Déise dream of first Munster title in 65 years
Pictured at the launch of the 2024 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships in Croke Croke this week were: Mayo's Grainne Delaney, Armagh's Leanne Donnelly, Tipperary's Caoimhe Maher, Galway's Roisin Black, Cork's Molly Lynch, Waterford's Keeley Corbett Barry, Offaly's Clodagh Leahy and Westmeath's Muireann Scally. Photos: Inpho.
The year of Waterford’s last All-Ireland hurling title was also the year the Déise last conquered the Munster camogie championship.
In July 1959, a Marion Murphy goal helped Waterford to a 1-3 to 1-2 win over Tipperary in Cahir. Lillian Howlett O’Sullivan, winner of four inter-provincial medals, was also part of that Déise team. Her granddaughter Annie Fitzgerald will take the field on Sunday.
Camogie historian Mary Moran confirmed that 1968 was the last time Waterford contested a provincial showpiece. They lost to Cork by a point (2-4 to 2-3).
The class of 2024 are up there with the top camogie teams in the country. Making the 2023 All Ireland was no fluke. Nine months after that nineteen point loss to Cork in Croke Park, they are back in another major final.
Beth Carton would be a star in any era with her strength, her skill and her shooting off left and right. 1-11 in a golden hour against Tipperary carried the team into this final. Will she team up with fellow All Star Niamh Rockett in the full forward line once again? Captain Lorraine Bray is another who would walk on any team in the country. The ball carrying ability of Mairéad O’Brien gives them another attacking weapon.
2023 All Star Saoirse McCarthy scored 1-3 in Cork’s Munster semi-final win over Clare (1-17 to 1-9). The speedster will take stopping not to mind All-Ireland hat trick hero Amy O’Connor. Apart from last year’s Munster quarter-final, the ladies in red have dominated this fixture. Between 2015 and 2024, Cork have won 13 out of their 14 meetings.
They shaded a low scoring encounter in the league (1-6 to 0-6) but Waterford took encouragement out of it. The match-ups went to plan as Clodagh Carroll curtailed both Katrina Mackey and Amy O’Connor.
Déise boss Jerry Wallace knows these Cork players inside out. He won four All-Ireland minors but didn’t got the nod for the senior position. Waterford play with the same passion that their manager shows on the sideline.
After leaking five goals to the Rebelettes in the All-Ireland, Wallace decided to bolster the back line. They have kept five clean sheets in seven games this season. Carroll returned to the sweeper role against Limerick after spending the league at full back. Laoise Forrest played up front during the spring but returned to number three for the provincial campaign. Tara Power and Bevin Bowdren have nailed down regular places while Iona Heffernan forced her way back into the team last time out. It helps that Brianna O’Regan is one of the best goalkeepers in the land. Her match winning saves against Limerick and Tipperary underlined that.
All Star defender Vikki Falconer togged out as sub goalkeeper in the last two games as she continues her recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury. Abby Flynn and Clara Griffin won’t be back until the start of the All-Ireland series at the earliest.
It is a pity that such a huge game is taking place at the same time as Clare versus Waterford in the Munster hurling championship. Parents will be forced to choose between sons and daughters who will be wearing the county jersey in different parts of the province.
Waterford want to prove that 2023 was no flash in the pan. This team possess the attacking flair and the defensive structure to go up the Semple steps on Sunday.
