Gailltir to descend on Croke Park for all-Ireland intermediate club Camogie final

Every year clubs up and down the length of the country in any given sport set out with one aim in mind, to win as much as they possibly can with the amount of teams they are fielding in different competitions.

Every so often a year comes along that means something in a given club. It could be a particular anniversary of the formation of the club, it could be the anniversary of a significant achievement within a club, maybe the silver or golden jubilee of a championship win.

For the Gailltir Camogie Club 2018 was a special year, for this was the Diamond Anniversary of the formation of the club back in 1958 by a small group of people who had a hope that the ladies of the area could do just the men of the Gaultier area had done in winning the County Junior Football Final, but in the case of the women of the Barony, they would be doing it with hurley’s.

While most clubs are not preparing for competitions in 2019, for the ladies of Gailltir they are one of a handful of clubs that are still involved in 2018 competitions, and for them the end of 2018 competitions for them could very well have a fairy tale finish.

Last May the ladies of Gailltir had a win in the County Senior Camogie League Final beating a very good De La Salle side at the Ferrybank grounds.

In the late summer/early autumn the senior championship began with six clubs taking part.

Gailltir began the championship with a hard fought 1-13 to 0-13 win over De La Salle. In Round two they had to share the spoils when they drew with Cappoquin and in round three they had a very big 2-13 to 1-6 over 2017 champions Lismore.

The Sky Blues suffered their only defeat in the championship in round four losing out by the smallest possible margin against Saint Anne’s on a 0-16 to 2-9 score line.

These results meant that Gailltir were into the semi finals where they were once more pitted with Saint Anne’s. Those that read what I have to say in the G.A.A. here and in any newspaper which I contribute to, I have a line of thought that in underage hurling and football as well as in both codes of the women’s games things often work out that the side that lose the first day when two sides meet twice in close proximity will often come out on top the second day will often be the side that learns the most from the first day and the result the second day is reversed and so it happened here.

The Fitzgerald cousins, Annie, Shauna and Aoife contributed 1-6 of their sides tally of 1-10 in a 1-10 to 0-10 win at the WIT Arena. Kate Lynch, Ciara O’Sullivan, Áine Lyng and Hannah Hutchinson were the others to get their name on the score sheet that day.

The County Final was a repeat of the league final as Gailltir came up against De La Salle. This was an eagerly awaited game between two fine teams, and the players on both sides did not fail to deliver as they served up a high scoring entertaining game which Gailltir won 1-17 to 2-13 to complete a league and championship double.

The Fitzgerald cousin’s were once again to the fore for the winners in this game as Annie finished with nine points while Aoife finished with 1-3. Kate Lynch and Áine Lyng both hit two points each while Emer Walsh hit a point for the winners.

As in recent years the Waterford Senior Champions were put into the Intermediate Club Championship in the Munster Championship and were given a bye straight to the final where they played Cork’s Intermediate Champions Éire Óg.

The final was played in Leahy Park in Cashel and attracted a good attendance to support both clubs. Once more the ladies from the barony proved too good for their opponents winning on a 2-10 to 0-6 score line.

The Fitzgerald’s once more all got their names on the score sheet on the day as Annie finished top scorer with 1-3, while Aoife hit 1-1 and Shauna 0-1. Áine Lyng hit 0-4 on the say while teenage star Clodagh Carroll also got on the score sheet hitting a point for her side.

It was back to Cashel for the All-Ireland semi final in late January where Offaly side Saint Rynagh’s provided the opposition.

Gailltir once more put in a very solid hours work running out 3-8 to 0-12 winners.

While in previous games one of the Fitzgerald Cousins would finish as top scorer for Gailltir they showed here that they are more to this side than two or three players as it was Roisin Flood that finished top scorer on the day finishing with 1-1.

Clodagh Carroll and Ann Corcoran two of the many rising stars in the Gailltir clubs but hit goals for their club in this game, while Annie Fitzgerald with three points, the vastly experienced Áine Lyng with two points and Shauna Fitzgerald and Emer Walsh also got on the score sheet on the day for the winners.

There might be some that will argue right now that Camogie in Waterford is stronger than it is in Down, and will be making Gailltir favourites, maybe even clear favourites to become the first Waterford Club to win a Camogie All-Ireland at Croke Park (Lismore won theirs after a replay against Ballyhale Shamrocks in Clonmel back in 2014), but nobody will be underestimating the challenge that they face in Clonduff.

Ten members of the Clonduff Camogie Club helped Down reach last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Final, something no doubt that Gailltir will know only too well and will be the first to admit that only good players get to play in All-Ireland Finals, even if defeat on the day was to be their lot.

Included amongst the ten players to pull on the red and black shirt last September in Croke Park were team captain Paula Gribben as well as the Carr sisters Fionnuala and Sara Louise, daughters of the former Down star Ross Carr.

