Déise two wins away from knockout camogie
Waterford ’s Brianna O’Regan in action against Antrim when the sides met in the 2023 League in Creggan. Photo: Inpho.
The equation is simple for the Waterford camogie team: two wins against Antrim and Derry over the next two Saturdays will take them into the knockout stages of the All-Ireland championship for the seventh year in a row.
Ten points will secure a quarter-final at Croke Park in July at the very least. Top spot and a semi final berth is also a possibility.
After earning a last ditch draw against Kilkenny, Waterford enjoyed a training camp in Fota last weekend. All-Ireland winning player and manager with Cork Donal O’Grady stopped by to offer words of encouragement.
Full-forward Mairéad O'Brien has eased the scoring burden on Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett this summer. Five goals in three championship games for the Modeligo attacker thus far. She also nailed that late, late equaliser in Nowlan Park. Her power and pace are a potent combination.
Carton never lets her standards slip. After Kilkenny found the net, she was the one who led the Waterford retaliation. The four-time All Star has accounted for 24 points in three outings. She scored 2-10 in this fixture last year.
Goalkeeper Brianna O’Regan is in All Star form yet again. Her shot stopping and coolness under the high ball inspires confidence around her. Clodagh Carroll usually marks the opposition’s top forward while Laoise Forrest is growing in stature at number six. She sweeps as a spare defender but also gets stuck into tackles.
The Déise boast greater strength in depth than previous seasons. Sarah Lacey and Annie Fitzgerald made a difference when they came off the bench two weeks ago. The return of Vikki Falconer and Abby Flynn will give them even more options. Jerry Wallace has earmarked this game for both of them from a long way out. Falconer hasn’t played for Waterford since suffering that cruciate knee ligament injury in the All-Ireland final last August. Flynn’s last appearance came against Cork back in February before she also succumbed to a knee problem. Anne Corcoran and Clara Griffin are also on the road to recovery.
2024 ranks as a downright miserable year for Antrim. The Saffrons sit bottom of the Group 1 table after suffering three defeats by a total of 48 points. Kilkenny put 6-15 past them while Derry and Tipperary also enjoyed comfortable wins. Carl McCormick and Martin Coulter took over the team in March when Brian Kearney and Mark McFadden stepped down midway through the league. Wexford inflicted a 52 point beating during that Division 1B campaign (12-20 to 0-4). Elaine Dowds, manager for the previous two years, was surprisingly replaced at county convention last winter. Despite all the upheaval, Róisín McCormick remains a class act up front. A job for Clodagh Carroll perhaps.
Waterford had 21 points to spare when the sides met at the SETU Arena twelve months ago. After a long journey, Wallace’s team should make short work of their opponents.
