Waterford's quest for six begins with a win

Waterford overcome a battling Limerick team in Intermediate championship

On Friday night last Waterford took their first steps to a sixth Munster Intermediate championship title in a row with a workman-like performance against a game Limerick team who battled hard and had the Deise girls worried for long stretches of the game. Played in excellent conditions, in Adare, on a hot balmy evening, Waterford were first off the mark with a well taken free from Michelle Ryan after 3 minutes. This score was quickly cancelled out when Limerick’s sharpshooter Marie Curtin slotted over a free for the Treaty-siders. 

Liz Devine who was making her championship debut put Waterford in front after 5 minutes with a point from a very acute angle, before a long ball out of Waterford’s defence was picked up by Ballyduff’s Hannah Landers and she duly slotted the ball to the back of the net giving the Limerick keeper no chance to leave Waterford 4 points in front. Instead of giving the Deise the impetus to drive on, it galvanised the Limerick girls to pour forward and take the game to the Waterford girls.

In the 9^th minute Aimee Jordan made a wonderful point blank save from Limerick’s most dangerous forward Marie Curtin and in the resultant follow up Karen McGrath did exceptionally well to be in the right place at the right time and avert a Limerick goal. Limerick went on a little burst and scored two quick points to narrow the gap to two points before Liz Devine got her second score in the 15^th minute to extend Waterford’s lead to three. From the 15^th to the 23^rd minutes it was all Limerick and it took major resolute defending by the Waterford girls to ensure that Limerick only scored two points in this period of the game to leave the bare minimum between the teams.

Aileen Wall got her opening score of the game a point in the 22 minute and sister Mairead settled Waterford nerves further with a point on 25 minutes. Elaine Power cut through the defences to add a third point for Waterford in the 27^th minute to leave three between the teams coming up to half time. In the dying minutes of the half Michelle Ryan and Marie Curtin exchanged frees to leave the half time score Waterford 1-7 Limerick 0-7.

Limerick opened the second half with renewed energy buoyed by the fact that Waterford’s Mairead Wall was harshly sin binned for a very innocuous tackle just before the half time break and with two quick points the green and white girls had eroded Waterford’s lead once again. In the 40^th minute Linda Wall replied for Waterford with a well taken point following a quick passing movement orchestrated by her sister Aileen. Limerick were not to be outdone however and stubbornly clung on with a fine point in the 41^st minute. Mairead Wall got her second point in the 44^th minute but once again Limerick refused to wilt and narrow the gap with a well taken point in the 45^th minute, to leave just one between the teams again. In the 46^th minute Liz Devine who was having an outstanding game scored her third point before Aileen Wall and Elaine Power each got points to finally break Limerick hearts.

The icing was finally put on the cake in the 58^th minute when a long through ball caught the Limerick defence napping and an alert Linda Wall read the situation expertly and despatched the ball past the despairing Limerick goalkeeper to finally seal a Waterford win on the score line  Waterford 2-12 Limerick 0-11

This was a tough game in which Waterford came out the right side of the scoreline against a game Limerick team who belied their status as underdogs. In championship the result is usually all that matters and Waterford got the necessary result with a below par performance in general. There is plenty of food for thought for the team management to take from this game but there are also many positives. The defence performed well as a unit especially in the second half with Grainne Kenneally, Grainne Enright and Mary Foley shining. Midfield had a tough night at the office in general but the steadied things down in the latter part of the second half when the pressure came on. Up front Liz Devine can be rightly proud of her championship debut, Linda Wall and Hannah Landers took their goals well and Mairead and Aileen Wall got through a lot of hard work. Lauren Guiry entered the fray in the last quarter and can bre well pleased with her senior inter county debut. Bigger challenges lay ahead for the Deise girls, Tipperary are up next on July 2^nd in a Waterford venue with a 7:30 throw in.