Playing in big games is nothing new for the County Down side. Four years ago they reached the All-Ireland Intermediate Club semi final losing out to a Piltown side from Kilkenny who went on to beat Lismore in the final, denying the Heritage town side back to back All-Ireland titles.

Ten of the side that started against Piltown five years ago will be expected to start this time around against Gailltír.

Like Gailltir, the County Down side played in the senior championship in their own county but in the intermediate grade after that will be confident going into this game.

They had a 0-10 to 0-7 win against Portaferry to win their County Final and beat Eglish in the Ulster Final. Eglish were the side that ended Gailltir’s interest in the 2016 championship at Ashbourne in January 2017 and last time out they had a Craughwell from Galway in the semi final.

Patricia O’Hagan was their top scorer against the Galway side finishing the game with six points, five of which came from placed balls, Sarah Louise Carr at full forward was their goal getter in that game while Isabella O’Hare and Orla Gribben also got their name on the score sheet.

Gailltir’s passage to Sundays All-Ireland Final is equally as impressive as their opponents.

After coming through the County Championship beating an excellent De La Salle side in the decider they went on to record an excellent win over Eire Óg from Cork in the Munster Final after getting a bye straight to the final.

Last time out they again impressed in beating Offaly champions Saint Rynagh’s in Cashel and confidence will be high going into this game.

While the side will not have had many competitive outing’s since they beat De La Salle in the County Final, the players will be well prepared for this game.

A number of players lined out for Waterford in the National League against Cork recently which will have helped to keep the players eye and touch up to the standard required for an All-Ireland Final, while many of the younger players are currently also preparing for an All-Ireland Final with Saint Angela’s secondary school in the coming weeks.

Gailltir would be expected to field similar to what they have in recent games.

Ciara Jackman will start between the posts, with Emily Mahony, Margo Heffernan and Claire Dunne just in front of her, with Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche and Hannah Flynn in the half back line.

Shauna Fitzgerald will be in the middle of the field and would be expected to be partnered by either Áine Lyng or Kate Lynch with the player missing out in the middle of the field expected to start in attack.

Elsewhere in attack Annie and Aoife Fitzgerald would be expected to start as would Emer Walsh, while the remaining two places would be expected to between Róisín Flood, Ann Corcoran, Clodagh Carroll and Ciara O’Sullivan.

Last time out the Gailltir selectors were able to call upon Trish Jackman now living and working in the UK and was able to send her on for the last few minutes when Saint Rynagh’s were piling on the pressure and her experience proved vital.

Will the Gailltir management team be able to call on her this time, we will have to wait and see, and if she is available will she start or come on again during the course of the game.

Only one Waterford club has won in Croke Park on All-Ireland Final Day, that being Ardmore last year in the Junior Hurling Final. Can Gailltir become the first Waterford female Club team to win at G.A.A. Headquarters on All-Ireland Final day?

You have to think that the Sky Blues can win this final. To get where they are did not happen overnight. A great number of hours have been put in on the training field over the last number of years preparing the team for this weekend. A new calendar year might have being entered in recent weeks but when it comes to Camogie Gailltir are still in 2018, the 60^th anniversary of their formation.

Will their 60^th year have a memorable finish. I think it will.

 

First Defeat for Waterford In 2019

Waterford senior Ladies Football team suffered a first loss of 2019 in this year’s Lidl National Football League at Fraher Field today where they had to give second best to what was a very strong Armagh side.

The Ulster side travelled to Dungarvan on the back of two good wins meaning confidence was high on the long trip south, and from the evidence that those watching this game saw today it could be said that it will take a good team to stop them winning promotion this year.

However, there might be some that maybe the side might grow too confident and while they should reach the last four of the league in a knockout game anything is possible and we might see then that good side that end Armagh’s interest in the competition.

Waterford in their opening two games had a win over Wexford in round one and last time out they had a draw against Kerry in Tralee which in the bigger picture was not a bad result for any visiting side to the Kingdom.

However having dropped five points from a possible six in their last two games, if Waterford are to reach the knockout stages of the competition and better last year’s final placing where they lost out to eventual division two winners Tipperary in the semi finals Ciaran Curran cannot drop too many more points in their remaining four games, the next of which takes place in two weeks time when Cavan provide the opposition.

The visitors won the toss in this game and opted to play with the gentle breeze that blew at their backs in the first half into the town end of the ground.

The side jointly managed by Fionnuala McAtamney and Lorraine McCaffrey were always in control in this game and were 1-7 to 0-3 in front at the break.

The visitors were four points up before Waterford hit their first score of this game on nine minutes.

The brilliant Aimee Mackin opened the scoring for the visitors on two minutes and they followed it up with points from Caroline O’Hanlon, Niamh Coleman and Kelly Mallon in a four minutes spell between the fourth and eight minutes.

Waterford’s first score came off the boot of Liz Devine on nine minutes, but any hope of eating into the visitors lead were dashed within sixty seconds as Blaithin Mackin finished past Kelly Moroney in the Waterford goal after the ball was played in from the bank side of the field.

