Determined Déise come up short against Cork
Waterford players dejected after the game against Cork in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie semi-final. Photo: INPHO/Bryan Keane
Waterford's All-Ireland camogie journey came to an end on a bright and breezy Saturday evening in Nowlan Park.
Defending champions Cork recovered from four points down to keep their three-in-a-row dream alive. An injury-time goal from super sub Orlaith Mullins and 0-7 from Player of the Match Saoirse McCarthy gave Ger Manley's charges a flattering ten-point win.
Beth Carton was at her breathtaking best. The four-time All-Star shot 1-4 from play. Her fifteenth-minute goal gave wind-assisted Waterford a four-point advantage. Niamh Rockett continued her hot streak in front of goal with five points. She finished 2025 with 3-68 across league and championship.
An injury-time effort by Abby Flynn edged the Déise 1-7 to 0-9 ahead at the break. The underdogs frustrated Cork's inside line as Kate Lynch sat back as sweeper. The speed of wing forward Saoirse McCarthy did cause problems however and she had four points to her name at the break (two from play and two from frees).
Waterford's promising first half fizzled out as Cork continued to punch holes with their pace on the resumption. Katrina Mackey edged the champions ahead with three points in the third quarter. Carton and Rockett hit back at the other end. Emma Murphy left the Déise defence for dust before she split the posts.
Brianna O'Regan and Kate Lynch thwarted a Cork goal but Amy O'Connor and Sorcha McCartan raised white flags. Eimear O'Neill and Rachael Walsh kept plugging away and a Rockett free cut the deficit to three (0-16 to 1-10). The Déise attack struggled to make the ball however and only managed four second half points.
O'Regan saved from Cork sub Cliona Healy in a one-on-one. O'Connor converted the 45. Lorraine Bray got a point back but the Rebel replacements finished the job. Orlaith Mullins scored 1-2 on her introduction as the ladies in red can look forward to an All-Ireland date with Galway on August 10.
