Back to back Minor Titles for De La Salle, Saint Anne's Win B Title

De la Salle finish strongly in the Minor A to Claim back to back County titles for the first time

Those who follow camogie in Waterford know the achievements under age county teams have had over the last number of years winning Munster and All Ireland titles and how the underage club scene has gone from strength to strength. So last Saturdays Minor (A) Championship Final between De La Salle and Gailltir in WIT Carriganore Sport Campus had the makings of been a very competitive contest.  It was a fantastic final showing that Waterford Camogie has a very bright future ahead. A STORMING FINAL few minutes from De la Salle ensured that they claimed back to back Waterford Minor A titles for the first time.

With perfect weather and underfoot conditions both teams came into this final knowing that only a point separated them in the group stages of the completion earlier in the summer. De La Salle having won the toss lined out defending the campus end goal and playing against a light breeze from the throw in it was Gailltir who registered the first point of the game followed quickly by an equalising point from De La Salle. However the first half was to be all De La Salle’s from here on as Colette Hogan playing at centre back was cutting out supply to the Gailltir forwards. The pairing of Caoimhe Drohan and Courtney Healey dominated the mid-field area setting up De La Salle’s forward line who by the half time break had registered 2-7 to Gailltir’s 0-3.  

Gailltir brought on Anne Corcoran just before the half time break and  made a number of positional changes at the start of the second half, in particular bringing Kate Lynch to mid-field. They  started the second half with serious intent, putting De La Salle on the back foot. Gailltir took the game to De La Salle registering some fine scores and with twenty minutes gone in the second half Gailltir had cut the deficit to three points.

With De La Salle now under pressure the positioning of Niamh Murphy behind the half back line cut out Gailltir’s ability to supply their inside forwards in particular Annie Fitzgerald who was now playing at full forward. In the closing period De La Salle settled the contest to win back to back Minor (A) championship titles with some fine scores finishing the game with 3-17 to Gailltir’s 2-11. It was a fantastic contest with bother teams leaving everything they had on the field.

Other performances of note De La Salle’s: Brianna O’ Reagan, Beth Carton, Abby Flynn (Player of the Match) Aisling Madigan, Emma Fitzgerald. Gailltir’s: Ciara Jackman, Leah Sheridan, Annie Fitzgerald, Clodagh Carroll.

De La Salle Panel: Brianna O’ Reagan, Katie Ryan, Taylor Healy, Rachel Butler, Megan O’ Connor, Courtney Healy (capt), Collette Hogan, Caoimhe Drohan (0-1), Niamh Murphy, Emma Fitzgerald, Chloe Dempsey, Katie O’Keeffe, Abby Flynn (2-2), Beth Carton (12), Aisling Madigan (1-2), Lucy Hogan, Patricia Farrell, Rachael Daniels, Clara Boland, Jade Phelan, Becky Roche, Toni Forristal.

Management: Declan Drohan, Derek Healy, Joe Carton. First Aid: Rose Madigan  

Gailltir Panel: Ciara Jackman, Emma Flynn, Ailis Doyle, Emily Mahony (capt), Sinead Cunningham, Leah Sheridan, Shauna Fitzgerald, Kate Lynch (0-2), Clodagh Carroll (0-2), Ciara O’ Sullivan (0-1), Annie Fitzgerald (2-03), Emma Frampton, Jane O’ Connell, Emer Walsh (0-1), Leah O’ Donoghue, Anne Corcoran (0-2), Laoise McLoughlin, Katie Judge, Treasa Coady.

Management: Orla Fitzgerald, Gail O’ Sullivan.

Referee: Liz Dempsey

 

Waterford Camogie Minor B County Final

St Annes   1-12 Clonea / St Mollerans  1-3

After a highly competitive first half, St Annes pulled away in a convincing manner after the interval and, but for an outstanding performance by Emma Norris in the combination’s goal, the score differential could have far greater.

Clonea / St Mollerans started with a slight wind advantage but struggled to convert chances into scores and relied on Aoife Fleming from 3 converted frees and a goal from Katie Norris on the stroke of half time to see them lead at the break 1:03 to 0:04. The combination missed two goal chances in that first half, which would have been a major boost to their cause and more appropriately demonstrated their superiority particularly in the second quarter. The St Anne’s scores came from Sibeal Harney, Rachel McDonald, Foran and Ciara Behan and they must have been happy going in at half-time, only two points down despite not playing to their potential.

The first 10 minutes of the second half as always are vital in a tight defensively dominated game like this and so it proved again as St Annes took a firm grip on proceedings around the centre of the field through their inter-county senior squad members Sibeal Harney and Saoirse Bonner and powered to a 1:06 to 1:03 lead, the goal coming from Rachel McDonald. The following 15 minutes saw a courageous defensive display from Clonea/St Mollerans as Emma Norris and the back-line in front of her as they repelled attack after attack, conceding only two points, before the floodgates opened eventually with St Annes scoring a further four points in the closing five minutes through Lauryn Foran (3) and Ciara Behan.

Best for St Annes were Aisling Allen, Saoirse Bonner, Roisin Dunphy, Rachel McDonald, Lauryn Foran, Ciara Behan and Player Of The Game Sibeal Harney.

Best for a youthful Clonea / St Mollerans were Emma Norris, Lauren Galvin, Aoife Hahessy, Keeley Corbett-Barry, Heather Hayes, Aoife Fleming and Niamh Cahill.

Scorers: St Annes   Ciara Behan (0-4), Rachel McDonald (1-1), Lauryn Foran (0-4), Sibeal Harney (0-1), Saoirse Bonner (0-1) and Shauna Foran (0-1)

St Molleran’s:  Aoife Fleming (0-3) and Katie Norris (1-0)