The same player added a minor score on 12 minutes and while Waterford hit the next two scores, both from Maria Delahunty frees in a two minute spell either side of the midway point in the opening half, these scores were cancelled out before the break with efforts from the long serving Caroline O’Hanlon and Kelly Mallon to go in at the break with a comfortable lead.

Both sides swapped scores at the start of the second half. Aimee Mackin who caused the Waterford defence plenty of problems throughout was first on the score sheet in the second half followed by a score from Waterford’s longest serving player Michelle Ryan.

What hopes Waterford had of getting something from this game were dashed in the third minute of the second half when Aimee Mackin sidestepped Kelly Moroney and finished to an empty net to give her side a 2-8 to 0-4 lead.

Three minutes after Shauna Grey was sin binned on 33 minutes Waterford had the ball in the visitors net, Eimear Fennell the Waterford goal getter after the ball was played quickly to her from a free, but the score in the bigger picture on the day would prove to be a mere consolation.

Aoife McCoy and Kelly Mallon from a free hit points for the visitors on 39 minutes. Aileen Wall and Kelly Mallon from a free swapped scores, before Maria Delahunty put over a free at the end of the third quarter.

Aimee Mackin scored possibly the luckiest goal of her football career on 47 minutes as her attempt for a point deceived all and fell into the Waterford new to her side 3-11 to 1-7 in front.

Aimee Mackin and Caroline O’Hanlon extended the visitors lead before the latter player was sin binned on 52 minutes by referee Stephen McNulty who at times was over fussy in some of his calls over the course of the hour.

Mackin hit the visitor’s last score of the afternoon on 55 minutes which Liz Devine who worked hard for Waterford throughout the game responded to two minutes later for the last score of the game.

The home side had their numbers cut in the third of nearly 6 added minutes in the second half when substitute Lauren McGregor was sent to the line for a sin binning.

Waterford: Kelly Moroney; Rebecca Casey, Caoimhe McGrath, Megan Dunford; Aisling Mullaney, Karen McGrath, Kate McGrath; Emma Murray, Kelly Ann Hogan; Shauna Dunphy, Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall; Eimear Fennell, Liz Devine, Michelle Ryan.

Subs: Katie Hayes for Aisling Mullaney (40), Lauren McGregor for Shauna Dunphy (44).

Scorers: Eimear Fennell 1-1, Maria Delahunty 0-3 (0-3f), Liz Devine 0-2, Michelle Ryan, Aileen Wall 0-1 each.

Armagh: Caroline O'Hare;  Clodagh McCambridge, Maebh Moriarty, Sarah Marley; Megan Sheridan, Tiarna Grimes, Shauna Grey; Niamh Coleman, Caroline O'Hanlon; Aoife McCoy, Niamh Marley, Colleen McKenna, Blaithin Mackin, Kelly Mallon, Aimee Mackin.

Subs: Niamh Reel for Shauna Grey (59).

Scorers: Aimee Mackin 2-4, Blaithin Mackin 1-1, Kelly Mallon 0-4 (0-2f), Caroline O'Hanlon 0-3, Niamh Coleman, Aoife McCoy 0-1 each.

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow)

 

Deise Ladies Face Difficult Afternoon

Waterford put their unbeaten start to this year’s National League on the line on Saturday afternoon next when they take on Armagh at Fraher Field with the game having a 3pm start.

The visitors make the long journey south on the back of two very big wins over Laois (5-13 to 1-10) in the first round of games and last time out against Cavan (2-17 to 0-3).

The Waterford team will not need any telling that going on these results they could face a difficult afternoon in their own half of the field, but the Waterford panel will also know that the Orchard County Girls have possibly played the two weakest teams in the group and that from now on scores will me much more difficult to come by.

Aimee Mackin is the player that is make headlines with the Northern County this year. In her first game of the campaign he finished with 2-4 behind her name and last time out she did even better finishing with 2-5.

However, the Orchard County are by no means a one woman team. Caroline O’Hanlon is a player supporters of Ladies footballer will know about, while the lines of Blaithin Mackin, Kelly Mallon and Aoife McCoy are very experienced players at this level.

For Waterford they are under the guidance of Ciaran Curran this year and while the Dungarvan Club Man is only with the side a few weeks he is getting the side he is working with pointed in the right direction.

Waterford has played two sides so far that did not compete in this division last year. Wexford were promoted from Division three and when Waterford played them at the Gold Coast in the first round of games the home side ran out 0-12 to 0-3 winners and last time away to Kerry who were relegated from Division One, a side that most felt were too good to be relegated, possibly later proving it with a strong showing in the championship under the guidance of a new management team.

So far Ciaran Curran and his management team have given a large number of players game time in the league so far and will surely be doing the same this time out, maybe giving some of the younger members of his panel game time against some of the stronger sides in the competition.

When the sides met last year Waterford won playing in Armagh and while Waterford have changes in their pool of players for this year’s competition, that win plus the good result away to Kerry last time out will give the side much confidence going into this game.

