Gaultier slay giants Ballymacarbry to land a famous first county title
Gaultier captain Molly Comerford lifts the Lawlors Hotel Waterford Senior Ladies Football trophy after her sides win over Ballymacarbry at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field on Friday last. Photos: Noel Browne
Field A fantastic display of teamwork and tenacity from Gaultier earned them a famous first ever Waterford senior ladies’ football title at Fraher Field, as they slayed 45-time champions Ballymacarbry on a 1-8 to 1-4 scoreline.
Teenager Katie Desmond fired 1-1 as the club, who have only been senior for three years, march on to represent Waterford in Munster having seen off provincial champions Comeragh Rangers a week previous.
Gaultier led by three at the break, having hit the front with nearly two minutes played - the lively Katie Desmond taking on her marker before cutting inside to split the posts.
The lead was soon doubled as Ali Ferguson played in Róisín Kirwan for a chance on goal, but her strike flashed over the bar as the underdogs had all the early momentum. It took a while for Ballymacarbry to impose themselves on affairs, but they announced their arrival on 11 minutes with the game’s opening goal.
A searching ball from Ruby Browne was seized by Clare Walsh and she attempted to round Gaultier ‘keeper Grace Geraghty, they collided - but Ava Ryan was on hand to stroke the ball home to the unguarded net and give Ballymac the lead.
It didn’t take long for Gaultier to respond - and they responded in style, as a blistering run from Desmond saw her draw a foul but she profited from the advantage to cut in again from the left and blaze a fierce strike past Lauren Fitzpatrick high to the roof of the net and make it 1-2 in on 1-0.
Kirwan notched her second from an angle, before goal number three nearly arrived when Aileen Wall’s looping effort collided off the upright on 23 minutes - but it was eventually recycled for Bríd McMaugh to come away with a point.
A super run from McMaugh drew a save from Geraghty before a Clare Walsh free brought the gap back to a point, however two points in quick succession from Gaultier captain Molly Comerford ensured Gaultier were at least halfway to a first county senior title at the interval, as 1-5 played 1-2.
Gaultier very nearly struck gold immediately on the resumption but Ruby Browne made a superb block to deny Kirwan, before a well-taken free from Clare Walsh at the opposite end refused the deficit. Nerves began to show as both sides kicked some uncharacteristic wides, before substitute Emma Fitzgerald kicked a pearler to keep Gaultier three to the good on 41 minutes.
Points were of increased importance in this low-scoring affair - and ten minutes passed without one before McMaugh was again thwarted by Geraghty on 51 minutes as Ballymacarbry tried to haul themselves level to no avail. Browne reduced arrears to two with six minutes left, but Gaultier’s substitutes played a huge role as Caoimhe Flynn finished off a fine attack, and her side had one hand on the cup.
Player of the Match Desmond then slalomed through the Ballymacarbry defence and drew a foul which Emma Fitzgerald converted into what was seemingly the insurance point - and so it proved, as scenes of jubilation greeted the final whistle.
A sea of green flooded Fraher Field - a famous win for Gaultier, and thoroughly deserved.
Katie Desmond (1-1); Róisín Kirwan and Molly Comerford (0-2 each); Emma Fitzgerald (0-2; 0-1f); Caoimhe Flynn (0-1)
Ava Ryan (1-0); Clare Walsh (0-2; 0-2f); Bríd McMaugh and Ruby Browne (0-1 each)
Grace Geraghty; Martha De Paor, Shauna Fitzgerald, Aoife O’Brien; Alannah O’Sullivan, Clodagh Carroll, Erin Butler; Eimear Campbell, Aoife Power; Ali Ferguson, Maeve Sheridan, Annie Fitzgerald; Molly Comerford, Róisín Kirwan, Katie Desmond.
Emma Fitzgerald for Aoife O’Brien (38); Caoimhe Flynn for Ali Ferguson (49)
Lauren Fitzpatrick; Grace Carrigan, Laura Mulcahy, Emily O’Gorman; Clodagh Hallinan, Karen McGrath, Summer Peters; Sadhbh Hallinan, Alice Meegan; Ruby Browne, Bríd McMaugh, Megan O’Grady; Aileen Wall, Claire Walsh, Ava Ryan.
Taylor Morrissey for Sadhbh Hallinan (19; inj); Anna Walsh for Megan O’Grady (HT)
Patrick Smyth (Shamrocks)
