At a very pleasant function held in Croke Park on
Sunday last, 24th September Waterford’s All Ireland winning team of
1992 was honoured along with the runners up Laois. The members of the team who
had travelled from far and wide assembled in Croke Park where they received a
memento of the occasion from LGFA President Marie Hickey. The team were then
introduced to the spectators who acknowledged their wonderful achievement of
twenty five years ago.
In 1992 Waterford opened their championship
campaign in Newmarket on Fergus against Clare with a comfortable 2-17 to 2-2
victory. This led to a Munster final against perennial rivals Kerry in Fraher
Field, the 6th consecutive final to be played by these two great
rivals. Top scorer for Waterford at the time Áine Wall was faced with a major
dilemma. She had her hand in plaster from an injury against Monaghan earlier in
the summer and was under strict instructions not to take the plaster off. On
the Thursday before the match she was
dissolving the plaster in a bucket of cold water. Áine wasn’t going to let the
small matter of a broken bone in her wrist prevent her from playing in a
Munster final. In a very tense match Waterford came from a goal down early on
to win by four points in dreadful conditions with Áine Wall justifying her
actions by being Waterford’s leading scorer on the day with four points.
On Sunday the 4 October, Waterford ran on to Croke
Park as warm favourites against Laois. Having defeated the O’Moore County the
previous year, they fancied their chances. Waterford had the wind in the
opening half. Catriona Casey opened the scoring with a point, then Bernie Ryan
hit a precision 50 yard pass over the Laois full back line and Aine Wall buried
the ball in the back of the net. Everything was going according to plan but
Laois had other ideas and Linda Brennan goaled. Then Kathleen Murphy scored a
second Laois goal and Waterford were in trouble. Noirin Walsh, Geraldine O’Ryan
and Marie Crotty kicked points but Laois hung in there and left the field at
half time level, 2-3 to Waterford’s 1-6 with wind advantage to come in the second
half.
Waterford seemed in dire straits, Regina Byrne
retired injured and was replaced by Honor Lonergan. As referee Johnny Hayes
threw in the ball for the second half, the wind had got stronger. But Waterford
answered the challenge with a super second half performance with the back
particularly outstanding. Bernie Ryan’s long pass found Geraldine O’Ryan and a
quick pass put Aine Wall in, and the Laois net bulged, a crucial goal and a
mortal wound for Laois. Marie Crotty kicked 3 great points, Claire Ryan made
her debut when she came on as a substitute and Aine Wall had the final say to
secure a memorable 2-10 to 3-4 victory.
Waterford lined out as follows: Patricia Butler
(Ballymacarbry), Regina Byrne (Ballymacarbry), Martina O’Ryan (Ballymacarbry),
June Whyte (Kilrossanty), Sinead Walsh (Ballymacarbry), Ann Fitzpatrick
(Ballymacarbry), Cleona Walsh (Ballymacarbry), Bernie Ryan (cap.
Ballymacarbry), Noirin Walsh (0-1 Ballymacarbry), Olivia Condon (Na Deise),
Geraldine O’Ryan (0-2 Ballymacarbry), Catriona Casey (0-1 Ballymacarbry), Fiona
Crotty (Ballymacarbry), Aine Wall (2-2 Ballymacarbry), MarieCrotty (0-4
Ballymacarbry), Subs:Honor Lonergan(Na Déise), Claire Ryan (Ballymacarbry),
Michelle Walsh(Ballymacarbry), Rose Donnelly (Dunhill), Lorena Mooney (Kill),
Julie Torpey (Kill), Colette Whyte (Kilrossanty), Deirdre Wall (Ballymacarbry).
Mascots: Michelle Ryan, Louise Ryan.
Manager/Coach/Trainer: Michael Ryan (Ballymacarbry) Assistant coach: Brigid
Grant (Ballymacarbry)
Team captain Bernie Ryan completed a unique record,
she had received the Munster senior, the All Ireland senior, the National
league, the Munster and All Ireland club cups, 5 in total, the first person to
do so – a remarkable achievement.
Well done to all concerned and we hope that your
visit to Croke Park brought back wonderful memories of the Golden Age of
Waterford Ladies Football.
My thanks to Michael Ryan in his help in compiling
this piece.
No comments:
Post a Comment