Waterford Look to Maintain Winning Ways in Cork

Both Waterford and Cork put their 100 per cent record in this year’s National Camogie League on the line on Sunday afternoon as the pair are set to do battle in the third series of games at the Cork Camogie Grounds.

Both sides had wins in the opening round of games as All-Ireland Champions Cork ran out three point winners on a 0-10 to 0-7 score line against Tipperary at The Ragg, the home of Tipperary Camogie two weeks ago and last weekend the Rebellettes were set to have home advantage over Wexford in the second round of games, but the Model County right now are finding themselves in all sorts of trouble when it comes to senior Inter county Camogie, only able to muster up 16 players to line out against Waterford in the opening round of games and have seen their team manager walk away in recent weeks and were forced to concede a walkover last weekend the day before their scheduled visit to Lee-side.

Waterford had an excellent 1-13 to 1-5 win over Wexford in the first round of games two weeks ago and last weekend they had no game, as it was their turn to have a bye in a group of five times in Group 2.

In that win over Wexford you might not think it from the final result but Waterford manager Donal O’Rourke had to plan without the services of the Gailltir players in his panel as they planned for last weekend’s All-Ireland Semi Final against Offaly side Saint Rynagh’s, a game that the Sky Blues ran out winners on a 3-8 to 0-12 score line and therefore with an All-Ireland coming up in four weeks time it can be expected that the Cappoquin Club Man will have to plan without the services of the players from the County Champions for this game and possibly the remainder of the league.

The two sides met in the Munster Championship at Modeligo just under 12 months ago and on that occasion while the now All-Ireland Champions ran out winners it has to be pointed out that the side in white and blue really put it up to the visitors on that occasion and on another day with different circumstances victory could well have gone to the home side.

Because of that performance even without the possible exclusion of the Gailltir players this Waterford side will travel to Cork tomorrow morning full of confidence that they can pull off a memorable win.

Over the winter months Donal O’Rourke and his management team have added shrewdly to his panel for this year’s competition.

The bulk of last year’s panel which narrowly missed out on a place in the semi finals of the league and which reached the quarter finals of the championship are involved again this year.

Brianna O’Regan will once again be in goal, while Sibeal Harney, Iona Heffernan, Mairead Power, Aoife Landers, Caoimhe McGrath if she is up to playing two inter county games in 24 hours having lined out for the county lady footballers earlier today against Wexford and possible Sadie Mai Rowe could all once more feature in front of the De La Salle Club player with the number one on her back.

In the middle of the field Lorraine Bray and Clara Griffin got off to a good start together last time out and the pair could well be paired together again against Cork this weekend.

Up front Beth Carton is a certainty to start if fully fit and her contribution is going to be vital for Waterford.

But Waterford do no rely on the De La Salle sharp shooter solely. In team captain Waterford have a brilliant leader in Niamh Rockett. What the Saint Anne’s Club player adds to any team has to be seen to be believed. Kaiesha Tobin from Dungarvan is a player with a very bright future while her Dungarvan club mate Sarah Lacey last time out had a debut to remember against Wexford hitting two points.

Shona Curran who played both Camogie and Ladies Football in the past for Waterford is back in the Waterford set up this year and her contribution and experience cannot be under estimated.

Others that could come in from the start in this game for Waterford could well be Keeley Corbett –Barry a member of the minor team that beat Cork in last year’s Munster Final and who made her senior debut coming on as a sub against Wexford, while the likes of Sadie Mai Rowe, the very reliable Orla Hickey, Niamh Ahearne, Niamh Murphy and Sally Kelly.

Claire Whyte and Deirdre Fahy did not feature against Wexford. Both are two very experienced players and barring any injuries which are not generally known of both will be looking to get some game time this weekend in the white and blue of Waterford.

And what of Cork?. Well we know that they will not be an easy side to get the better of.

We also know that they will have a very strong side out against Waterford as they will want to lose points as they know that they have another tricky assignment coming up against Galway, and will know that if they were to lose out here it could well mean that they could miss out on a place in the last four of the competition.

Against Tipperary they had a very strong team out and could well have the same team out for this game meaning that Aoife Murray will start in goal with Leanne O’Sullivan, Laura Treacy and Laura Hayes in front of her and have Hannah Looney, Gemma O’Connor and Chloe Sigerson on the 50 yard line.

In the middle of the field Ashing Thompson and Libby Coppinger are a very experienced pair at this level while further up the field Siobhain Hutchinson, Orla Cronin and Amy O’Connor could be tasked with watching the Waterford half backs while Orla Cotter, Linda Collins and Cliona Healy could be in the inside forward line.

The Cork management team sent the experienced Briege Corkery on against Tipperary and they could well ask her to play from the off this time out if they want to start with as strong as team as is possible this Sunday.

Saoirse and Ciara McCarthy are two young players introduced by Cork manager Paudie Murray this year and it will be interesting to see will they get a run in this game.

