Déise camogie deliver dominant display on the road in Galway
Waterford's Eimear O’Neil in control as Galway's Katie Anna Porter tries to make a challenge during their Centra National Camogie League Division 1A clash played in Athenry. Photos: INPHO/Bryan Keane
Waterford registered an impressive victory over All-Ireland champions Galway in the second round of the national camogie league on Saturday afternoon in Athenry. Michael Boland’s side followed up their excellent win over Cork in round one by taking the spoils in the west, and the Déise were full value for their victory.
The Déise flew out of the blocks in the first half and had four points on the board before the home side registered a score. Beth Carton opened the scoring with a point after two minutes, before Niamh Rockett converted her first free shortly after.
Lorraine Bray scored Waterford’s third point after a pacey run, before Carton tallied her second, an excellent individual effort from the left wing. The Déise were well on top throughout the pitch and dominating the home side.
Galway captain Carrie Dolan got the westerners' first point, but Waterford continued to dominate. The visitors were putting Galway under constant pressure and forcing them to concede fouls. Rockett tallied three frees during the next ten minutes, after fouls on Eimear O’Neill, Sarah Lacey, and Carton.
Shortly before half-time, some strong Waterford pressure forced Galway defender Alannah Kelly into overcarrying. Rockett made no mistake in pointing her fifth free of the first half, to leave the Déise 0-8 to 0-1 ahead at the interval.
The home side badly needed scores, and they got a break early in the second half. A fifty-yard free from Niamh Mallon dropped under the crossbar and deceived Noelle Murphy in the Waterford goal. This goal was a badly needed boost for Galway, and they followed it up with a pointed free from Mallon ten minutes later.
At the other end, Mairéad O’Brien sent over a good score from 45 yards to give the visitors a four-point lead. Mallon and Rockett soon exchanged frees at either end, to leave the score at 0-10 to 1-3 midway through the second half.
Lorraine Bray was having a storming match in midfield, and she soon tallied her second point after playing a one-two with Carton. Mallon was keeping Galway in touch at the other end, and she added a free and an impressive effort from play, after linking up with substitute Caoimhe Kelly, to leave three points between the teams.
Rockett soon took her personal tally to 0-7 with a close-range free in injury time, which provided the insurance score for a well-deserved Waterford win. The Déise were sharper, faster, and hungrier than their hosts on the day. Their team's play was very impressive, and they took the right options on the ball throughout the game.
A fortuitous goal from Mallon kept Galway in the contest, without which the home side would have been beaten even more comprehensively. In truth, Waterford were dominant in most positions on the field for the vast majority of this match.
It may be early in the season, but Waterford are certainly shaping up well for 2026. Going to the home of the All-Ireland champions and coming away with the spoils was an impressive way to back up their first-round win over Cork.
On the day, Boland’s side had excellent individual performances from Clodagh Carroll, Keely Corbett-Barry, and Orla Hickey in defence. Lorraine Bray was outstanding in the middle of the field, getting on a world of ball and setting up numerous attacks for Waterford.
Beth Carton was typically classy at centre forward, while Eimear O’Neill and Bevin Bowdren got through a huge amount of work on the wings. Niamh Rockett was always a threat in the inside line and superbly accurate from frees.
Next up for Waterford is a trip to Ballymena on Saturday, 7 March to face Antrim with a 1pm throw-in.
N. Mallon 1-4 (1-3 f), C. Dolan 0-1
N. Rockett 0-7 (0-7f), L. Bray 0-2, B. Carton 0-2, M. O’Brien 0-1
L. Freeney; A. Crowe, R. Black, K. Manning; A. Kelly, C. Hickey, K.A. Porter; R. Hanniffy, A. Carr; J. Hughes, C. Dolan, A. Donohue; N. McPeake, N. Niland, N. Mallon.
K. Madden for A. Kelly (41 mins), M. Dillon for Niland (41 mins), C. Kelly for McPeake (49 mins), S. Corcoran for Porter (61 mins).
N. Murphy; V. Falconer, C. Carroll, A. McNulty; R. Walsh, K. Corbett-Barry, O. Hickey; L. Bray, C. Sherlock; E. O’Neill, B. Carton, B. Bowdren; N. Rockett, S. Lacey, A. Flynn.
M. O’Brien for Flynn (24 mins), L. Forrest for Lacey (45 mins), A. O’Sullivan for Sherlock (54 mins), M. Gostl for Bowdren (57 mins).
Cathal McAllister (Cork).
