Waterford open Ladies NFL with game against Wexford

Intermediate league opener v Wexford

Waterford Ladies intermediate football team start on their quest for National League Division 3 honours on Sunday next with a home tie against near neighbours Wexford in Fraher Field. Waterford are under a new management team this year led by Pat Sullivan who has enjoyed considerable success at under age level with both the county and his club Dungarvan. The present panel of 33 players are training well at the moment and have had a number of competitive matches under their belt in the Kennedy Cup, with victories over Limerick and UCC and a loss against University of Limerick.

The squad consists of a mix of players who are experienced at this level, a number of players who are making a welcome return to the inter-county scene and a sizable contingent of the present county minors. In last year’s Tesco Homegrown league Waterford had a reasonably good season winning five of their seven league matches to qualify for the knockout stages where after defeating Leitrim in the semi finals they were narrowly beaten by the division favourites Armagh in the National league final in May.

Waterford are ably led on the field this year by their captain Linda Wall and the Ballymac club are well represented with eight players on the panel. In all, eleven clubs are represented in the squad and manager Pat Sullivan is well pleased with the way the new players have blended in and also how the more experienced players have adapted to new positions and roles in the team.

In the cor responding game last season played in Grantstown Waterford came out on top with a convincing win over a Wexford team that were in transition on a score line of 5-15 to 1-9 with Michelle Ryan and Margaret Revins being the top scorers with 1-6 and 2-2 respectively. The score line on the day did not do Wexford justice and they consequently re-grouped and won a number of matches and had a great draw away to Longford to ensure that their division 3 status was preserved. In the championship Wexford had a fairy tale year ending up as All Ireland junior champions last September beating a very strong New York team in the final.

Wexford have a well balanced team with a number of outstanding players in their ranks, Mary Rose Kelly is an excellent goalkeeper and deservedly won Junior player of the year last season. Last years captain Clara Donnelly forms a strong midfield pairing with Roisin Murphy while up front Ellen O Brien, Fiona Bennett and local Dungarvan based PE teacher Fiona Rochford will cause plenty of headaches for the Waterford defence. Waterford will have a fresh new look about them with Ballyduff’s Katie Hannon in goal, Mary Kate Morrissey and Maria Delahunty all impressing in the early games. The Ryan and the Wall sisters form a backbone to this team and with the experience of Elaine Power and Michelle and Karen Mc Grath should have too much firepower for the Wexford girls but it will be close.

Throw In is in Fraher Field is on Sunday next February 1^st at 2:00 with Niall Mc Cormack in charge of proceedings. Following on from the wonderful attendance we got at our county senior final last season it would be great to see a bumper crowd in the field next Sunday. Half time exhibition games will involve girls from the Dungarvan, Stradbally, Ballymacarbry, Ballysaggart, St Anne’s and Comeragh Rangers clubs.

The other fixtures in the division on Sunday next are

Leitrim v Roscommon, Sligo v Longford and Fermanagh v Tipperary.

Waterford under age teams

The various under age teams at minor, under 16 and under 14 levels are busily preparing for their upcoming encounters in the Munster championships, first in action will be our under 14’s who are defending their Munster title with a home game on 28^th February against Clare with the match fixed for Stradbally. Our under 16’s have a tough opener against Limerick away on March 14^th while our minors team are away to Cork on 28^th March.

Kennedy Cup Play Off

Our intermediate team have a Kennedy Cup play off game against U.L. in Dungarvan this Wednesday night with throw in at 8:00

Code of Ethics/Child Welfare

John Frewen our Child Welfare officer wishes to remind all clubs that  a number of courses will be run in the county in the upcoming weeks. All details will be made available to the club secretaries

Deise Day in Punchestown

Clear the diary and make Saturday May 2^nd a free date in your calendar for “Deise Day “ in conjunction with the Men’s County Board. More details later.