Experienced players like Julia White as well as Katriona and Pamela Mackey are also set to return to the Cork fold sooner rather than later while Niamh McCarthy will expected to return to the Cork fold after her club side Inniscarra exited the All-Ireland Club Championship recently.

It is a pity that Gaelic Games supporters do not get to see more Camogie games than we actually do live on the TV every weekend. There certainly are enough stations out there that if they were really interested in promoted in women’s sport to have at least one game on live every Saturday and Sunday throughout the league and championship for supporters to watch.

There is some that will argue that if there was live coverage on one of the free-to-air channels it would affect the attendances. This however would be nonsense, but there is ways and means around it as the TV stations would not have to reveal beforehand which game they were going to show life as most games tend to have a 2pm or a 2-30pm start.

If one of the TV stations were to show games live, then surly the clash of Cork and Waterford this Sunday would have to be the game they would show.

Cork will go into this game as favourites, but we all know that favourites even in a two horse race don’t always win. Following on from their most recent competitive outing and building on what was achieved last year, even without the services of the Gailltir players Waterford will travel to Cork confident that they can pull off what many would describe as a shock win. Will this happen? We will have to wait and see.

Waterford Ladies Seek All Three Points at Gold Coast

Waterford Senior Ladies Footballers get their National Football League campaign underway tomorrow when they take on Wexford in a South East Derby at the Gold Coast Grounds outside Dungarvan.

The Déise County are under new management this year after Pat Sullivan stood down after last year’s Championship campaign after four successful years in charge of the county, the highlights being the winning of the 2015 All-Ireland Intermediate Final and the Division Three National League Final the following year and in the year’s following on from these successes the side under his care have more than held their own against stronger opposition.

Last year in the National League Waterford reached the semi final stages of the competition having just survived in division two the previous year and will look to go a step or two further this coming year.

New manager Ciaran Curran who like Pat Sullivan before him is a member of the Dungarvan club has had not long with his charges having only been appointed in recent weeks, but he will know that a lot of the hard work in preparing this team will have been done for him in the last few years, but in saying that he will want to stamp his mark on the team.

He has inherited some very experienced players in the likes of Michelle Ryan, Karen McGrath, Aileen Wall and Caoimhe McGrath who will be very much in demand this year as she is also a part of the county senior Camogie set up for which respective managers Ciaran Curran and Donal O’Rourke deserve great praise for allowing such a talented player play both codes.

While Ciaran Curran has to plan this year without the services of some experienced players that were part and parcel of the Waterford set up in recent years he still has some very good experienced players that have not already being mentioned including the likes of Caragh McCarthy, Rebecca Casey, Aisling Mullaney, Emma and Katie Murray, Maria Delahunty and Emer Fennell.

It also has to be pointed out that some players that have played with the county in recent years are back involved this year after a break away from the inter county set up in recent years. Coming back into the panel this year are the likes of Shauna Dunphy, Trisha Kiely and Katie Hannon who have all played with the county in recent years.

While Waterford are without some experienced players for the start of the league some exciting young players are brought into the panel.

Rosie Landers has come through from some successful underage teams and I for one will be expecting her to make a major challenge for the number 1 shirt in the years to come while Abbie Dalton another highly talented player who has come through from the underage teams is also involved this year and like with Rosie Landers expect her to nail now a regular place in the team in the coming months and years.

Also back in the team this year is the brilliant Róisín Tobin. Followers of the game of Ladies Football in the county will know that the Abbeyside player picked up a serious injury playing a National League game against Sligo at the WIT Arena that has kept her out of the side till now. At the time she was playing the best football of her career and to see her back in the set up and listed in the panel for tomorrow’s game is brilliant to see.

Waterford have not played Wexford in the league with a number of years as they have played in grades lower than Waterford for a small number of years now, but that will not mean that Waterford will under estimate them this weekend.

Great strides have been made in the Model County when it comes to ladies football in the last decade. Five years ago they won the All-Ireland Junior Football Final beating New York at Croke Park and last year they won Division three of the National League beating Meath in the final.

They come into this game with some experienced players in their panel of players.

Catriona Murray and Fiona Rochford are two players that Waterford will have to keep an eye on while the likes of Bernie Breen, Clara Donnelly, Chloe Foxe and Niamh Butler need close watching.

Waterford know that this is a match that they have to win and will be the game they most wanted to start with as they will not need telling that there is much tougher games to come.

With four teams to advance to the knockout stages of the competition, Waterford will want to start with a win. Will Ciaran Curran’s charges do that? I think they will.

Gailltir Secure All-Ireland Final Spot

We might have had a change of calendar year in the past four weeks, but for clubs up and down the country that are still involved in the different club championships they are doing so in 2018 competitions. And for one club in particular 2018 could well prove to be a very memorable one.

Back in 1958 a new Camogie Club was formed in the Gailltir area of County Waterford.

The formation of a new club came about after the local Gaultier Football Club had won the Junior Football County Final and in the area the feeling was what the men could do on the Gaelic Field could also be done by the ladies if given a chance, but not with footballs, instead they would use hurley’s and sliotar’s.

