, the first of two scores that the Ballygunner Club man would hit from this range.

Niall O’Meara and Mikey Kearney were next to trade scores as the ball went from end to end, before Brendan Maher and Gavin O’Brien with one of the scores of the games gave Waterford a 0-6 to 0-5 lead with nineteen minutes on the clock.

John McGrath and Pauric Mahony swapped scores from frees before Jason Forde levelled matters for the seventh time with ten minutes of the half remaining.

A minute later Pauric Mahony put over another massive long range free to give Waterford the lead once more, after which Stephen O’Brien, Mahony this time from play and John McGrath raised white flags to level the game nine points each with three minutes of the half remaining.

John O’Dwyer and Pauric Mahony swapped scores from frees in the final minute of normal time in the first half and with the last attack of the half Jason Forde gave the visitors the lead as the sides made their way to the dressing rooms.

Playing against the wind, Waterford needed a good start after the restart and the first goal was always going to be crucial.

Stephen O’Brien opened up a two point lead in the first minute of the second half but it was soon brought back down to one with a good score from Austin Gleeson.

Kieran Bergin with the aid of the post put Tipperary two up once more on forty minutes, after which John O’Dwyer landed a brace of points for the Premier County to put them 0-15 to 0-11 in front after forty six minutes.

Pauric Mahony made it a three point game as the third quarter was about to reach its conclusion which was followed with points from John O’Dwyer and Pauric Mahony both from frees.

The only goal of the game came on fifty seven minutes which put Tipperary 1-16 to 0-13 in front which all but secured the points on offer for Michael Ryan’s side and keep them as the only unbeaten side in Division 1A.

Brian O’Halloran pointed with six minutes left after which John O’Dwyer showed that he could do what Pauric Mahony could do as he pointed from just outside his own forty-five metre line from a free to put his side 1-17 to 0-14 in front.

With results going they are in Division 1A this year every score could well be important at the end of five rounds of games, and in the time that remained, both sides hit one more score each.

The impressive John McGrath was first to score for Tipperary and at the very end Brian O’Halloran got his second from play for the home side.

Next up for Waterford is an away game with Dublin at Croke Park while Tipperary has a home game against Clare.

Waterford: Ian O’Regan; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg de Búrca, Shane McNulty; Gavin O’Brien, Kevin Moran; Tom Devine, Mikey Kearney, Pauric Mahony; Shane Bennett, Jake Dillon, Austin Gleeson. Subs: Darragh Lyons for Shane McNulty (43), Stephen Bennett for Jake Dillon (48), Colin Dunford for Gavin O’Brien (48), Maurice Shanahan for Mikey Kearney, (62), Brian O’Halloran for Colin Dunford (63)

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-9 (0-8f), Brian O’Halloran 0-2, Austin Gleeson, Gavin O’Brien, Mikey Kearney, Tom Devine 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Darragh Mooney; Donagh Maher, James Barry, Joe O’Dwyer; Seamus Kennedy, Tomás Hamill, Padraic Maher; Brendan Maher, Kieran Bergin; Dan McCormack, Jason Forde, Steven O’Brien; Aidan McCormack, John McGrath, Niall O’Meara. Subs: John O’Dwyer for Aidan McCormack (28), Noel McGrath for Jason Forde (51), Michael Breen for Kieran Bergin (55), Seamus Callanan for Stephen O’Brien (59), Michael Cahill for Joe O’Dwyer (65)

Scorers: John McGrath 1-6 (0-3f), John O’Dwyer 0-5 (0-4f), Steven O’Brien, Jason Forde 0-2 each, Brendan Maher, Kieran Bergin, Niall O’Meara 0-1 each

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)

Waterford Begin Camogie League At Home to Wexford

We may have just past the midway point in February but for the Waterford Senior Camogie team, a new season begins on Sunday afternoon when they take on Wexford in the opening round of games in this year’s National Camogie League.

With Waterford playing Tipperary in the National Hurling League at Walsh Park on the same afternoon, it would have been nice if this game was a curtain raiser to the sides that clashed in last year’s Munster Senior Hurling Final but it was not to be and this game will now go ahead at the nearby WIT Arena at Carriganore with the game having a 3-30pm start.

To have the two games played together would have been a good way of promoting the game of Camogie and maybe winning over some new fans, but hopefully many that will be in Walsh Park will make the short journey along the Cleyboy Road to the Carriganore venue to see the Camogie Team in action, even if they miss the first few minutes of the Camogie game should they stay to the very end of the hurling game.

Waterford are under new management this year as Ray O’Brien have taken over from Don McMahon and he has retained many of the players that were involved last year.

The Saint Anne’s pair of Jennie Simpson and Charlotte Raher has called time on an outstanding Inter County career having serving the county well over the past decade or so, but into the panel in their place come a number of players that have impressed of late.

Wexford appeared in last year’s Senior All-Ireland Semi Final and they will make the journey to Waterford bringing with them a great deal of the panel that brought them to that stage of the competition and will have players of some class like Karen Atkinson, Áine Lacey, Emma Walsh, Linda Bolger, Una Sinnott, Stacey Kehoe and Mags Darcy with them and they will be confident that they can begin the campaign with a win.

Waterford last year won just one game each in the League and the Championship and will be looking to do better this year. Last year was a learning curve having come up to Division one in the league after winning the Division Two final in 2015 and winning the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship that same year.

The side will have learned a lot from last year and with many of the younger players a year older and with more experienced they have to field that they are more than equipped to improve on last year and to even push for one of the places available in the knockout stages of the competition.

The Waterford management team have a strong panel available to them for this weekend’s game and while there is some top names missing, there is no doubt that they will be looking to what they have for this weekend and should this happen Waterford will be a match for most sides.

Wexford will go into the game as the warmest of favourites, but this is a Waterford will feel that they can win.

Waterford Panel for Game against Wexford: Tracey Kiely, Lorraine Bray, Jenny McCarthy, Laura Murray (Cappoquin), Áine and Mairead Power (Piltown), Emma Hannon-Roche, Annie Glavey, Ciara Jackman, Kate Lynch (Gailltir), Claire Whyte, Niamh Rockett, Becky Kavanagh, Sibeal Harney (Saint Anne’s), Aoife Landers, Fiona Morrissey (An Rinn), Shona Kirwan, Catriona McGlone, Marie Russell (Lismore), Iona Heffernan, Niamh Ahearne (Ferrybank), Kate McMahon, Sadie Mai Rowe (Butlerstown), Beth Carton, Brianna O’Regan, Ciara Twomey, Niamh Murphy (De La Salle), Valerie O’Brien (Roanmore), Kaeisha Tobin (Dungarvan).