Déise so close in savage league final battle
Waterford senior camogie team that lost out to Galway in the Centra National Camogie Division 1A League final played at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday last. Photos: Noel Browne
Waterford stood toe to toe and traded blow for blow with Galway in a bruising Division 1A Final on Sunday, but fell just short in their pursuit of a first-ever league title.
The Déise supporters, who took over Nowlan Park, stayed out on the field afterwards to acknowledge their efforts. A major trophy remains elusive, despite this never-say-die performance, as the composure of the reigning All-Ireland champions prevailed in the end.
A frantic and physical battle, on a bright and breezy April afternoon, was level nine times. Space and scores at an absolute premium. Plenty of rucks resulted, with referee Liz Dempsey happy to let them develop. Pretty tense but not a pretty spectacle.
A replay looked the most likely outcome with 59 minutes on the clock. Galway full forward Mairéad Dillon then galloped through the Déise defence. She let fly, but Brianna O’Regan got down low to deflect the ball away. Waterford couldn’t clear their lines, however, and Galway cooly worked the ball across to Carrie Dolan, who popped over the lead score.
The captain struck seven points on a day when fellow All Stars Aoife Donohue and Niamh Mallon were held scoreless. Super sub Caoimhe Kelly also left her mark. Her first point tied the game at ten all. Her second pushed them two up three minutes into injury time.
Modeligo attacker Mairéad O'Brien enjoyed her best day in a Déise shirt. An unstoppable force when she pumps the legs and solos hard at opposition defences. She shot three points from play before a heavy hit from Mairéad Dillon led to her withdrawal. With Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett heavily policed, MOB was Waterford’s go-to forward.
Rachael Walsh kept 2025 Player of the Year Aoife Donohue under wraps. The Butlerstown defender never shirks a challenge. She even went on the front foot to drive her team up the field. Alannah McNulty and Keeley Corbett Barrry also emerged with dirty ball in a strong rearguard action.
In such a tight game, a goal would have sent Waterford up the steps. Three chances came their way. In the first half, Keeley Corbett Barry charged forward just like she did for De La Salle in the 2022 county final. She blasted over the bar with Mairéad O’Brien completely unmarked to her right. The number three took a late blow from Róisín Black in the process. With nine minutes left, Galway goalkeeper Sarah Healy spilt an O’Brien point effort, and Black nipped in before Waterford sub Maggie Gostl. In the first of four added minutes, Healy dropped another point attempt, this time from Orla Hickey, but Gostl couldn’t force the sliotar over the line. One of those would have made all the difference.
Lorraine Bray could have won a penalty early in the second half. The Waterford captain shipped a hefty tackle from Black when she was through on goal. Bray got back on her feet and shot right and wide under pressure from Rachael Hanniffy, but the play was never brought back.
Despite the fuel crisis, Waterford fans flocked to Nowlan Park from all parts of the county. A massive roar greeted the team when they took the field. Singer Allie Sherlock entertained the fans at half-time and got swarmed by autograph hunters on the sideline!
Waterford will rue their slow start to this final. With wind assistance, they dropped four balls short into Sarah Healy and struggled to win possession off their long puckouts. Tight to the sideline, Beth Carton unleashed a spectacular strike off her left to open the scoring. Galway worked the ball through the lines into the elements. A point from corner back Rachael Hanniffy made it 4-2 at the end of the first quarter. Centre back Ciara Hickey also raised a white flag. The sweeping six frustrated the Waterford attack.
Keeley Corbett Barry’s lung-bursting run only yielded a point, but it was a badly needed score all the same. Orla Hickey lifted the Déise crowd by hunting down Katie Anna Porter and a Niamh Rockett free resulted. An Abby Flynn point followed. Mairéad O’Brien scored one and set up another for Eimear O’Neill. Rockett made a trademark catch and laid off to Carton. From an identical spot to her first point, she split the posts off her right. Seven all it stood at half time. It looked ominous for Waterford with the wind in their faces for the second half.
Lorraine Bray marked Niamh Mallon at wing back initially but moved to midfield on the restart. She tore up the field from the throw in and won a free that Rockett converted. It was score for score and blow for blow after that. The marauding O’Brien led the Waterford charge with two further points. Maggie Gostl looked menacing on her introduction. Those late scores from Carrie Dolan and Caoimhe Kelly eventually broke the deadlock and secured an eighth league title for Galway.
Waterford left it all out there. This group are close to a major breakthrough. So close.
Carrie Dolan 0-7 (5fs), Caoimhe Kelly 0-2, Niamh McPeake, Ciara Hickey, Rachael Hanniffy, Shannon Corcoran 0-1 each.
Mairéad O’Brien, Niamh Rockett (3fs) 0-3 each, Beth Carton 0-2, Eimear O’Neill, Abby Flynn, Keeley Corbett Barry 0-1 each.
Sarah Healy; Rachael Hanniffy, Róisín Black, Dervla Higgins; Katie Manning, Ciara Hickey, Katie Anna Porter; Jennifer Hughes, Carrie Dolan; Niamh Mallon, Niamh McPeake, Aoife Donohue; Aoibheann Barry, Mairéad Dillon, Shannon Corcoran.
Caoimhe Kelly for Barry (41), Niamh Niland for Corcoran (54), Niamh McInerney for Mallon (61).
Brianna O’Regan; Alannah McNulty, Clodagh Carroll, Vikki Falconer; Rachael Walsh, Keeley Corbett Barry, Lorraine Bray; Orla Hickey, Abby Flynn; Bevin Bowdren, Beth Carton, Eimear O’Neill; Mairéad O’Brien, Niamh Rockett, Laoise Forrest.
Ciara Sherlock for Bowdren (HT), Maggie Gostl for O’Neill (41), Roisin Kirwan for Flynn (45), Alannah O’Sullivan for O’Brien (60).
Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)
Mairéad O’Brien had her best ever game in white and blue.
Just like the All Ireland Final, a late Carrie Dolan point edged Galway ahead.
Waterford fans felt aggrieved with some of the second half decisions.
The Déise are off to Clare on Saturday for a Munster Quarter Final.
