Waterford Ladies Footballers in All Ireland semi final

Waterford ladies intermediate football team hope to emulate their Camogie counterparts this weekend when they attempt to qualify for the TG4 All Ireland Intermediate final. Waterford travel to the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on Saturday to do battle with the Connacht champions Leitrim with a place in the All Ireland final at stake against either Kildare or Offaly. This promises to be an exciting match with the possible outcome being very difficult to call. In the Munster final Waterford had a four point victory margin over Clare while Leitrim had the same margin against the ladies from the Banner in the All Ireland Quarter Final. The two teams have met once already this season in a National Football League match back in April when the Deise came out on top on a score line of 5-11 to 3-9, but this result will count for nothing when the two teams do battle on Saturday.

Both teams were impressive in their respective quarter finals, Waterford overcame Sligo, while Leitrim had to battle very hard to get the upper hand on Clare. Leitrim possess a fine panel of players, in Michelle Guckian they have one of the best goalkeepers in the country at the moment. Claire Beirne and Melissa Hewitt are excellent defenders  and captain Sarah Mc Loughlin and Anna Conlon are a formidable midfield pairing. Up front their forwards are very sharp and quick to exploit any mistakes. Deirbhille Beirne give a player of the match performance in the Connacht final, while Áine Tighe presented major problems for Clare in the quarter final when she scored three goals and made a fourth for the Leitrim girls.

Waterford have many stars of their own. Katie Hannon is a very accomplished goalkeeper and is ably aided by a strong defence which includes Megan Dunford, Elaine Power and the Mc Grath sisters Michelle and Karen. Linda Wall, the captain leads by example and covers every inch of the field for the cause. Waterford up front are also very strong with a very lively forward line which includes players of the calibre of Hannah Landers, Maria Delahunty, Aileen Wall Sinead Ryan and Gráinne Kenneally who are all more than capable of making life tough for the opposing defences.

It is going to be a tough close encounter between two good teams but if the Waterford defence can put the shackles on Aine Tighe and the rest of the Leitrim forward line, the Deise ladies can look forward to an All Ireland final date at the end of September.

Throw in, in Limerick on Saturday next August 29^th is at 4:15 p.m. and forms part of a double header with the senior semi final between Munster rivals Kerry and Cork.

 

Congratulations

Well done to the Waterford Camogie Intermediate team on their great win over Meath and as a result have qualified for an All Ireland against Kildare in September.

Best wishes to the county under 16 camogie girls who hope to emulate their football companions as they seek to win an All Ireland against Dublin in Mc Donagh Park Nenagh on Sunday next 30^th August.