Ballymacarbry take title for the 35th season in a row.

Ballymacarbry took home the Waterford Ladies senior title for the 35^th season in succession with their amazing streak  stretching back to 1981.In this year’s final they got the upper hand on a brave Comeragh Rangers team who never gave up the fight. In a game played in front of a good crowd, in terrible weather conditions in Kilmacthomas on Sunday, Ballymacarbry were much sharper in the opening exchanges and were quickly into their rhythm with points from Aileen Wall, Marian Ryan, Lauren Guiry and Michelle Ryan. The Comeragh Rangers girls were somewhat wasteful in attack and kicked six wides in the first half as well as hitting the crossbar and the upright on two occasions. The telling score in the opening half fell to Ballymacarbry’s wing forward Aileen Wall when she powered in along the end line and put an unstoppable shot past Coleen Power in the Comeragh goal. Two more points from the girls in the Nire Valley left them well in control at half time having amassed one goal and seven points while the Comeragh girls had yet to register on the score board.

Any hopes of a major Comeragh come back were utterly shattered in the first ten minutes of the second half with goals from Eibhlís Cooney and sub Kelly Ann Hogan. Comeragh to their credit refused to throw in the towel and scored five points of their own courtesy of Shauna Dunphy, Emma Murray Aoife Dunne and Ruth Kirwan but it was too little too late as the Ballymac team ran out winners on a final score-line of Ballymac 3-11 to 0-5.Team captain Mairéad Wall was presented with the Edith Kennedy cup to take back to Ballymac for yet another year and was fulsome in her praise of the Comeragh Rangers team who battled hard all through.

Ballymac now advance to the Munster club championship where they will meet the Tipperary champions Brian Borus on the 2^nd October. Comeragh will be Waterford’s representatives in the Plate where they will meet a team from Clare on October 9^th.

  

Dungarvan Junior A champions

Dungarvan took the Junior title in a thrilling final also played in Kilmacthomas on Sunday last against a gallant Na Déise team who never gave up and certainly gave the Dungarvan team and supporters many worrying and uncomfortable moments. Early goals from Lauren Mc Gregor and Dawn Power put Dungarvan in the driving seat and they held a six point lead at half time 2-3 to 0-3.Na Déise came swiftly into the game at the start of the second half and a goal and a point from Clodagh Ryan left only two between the teams. Lucie O Shea and Lauren Mc Gregor rattled the Na Déise net and it looked as if Dungarvan were heading for a comfortable victory, but this was not to be the case as Na Déise upped the pressure and intensity and began chipping away at the Dungarvan lead with a goal from Abbie Dalton and five unanswered points to leave it all square with time almost up Dungarvan 4-4 Na Déise 2-10. In the dying minutes Dungarvan dug deep and with some heroic defending managed to lift the siege and Ciara Hurley added two unanswered points for the Dungarvan girls to ensure that the regained their Intermediate status at the first attempt on a final score line Dungarvan 4-6 Na Déise 2-10 in what was a very exciting game played in poor weather conditions. Dungarvan now advance to the Munster Club Junior semi-finals where they will play the Cork or Kerry champions on Saturday October 8^th.

 

Abbeyside – Intermediate champions

Abbeyside justifying their favourites tag made a winning return to the Senior ranks at the first time of asking in Lemybrien last week when they overcame Comeragh Rangers in a match that was filled with good football played by both teams. This was a game where for the most part defences were on top and forwards found it very difficult to find time and space to score.

Abbeyside started the more brightly of the two teams and an early goal from Róisín Tobin and three points from Maria Delahunty put them in the driving seat. Comeragh began to settle more into the game and opened their account with four good unanswered points, two from Hallanah White and one each from Katie O Hanlon and Shauna Power. Comeragh piled on the pressure but were unable to break down a resolute Abbeyside defence and after points from Megan Dunford, two from Fiona Morrissey Deirbhile Ní Aodha and Niamh Looby, the game was over as contest when just before half time Niamh Looby put an unstoppable shot past Comeragh goalie Aoife Flynn to leave the game at half time Abbeyside 2-8 Comeragh Rangers 0-4.

The level of intensity dropped somewhat in the second half and scores were at a premium. Niamh Looby goaled again for Abbeyside shortly into the second half and try as they might Comeragh could not get through for the all important goals which would have given them a life line. Points from Maria Delahunty and Niamh Looby were cancelled out by points from Comeragh’s Orla Flynn and Shauna Power to leave Abbeyside convincing winners on the final score line of Abbeyside 3-9 Comeragh Rangers 0-6.

Abbeyside are now Waterford Intermediate champions and will play either the Kerry or Cork representatives in the semi-final of the Munster club championships on the 8^th of October.