People like Tony Cummins, Anne Dingley, Pat Power, Pat Doyle, Bernie Dingles and Mary Kennedy were instrumental in the formation of the new club.

Over the sixty years since its formation the club has had many great days in all grades of Camogie but it’s possible fair to say few if any rivalled what was achieved at Leahy Park in Cashel on Sunday 28 January 2019, when the sky blues for the first time advanced to an All-Ireland Club final, which takes place in Croke Park in early March.

Offaly club Saint Rynagh’s were Gailltir’s opponents on this historic day. The Offaly side had beaten opposition from Kilkenny in the Leinster Final before Christmas which would have given them plenty of confidence going into this game, after all any side that would knock any Kilkenny side out of a competition in hurling or Camogie would have to fancy their chances, such is the strength of both games in the Ormond County.

But three goals off Róisín Flood, Ann Corcoran and Clodagh Carroll proved vital for the Sky Blue in this game as under the control of Orla Murphy, Gail O’Sullivan, Paul Lyng and Catherine Whitty ran out winners on a 3-8 to 0-12 score line.

A huge crowd attendance witnessed this keenly fought battle played out in difficult conditions, but you have to wonder if the game could have been played 15 miles up the road at Semple Stadium as a possible curtain raiser to a National League game between Waterford and Offaly.

It was the Offaly side that opened the scoring in this game with a point from wing forward Grainne Dolan in the first minute of play. But Gailltir were quick to settle after this and their first score proved crucial.

Clodagh Carroll who is a key member of the Saint Angela’s team that has achieved so much in recent months had an attempt at goal blocked but when the rebound fell to Róisín Flood she made no mistake in firing past Eileen Gilligan for the first of Gailltir’s goals.

And when Shauna Fitzgerald scored on ten minutes to put her side 1-2 to 0-2 in front it was beginning to look as maybe it would be the sky blues day, making up for the disappointment of losing out to  Eglish from Tyrone at the same stage of the competition at Ashbourne two years ago.

It was known before the game that Siobhan Flannery was the player that Gailltir would have to keep a very close eye on in this game and she kept the side from the midlands in touch right throughout this game finishing with seven points behind her name on the score sheet, all from frees.

Two scores from the full forward kept the midlander’s within touching distance of Gailltir but they were followed up with a crucial score off the stick of Emer Walsh from a tight angle.

Kate Kenny and Áine Lyng swapped scores for their respective sides to keep Gailltir 1-4 to 0-5 in front with 20 minutes on the clock.  

The midlander’s piled on the pressure in the closing minutes of the opening half, but were not able to break down the Gailltir defence was proved to be water tight on the day, as they turned around with a 1-6 to 0-7 lead showing on the score board.

Gailltir brought in Aoife Fitzgerald for Róisín Flood at the start of the second half, and they began brightly as Clodagh Carroll saw an effort go just wide.

After an Áine Lyng free went just wide of the uprights just as in the first half the Offaly side hit the first score of the second half, not surprisingly from a Siobhan Flannery free.

After winning the resulting restart Kate Lynch played in Annie Fitzgerald who saw her effort for a second Gailltir goal deflected out for a ’45 from which Áine Lyng made no mistake.

Gailltir did not have to wait long for a second goal. With 40 minutes of the game played Annie Fitzgerald won her side a penalty. Áine Lyng saw her effort saved but Ann Corcoran was on hand to fire to the net to put her side 2-7 to 0-8 in front.

Siobhan Flaherty fired over once more for Saint Rynagh’s to keep them in sight of Gailltir but the game was effectively over when Clodagh Carroll finished to the net for a third goal for the Sky Blues.

Gailltir pointed on 45 minutes through Annie Fitzgerald which proved to be her side’s last score of the game.

At the other end of the field Saint Rynagh’s created chances and were able to pick off some late scores but the goal that they needed to bring them back into this game never came their way.

Gailltir sent on Trish Jackman for the last few minutes of this game, a nice touch from the clubs management team considering all that she has achieved within in the game over a long number of years.

In stoppage time Saint Rynagh’s won a penalty which if converted would have proved to be a consolation score, but Ciara Jackman, a younger sister of Trish and a brilliant young goalkeeper was equal to the effort fired at her and was able to keep the shot of getting past her.

A final score of 3-8 to 0-12 mean that Gailltir have now reached this year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Final at G.A.A. Headquarters on March 3.

The opposition that day will be provided by Clonduff from Down who had a 1-8 to 0-9 win over Galway side Craughwell at Kinnegad in the second semi final tomorrow.

Nobody from Gailltir will be underestimating the challenge of the Ulster Side in that game. Gailltir will after all not need telling that it was Ulster Opposition that stopped them reaching a first All-Ireland Final at this level two years ago.

But this even though is a young Gailltir panel with some experienced heads included, but it is at this stage an experienced side. The experience of two years ago will stand to them.

