Waterford All Ireland under 16 champions

In what could only be described as a heart stopping game of football, Waterford ladies under 16 team brilliantly hung on to eke out a one point victory over a gallant Roscommon team. Playing in ideal conditions, in Mc Donagh Park in Nenagh on Wednesday last the Deise girls showed pride, determination and most of all a major will to win in what proved to be an epic game of football.

From the outset the Waterford girls were up for this match and had gone into a lead after only 56 seconds when Old Parish player Hannah Power kicked the opening point. From the kickout a Roscommon attack was broken up in the Waterford full back line and six passes later a ball from Maeve Ryan ended up with full forward Kaiesha Tobin who made no mistake in despatching the ball past the Roscommon keeper Rebecca Cox. In the 4^th minute the other member of the full forward line Abbey Dunphy popped over a point to leave the team five points ahead 1-2 to no score. One minute later captain Chloe Fennell got in on the scoring act with a point of her own before Kaiesha Tobin put seven between the teams with 10 minutes on the clock. It took Roscommon all of 15 minutes to open their account when centre forward Sinead Farrell pointed a free. The Roscommon cause certainly looked forlorn when a sweeping movement started by full back Emma Gildea, ended up with a foul on Katie Duggan Sullivan and a free from Kaiesha Tobin was flicked to the net by Hannah Power to leave Waterford comfortably in front by nine points 2-4 to 0-1. In the 24^th minute Chloe Fennell extended the Waterford lead with a point and a brilliant save from Roscommon goalie from a rocket of a shot by Kaiesha Tobin which she deflected over the bar for a point left Waterford up by eleven points approaching half time.

Then followed a period of sustained pressure, from Roscommon which left Waterford pocked on their heels. Rosie Landers made a brilliant save from the corner forward Niamh Fleming putting the ball out for a 45metre free. From the resultant free the ball made its way to Roscommon’s Sarah Scally who put the ball in the Deise net. The pressure was mounting on the defence Becky Hogan and Edwina Curran made two vital interceptions at this stage, before Sarah Scally rifled the ball to the net in stoppage time for her second goal. Abbie Dalton then won a vital kick out and with Mary Kate Curran and Hannah Power (St Pat’s) worked the ball in to the free running Abbey Dunphy who steadied Waterford nerves with the final score of the first half a point to leave the half time score Waterford 2-7 Roscommon 2-1.

The throw in at the start of the second half was won by Shauna Fitzgerald and the Gaultier girl passed to her club mate Kate Lynch who quickly played the ball into Katie Duggan Sullivan to score the opening score of the second half after 52 seconds. Roscommon began to find space and excellent work by their midfielder Heather Payne yielded a free which Aoife Galvin slotted over on six minutes. Galvin repeated the act two minutes later to narrow the gap to five points. Roscommon were now in full flow and the Roscommon supporters were in full voice at this stage sensing one of the greatest come backs ever. Rosie Landers made another great save and another Roscommon effort hit the crossbar with Waterford full back Emma Gildea clearing it off the line. Roscommon substitute Áine Mullins added another point to the tally and the once lead of eleven points was suddenly down to four. With twenty minutes still on the clock, Waterford replaced Shauna Fitzgerald with Keeley Corbett Barry in an effort to stem the Blue and Gold tide. The game was held up for about five minutes when the Roscommon corner back in bravely repelling a Waterford attack was injured and required medical treatment.

On the resumption a ball deep into the Waterford defence was scrambled to the net by Niamh Shanagher to leave the bare minimum between the teams with 9 minutes to go. Waterford then introduced Annie Fitzgerald in an effort to steady the Deise ship and it had a desired effect when Annie deftly played the ball to the other substitute Keeley Corbett Barry who was fouled and Kaiesha Tobin pointed the resulting free. Sinead Farrell cancelled this out with a Roscommon point with four minutes to go. Roscommon had a chance to level the match from the kick out but a free from a very difficult angle just drifted wide.

The tension was palpable, the excitement was fever pitch, Abbey Dalton won a kickout and started another attack, and the ball was played into Kaiesha Tobin who was fouled in the square, penalty! Kaiesha stepped up; her expertly struck shot sent the goalie the wrong way but rebounded off the butt of the post and gave Roscommon a lifeline. The Waterford defence held firm and a long relieving clearance from Hannah Power ended up with a Waterford attack going wide with time up. The Roscommon keeper took the kick out and the sound of James Flood’s shrill blast on the whistle was the sweetest sound to Deise ears as they became champions by the smallest of margins. There was joy unconfined when captain Chloe Fennell was presented with the cup and Kaiesha Tobin received player of the match. In her speech Chloe was fulsome in her praise of a wonderful Roscommon team and also of the work and effort put in by the management team of Johnny Troy, Mags Foley, Fionnula Flynn and Ger Curran and first aider Majella Hogan for all their hard work during the year and in making sure that everything was 100% in the preparations for the final. This was a marvellous win for the girls and it was in no small way due to the strength in depth of the panel who give great commitment to the cause.

The Waterford panel was as follows: Rosie Landers, Becky Hogan, Emma Gildea, Edwina Curran, Abbie Dalton, Mary Kate Curran, Maeve Ryan, Hannah Power(St Pat’s), Shauna Fitzgerald, Chloe Fennell, Katie Duggan Sullivan, Kate Lynch, Hannah Power(Old Parish),Kaiesha Tobin, Abbey Dunphy, Shiona O Regan, Meadhbh Curran (Stradbally),Lauren Galvin, Hallanah White, Annie Fitzgerald, Keeley Corbett Barry, Lauren Dunford, Kate Cliffe, Clodagh Curran, Jess Fitzgerald, Shauna Ryan, Maura Gallagher, Leah Maher, Meadhbh  Curran (Old Parish), Clíona Murphy and Lia Nic Craith.

The team and management would like to thank the supporters, who travelled to the matches, the county board for their support and to the clubs who provided pitches for training. A special thank you must go to Paddy Sullivan and John Mitchell’s club for the generous provision of their ground and especially to Tom Dee in having the pitch always in tip top condition.