County Under 16 Finals

The first champions on the club scene were decided at Dungarvan GAA grounds on Saturday evening last when four finals were completed. The opening final,the D final was played by near neighbours Clashmore and St Oliver’s and the Green and Red of Clashmore prevailed following the example of their Intermediates who won the Munster sevens two weeks ago with a comprehensive win over a gallant young St Oliver’s team. Next up was the B plate final between Ballymacarbry and Kilrossanty /Brickeys. This was an exciting affair all through but the experience of county under 16 players Becky Hogan and Maeve Ryan ensured that Ballymac became the B plate champions for 2014.

In the under 14 b final it was a case of east meets west when Ballysaggart from the far west of the county did battle with city representatives Roanmore. In what turned out to be the closest battle of the day the girls from the west ably led by captain Emma Power came out on top in a fine sporting game. The fourth final of the day was the A final, this was to be the meeting of Stradbally and Dungarvan. Stradbally, by virtue of the fact that their team contained seven members of the Waterford county team who had narrowly lost in extra time to All Ireland favourites Cork, were the hottest of favourites going in to this game. The Red and Whites justified their favouritism by accounting  for a game and gallant Dungarvan who never gave up trying.

Team Panels were as follows;

Stradbally: Kailyn O'Donnell, Laura Cusack, Roisin Curran, Sarah Mullaney, Sheena McGuickian, Grace Heffernan, Roisin Dunphy, Rebecca Casey, Niamh Power, Jade Queally, Chloe Fennell, Aishling Mullaney, Meadhbh Curran, Margaret Anne Boylan, Rachel McGuickian Subs:Emily Keane, Erika Kiely, Aoife Brazil, Yasmin Power, Kate Heffernan, Aishlinn Keane, Megan O’Brien

Dungarvan: Caoimhe Veale, Niamh McComb, Kelly Tutty, Shanice Mc Carthy, Clodagh Curran, Katie Duggan Sullivan, Emma Gildea, Catherine Murray, Rachel Wyley, Aisling Baumann, Ciara Hurley, Katie Ferncombe, Alix Fitzgerald, Nicole Ferncombe, Orna O Brien, Caoimhe Denmead, Eimear Hayes, Maura Gallagher, Kaiesha Tobin and Shauna Coakley

Ballysaggart: Mags Tobin, Mary O'Brien, Olivia Foley, Niamh Aldred, Eimear Montayne, Emily Prendergast, Erin Mangan, Sharon Williams, Robyn Roche, Becky McGlone, Jane Murphy, Sarah Landers, Emma Power (Captain), Faye Curley, Alice Russell, Ailbhe Roche, Shiona O'Regan, Ellen McCloskey, Claire Murphy, Shauna O'Keeffe, Becky Fennessy, Alison Prendergast, Paige Twomey

Roanmore: Siobhan Howe Eilis Clooney Emily Wadding Aishling Sheridan Orlaith Kidney Sadi-Mai Rowe Sinead O Regan Jessica Devereux Emily Frisby Aoife Clooney Leanne Kennelly, Ali O’Toole Stephaine Grant Kelsey Byrne Stephanie Martin Sarah Lyons Kate Hickey, Arwen Howe Maeve Sheridan Carrie O’Keeffe

Ballymacrbry: Becky Maunsel, Abby Wall, Shauna Hewitt, Brigitta Valuenta, Cliona Murphy, Maeve Ryan,  Ava Kearney, Kelly Ann Hogan, Becky Hogan, Jade Condon, Clodagh Kelly, Ailis Ryan, Ciara Ryan, Becky Desmond, Muireann Boyce, Niamh Ryan, Niamh Power, Chloe Wall, Chloe Mullen, Queenie Mulcahy, Eva Mulcahy,

St Oliver’s: Aine O’Brien, Ella Ronayne, Caoimhe Fogarty, Emma Meskill, Kate Meskill, Ailbhe Looby, Caoimhe Aherne, Emma Stubbs, Angela Walsh, Rachel Seery, Ellen Curran, Sarah Cotter, Alice Sullivan, Saoirse Culloo, Amy Reynolds.