So too will the experience that many of the players involved will have gained in winning Féile Titles in recent years, in helping Saint Angela’s Secondary School win what they have achieved in recent years, helping Waterford win the Munster ‘A’ Title last year and we must not forget that a large number of players from this group has played senior inter county Camogie in the last few years.

For now, let’s not look too much into the future. We can do that in a few weeks time. For now it is all about the present. It is about rejoicing in this brilliant win for Gailltir, which will soon be forgotten about and the hard work in preparing for March 3 will begin, when hopefully Gailltir will become only the second Waterford team following on from Ardmore in the Junior Hurling final last year to win at G.A.A. Headquarters on All-Ireland Final day.

Gailltír: Ciara Jackman; Emily Mahony, Margo Heffernan, Claire Dunne; Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche, Hannah Flynn; Shauna Fitzgerald, Áine Lyng; Clodagh Carroll, Ann Corcoran, Kate Lynch; Roisin Flood, Annie Fitzgerald, Emer Walsh.

Subs: Aoife Fitzgerald for Roisin Flood (half time), Trish Jackman for Ann Corcoran (56).

Scorers: Roisin Flood 1-1, Annie Fitzgerald 0-3 (0-2f), Clodagh Carroll, Ann Corcoran 1-0 each, Áine Lyng 0-2 (1(45), Shauna Fitzgerald, Emer Walshe 0-1 each.

St. Rynagh’s: Ellen Gilligan; Roisin Daly, Linda Sullivan, Trish Nugent; Ann Daly, Roisin Egan, Elaine Sullivan; Helen Dolan, Louise Mannion; Kate Kenny, Mairead Daly, Grainne Dolan; Sarah Pearl, Siobhán Flannery, Louise Flannery.

Scorers: Siobhán Flannery 0-7 (7f), Grainne Dolan 0-3, Kate Kenny 0-2

Referee: John McDonagh (Galway).

 

A Must Win Game For Waterford Footballers

          A new year has begun and a new National Football League is about to commence.

This year under the guidance of Kilmacthomas man Benji Whelan who in recent years have experienced joy in coaching both The Nire and his native Kilmacthomas to honours is in charge of the Waterford Footballers, has a very new look panel from recent years to work with.

Gone are some of the experienced faces from recent years and into the set up in their places comes some of the best underage footballers within the county as well as the return of some players who opted out in recent years of the set up, while the Kilmacthomas Club man as scoured the county for the best committed players who come from clubs not just in the senior ranks, something that should be warmly welcomed.

Wicklow will be visitors to Fraher Field for this the opening game in this year’s Division Four league.

 The two sides have had some massive battles in the last few years and when they do battle in recent years the home side seem to get the better result on most occasions.

John McGrath and Ciaran Hyland who have soldiered for the county in the last number of years have retired from the inter county scene this year, and reports coming out of the Garden County suggests that others could soon follow.

The visitors will be slightly ahead of Waterford when it comes to competitive match practise this Saturday evening, having played two games in the O’Byrne Cup which is played was played as a round robin competition between nine counties in there groups, one of four and two of three, with the three group winners and Dublin qualifying for the semi finals, but Wicklow lost both games they played, first a 1-7 to 1-6 loss to Longford and then a 1-17 to 1-9 loss to Louth.

While they visitors will be a different outfit to what Waterford have played against in recent years, they will have some familiar names in their set up including Goalkeeper Robert Lambert, Jamie Snell, Dean Healy, Rory Finn, Anto McLoughlin and Mark Kenny.

It will be interesting to see what line up will be sent out by Benji Whelan for this game.

Looking at the panel he has seems to have put together a very strong panel.

Ballinacourty’s Aaron Beresford looks as if he will start between the posts. This would be an interesting selection as the Ballinacourty club man is not a regular between the posts for his club in the senior grade in recent years.

The Waterford full back line could well consist of James McGrath, Ray Ó Ceallaigh and Jack Mullaney who would well have three from Aidan Trihy, team captain Brian Looby, Tadhg Ó hUallacháin and Michael Kiely in front of them.

Tommy Prendergast is returning from an injury and it remains to be seen if the recently named Adult Footballer of the Year in the Déise County will be consider for selection. If the towering Kilrossanty Club man is deemed fit to start, then it will be a massive plus for Waterford.

If selected he could well start in the middle of the field and will be possibly partnered by Dylan Guiry or Michael Curry.

In attack Benji Whelan and his management team have plenty of options open to them.

Having Shane Ahearne involved this year is a big boost and no side will look forward to having to mark the big Stradbally man. He would be expected to start this game, but who will start alongside him.

Experienced players like Feargal Ó Cuirrín, Lorcan Ó Corraoin, Joe Allen, Conor Murray and Jason Curry will most certainly feature at some stage, while the likes of Sean Whelan-Barrett, Brian Lynch and Stephen Curry would also be expected to be involved.  

