Golden day for Déise camogie
Waterford's Bevan Bowdren under pressure as she tries to clear.
A breathtaking 1-11 from Beth Carton blasted Waterford into the Munster final on Saturday afternoon.
In a ferociously physical encounter, where referee Cathal McAllister let it flow, the Déise dug deep to recover from six points down against the league champions and set up a provincial decider with Cork on May 19. Carton's goal on 44 minutes turned the game around. Her point taking was jaw dropping throughout. The 2023 Player of the Year split the posts from all angles off left and right. De La Salle club mate Brianna O'Regan produced two crucial saves in injury time as Tipperary chased an equalising goal. Dual star Mairéad O'Brien was a menace all afternoon with her driving runs.
A third straight win over Tipp but no mad celebrations like last year’s All Ireland semi-final success against the same opposition. In fact, shortly after the final whistle, the unused subs did sprints behind one of the goals. They will meet Tipperary again on May 25 in the All-Ireland series.
Jerry Wallace made three changes from the six point win over Limerick as Iona Heffernan, Mairéad O'Brien and Kate Lynch started instead of Aine Power, Róisín Kirwan and Annie Fitzgerald. Tipp went with twelve of the team that beat Galway in the league final last month.
The Premier edged a helter skelter first half 11-10. Denis Kelly's side led six nil after just eight minutes. Clodagh McIntyre soloed forward from the throw in to show their intent and Eimear McGrath pointed the free that followed. McGrath then struck one over off her knees just like Brian Corcoran did for the Cork hurlers. McIntyre, Grace O’Brien and Karen Kennedy also raised white flags. Kate Lynch followed Kennedy throughout.
A foul on Alannah McNulty allowed Carton to open Waterford’s account in the ninth minute. Tara Power won the next puckout and Rachael Walsh hit one from play. Clodagh Carroll settled into the sweeper role and cut off the supply to the Tipp attack. Carton scored from a tight angle before Orla Hickey found her with a quick free and she slotted another.
Six points from the four-time All Star dragged the Déise back into the contest. She started in the full forward line alongside Niamh Rockett. The 2020 All Star shot two from play. Two brilliant blocks from Tipp corner back Eimear Loughman denied her a goal in injury time.
The second half continued in end to end fashion. Cathal McAllister gave no soft frees to either side. Carton levelled within two minutes of the restart from out on the sideline. McGrath, Caoimhe McCarthy, Kennedy and Caoimhe Maher hit back at the other end to make it 15-12.
On 44 minutes, a long range Brianna O’Regan free was kept in play by substitute Annie Fitzgerald. The ball bounced off the astro turf and Carton batted to the net (1-14 to 0-16). That goal gave Waterford belief. Lorraine Bray punched the air after Mairéad O’Brien set her up for a point. Carton created one for Fitzgerald to leave them two up entering injury time. Eimear McGrath surprisingly sent two frees wide for Tipp.
A minute into added time, Carton grabbed a crucial puckout, soloed along the stand sideline and struck a beauty off her left. The score of the day. Even the Tipperary supporters admired it. The blue and gold needed a goal and worked the ball into Róisín Howard but O’Regan blocked her shot. McAllister came back for a free. McGrath went low but so too did the Déise number one who dived to her right to deflect the sliotar away for a 45.
McGrath dropped one in and Orla Hickey took a rattle just as the final whistle sounded. The Waterford physio ran over as the players celebrated. The game in a nutshell.
It’s such a pity that the Munster Final, Waterford’s first senior Munster decider since 1968, will clash with the Clare v Waterford hurling match. The game will act as the curtain raiser to Tipperary v Cork in Thurles. Families who have players on both squads will have to choose between the two.
A golden hour from Waterford’s golden girl Beth Carton.
Carton’s goal was the catalyst for another famous win over Tipp.
Why wasn’t this game played as the curtain raiser in Walsh Park?
Waterford versus Cork in the Munster final on May 19 at Semple Stadium.
Eimear McGrath 0-7 (6fs), Karen Kennedy 0-3, Caoimhe McCarthy, Grace O’Brien 0-2 each, Clodagh McIntyre, Mary Ryan, Caoimhe Maher, Casey Hennessy 0-1 each.
Beth Carton 1-11 (6fs), Mairéad O'Brien, Niamh Rockett 0-2 each, Lorraine Bray, Rachael Walsh, Annie Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
Nicole Walsh; Julieanne Bourke, Mairéad Eviston, Mary Ryan; Caoimhe McCarthy, Eimear Loughman, Clodagh Quirke; Clodagh McIntyre, Casey Hennessy; Karen Kennedy, Caoimhe Maher, Eimear Heffernan; Grace O’Brien, Eimear McGrath, Róisín Howard. Tess Ryan for Mary Ryan (49), Mary Burke for Heffernan (49), Niamh Treacy for O’Brien (51), Karin Blair for McIntyre (58).
Brianna O’Regan; Keeley Corbett Barry, Laoise Forrest, Iona Heffernan; Tara Power, Clodagh Carroll, Bevin Bowdren; Lorraine Bray, Orla Hickey; Alannah McNulty, Rachael Walsh, Mairéad O'Brien; Niamh Rockett, Beth Carton, Kate Lynch. Annie Fitzgerald for McNulty (37), Sarah Lacey for Rockett (37), Róisín Kirwan for Walsh (55).
Cathal McAllister (Cork).
