A confident Waterford camogie team which had shown much promise in the games leading to this Intermediate All Ireland semi-final against Galway at 'The Ragg' on Sunday last failed to reach Croke park for the climax of the inter county season.

The Waterford team knew that a good start to the game was needed but poor play coupled with a bit of bad luck meant that Waterford were training by 1-02 to no score within the first five minutes and could have been worse.

Almost from the throw-in Galway were attacking Waterford and when Emma Hannon slipped while tackling a Galway forward in the first minute, it looked like a goal was imminent except for a fine save from Waterford's goal keeper Aisling O'Brien. Galway didn't have long to wait for their first score and when the ball was sent in on the next attack it was not dealt with by the Waterford backs and send over the bar by Galway's Aoife Callanan. Galway's goal followed straight away when Orlaith McGrath made a direct run from the forty five and shot into the Waterford net. Shortly after a sideline cut was collected by Finola Keely who turned and had time to line set herself and send over the bar form approximately forty five meters. In response Waterford were restricted to scoring chances from frees but missed two of these scoring chances in the first ten minutes.

Waterford had two more wides before scoring our first point of the afternoon when Nicola Morrissey gathered the ball with her back to goal, turned and fired over. Credit has to be given to Galway as they closed down Waterford players in possession very quickly, also Galway prevented Waterford from gaining any momentum by continually fouling the Waterford players to break the play up.

Galway's Aoife Donoghue scored next followed shortly after by Waterford's Zoe O'Donoghue to narrow the gap to 1-3 to 2pts. Waterford seemed to rally midway through the half when points from Trish Jackman (free), Zoe O'Donoghue and Karen Kelly could only be responded by a point from Rebecca Hennelly. Waterford had a goal chance during this period but the Galway defence stood firm and smothered the attack but Galway also had a missed goal chance when Fionola Keely was through on goal and fired wide. The half ended with both sides scoring once more each, first up was a point from Karen Kelly after she was fouled and then Rebecca Hennelly fired over a Galway free out on the 65 meter line. The first half ended on a scoreline of 1-6 to 6 pts in Galway's favour.

The second half started brightly and Waterford were unlucky not to narrow the gap when Trish Jackman fired wide from a free. This seem to spur Galway on, first up was a score from Finola Keely when she received a low ball in and fired over from a tight angle. Galway's second point was scored by Rebecca Hennelly when a Waterford defender fouled the ball.

The Galway team were covering all areas of the pitch and were not allowing Waterford any chances except from a solitary point from Waterford's Zoe O'Donoghue. Galway were in total control of the match now and scored a further four points before Waterford were on the end of some good luck when a long range free from Karen Kelly seemed to be deflected into the goal by the Galway keeper. Unfortunately, this was Waterford's final score of the afternoon while Galway continued to score and fired over three more points although Waterford were continuing to manufacture slim scoring chances but the pressure from the Galway backs ensured that these chances went wide. When the final whistle was blown the score stood at 1-15 to 1-7 in Galway's favour who now progress to the All Ireland Intermediate final against Limerick on September 15th while the Waterford panel will have to wait another season to try and emulate this achievement.
The Waterford panel should not be too disheartened by this final result of the year as this team has a lot to be proud of and the standard of play has improved under the watchful stewardship of Mark Cooney and his background staff. The team reached a league semi-final, won the Munster Intermediate title and the experience from the 2013 campaign will surely stand to the players going forward.

U16s
Best of luck to our U16s that play the All Ireland final in Mallow next Sunday (1st September ) at 2pm against Cork. This team have just been presented with their new kit sponsored by Murrays Pharmacy in Dungarvan. Best of luck to all players in the final. Tweet

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