The two sides met at the same stage of the competition this time last year and on that occasion, Waterford did well to get a share of the spoils at Aughrim, a venue where the Garden County are hard to beat.

Like Wicklow playing in Aughrim, Waterford can be a very difficult side to play against at Fraher Field, especially at this time of the year.

The main aim for Waterford this year when it comes to football is to get out of Division Four of the league, and with Derry clear favourites to win one of two promotion places the fight for the one other place could well prove to be a titanic battle between the other seven sides.

The importance of Waterford getting this year’s league off to a great start cannot be emphasised enough if Waterford are to be promoted. Playing at Fraher Field under the lights, hopefully in front of a much bigger attendance than usual should be worth a point or two for Benji Whelan’s side.

Waterford are good enough to win this one, but it could be close.

 

New Era for Waterford Hurling to Begin With Win in Thurles

          Enough has been said of the Waterford Senior Hurlers last year without too much more being said here, but a person cannot begin a preview of Waterford’s National Hurling League opener without making some reference to 2018.

          When the National League fixtures were announced late last year playing in Division 1B most Waterford supporters were delighted to get Offaly in the first game, and even more delighted that the game was a home game for Waterford as sometimes when Waterford sides have gone to Tullamore in recent years we have a tendency of making things harder for ourselves than things should be.

          Shortly after the fixtures came out there was some loud whispers going around the county which did not appear in print for some time till it was confirmed that Waterford were going to lose home advantage for the league opener for breaking a training ban last April when it had been agreed that no Inter County training would take place during a month which was given over to club activities.

          Waterford were one of a small number of counties which lost their appeal against going training or whatever name other counties put on it and it public Knowledge shortly afterwards that Waterford would have to play Offaly at Semple Stadium, a ground that Waterford will or at least should know inside out and upside down.

          Offaly were once a side that were a match for anyone. In the 1980’s and indeed for much of the 1990’s they won their share of titles both in Leinster and on All-Ireland Final Day, but these days they do not hold the same fear for the stronger counties within the game in which we have to include Waterford.

In recent years they have flirted with relegation from Division 1B of the league more often than they were to joining the likes of Waterford, Galway and Clare who have won the league from Division 1B and in the championship they are doing just enough to remain in the Liam McCarthy grade of championship hurling.

This year under new management, we will see a different Waterford from what we saw in recent years, certainly in the league as Padraic Fanning will have to plan without the services of Ballygunner Club players as they have an All-Ireland Club semi final to look forward to.

That however coupled with a small number of retirements from last year’s panel plus some injuries means that we will see some unfamiliar names at this level of hurling feature in this game.

With Stephen O’Keeffe involved with Ballygunner and Ian O’Regan retiring Billy Nolan for now could be the number one choice to start in goals.

In front of him Barry Coughlan has also called time on his inter county career and his place could well be taken by Conor Prunty a player highly regarded by many within the county with team captain Noel Connors and Shane Fives either side of him.

Hopefully 2019 will see the end of the sweeper system so much hated to be seen by many hurling supporters and Waterford will go for a plain two lines of three at the back.

With a full strength squad to pick from my three in this line would be Conor Gleeson, Tadhg Bourke and Austin Gleeson. But we can’t see the three line out in this game as Conor Gleeson is injured and some are saying that Austin Gleeson is not fully match fit.

This could mean that the Clashmore man will start at centre back with maybe Bunmahon’s Micheál Harney on one side of him with either Kieran Bennett or Shane McNulty on the other.

In the middle of the field former team captain Kevin Moran would be expected to start there but alongside who? Jamie Barron is reported to be out of contention with an injury so that means that the second spot could well go to Colin Dunford or Mark O’Brien with some saying Brian O’Halloran not being ruled out of contention.

Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh after committing to another year in the white and blue could well start at centre forward where he could be flanked by Shane Bennett and DJ Foran in what could be a formidable line.

Stephen Bennett could well start on the edge of the Offaly square and reports suggest that he is going great in training which is welcome news.

Alongside him the management team could well go for two speed merchants in Thomas Ryan and Brian O’Halloran. An inside forward line of Ryan, Bennett and O’Halloran would surely have most full back lines fearing the worst.

Others that could well get a run out in Thurles on Sunday afternoon could well be Lismore’s Jack Prendergast, Ballyduff Upper’s Mikey Kearney and Tallow’s Jordan Henley.

There is some that will argue that it would not be best for Waterford to peak too early in the year. They might be right, but it is important that Waterford put a winning run together in the league from the off this year, winning promotion back to Division 1A for next year and remaining involved in the league as close as possible to the championship.

We hear a lot from some supporters about the importance of home advantage in games and loosing home advantage might be somewhat of a flow for Waterford. But playing in Thurles is no real disadvantage to Waterford. If the side were sent to Nowlan Park, Nenagh, Portlaoise or Carlow to play this game Waterford would be less used to the surrounds.

Even without the Ballygunner players involved in the league for the first few games this year you can’t but feel Waterford should begin with a win in this one.