Magnificent Murray fires Rangers to a famed first county crown
WLGFA Chairperson Mark Power presents Comeragh Rangers Keeley Corbett Barry and Emma Murray with the 2024 Senior trophy after their brilliant win over Ballymacarbry at Fraher Field. Photos: Eddie Dee.
Waterford Ladies Senior Football Championship Final
Comeragh Rangers 5-3
Ballymacarbry 1-6
‘The Dog Days Are Over’ rang out from the Comeragh Rangers dressing room on a freezing cold Friday night in Dungarvan. County champions at long last.
Ballymacarbry's 42-year reign came to an end in spectacular fashion as four goals from Déise attacker Katie Murray and one from substitute Aoibhe Shankey fired Comeragh to a famous win. A pitch invasion from substitutes, mentors, family and friends greeted Paddy Smith’s final whistle. Former manager Joe Murray embraced current manager Ger Power on the sideline. An outpouring of emotion after losing ten of the previous eleven deciders to their great rivals.
“Today is finally our day,” joint captain Keeley Corbett Barry exclaimed from the stand. The cup will need a new handle as it broke off during the presentation!
Long serving defender Nora Dunphy was in a state of disbelief. She lost twelve senior finals prior to Friday night. “I won a junior medal in 2005, an intermediate medal in 2006 and to eventually get a senior medal today is just unreal!” She celebrated with her kids Maeve, Áine and Darragh. “It’s unbelievable to have my three children supporting me. To get back playing after having each of them was huge for me. I love the game, I’m just speechless.”
She was in sixth class when Seanie Power called her onto the panel. “I was playing the Primary Game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, we met Seanie and he invited me to play with Comeragh Rangers. I think it was back in 2000 or 2001 and I’ve been playing ever since. I was 12 or 13!”
Katie Murray ran at Ballymac all night from centre forward. Her third goal was a sensational solo effort. One of the finest ever scored at Fraher Field. A raspier to the top corner of the cobwebs. Trish Kelly, Orlaith Kennedy, Cora Murray and Aoife Murray made tackles and turnovers in a compact Comeragh defence. Their opponents didn’t score from the 35th minute onwards.
Ballymacarbry were gracious in defeat as Karen McGrath congratulated the Comeragh players. Former manager Michael Ryan wished them all the best in Munster. Bríd McMaugh, Aileen Wall and Lily Browne were the pick of the players in blue. Turnovers at the back proved costly.
Katie Murray’s first half hat trick put Comeragh firmly in command at the break (3-1 to 1-3). In the second minute, she palmed to the net after a hand passing move involving Emma Murray and Eibhlín Power. Aileen Wall rifled over Ballymac's first point in the eleventh minute. She added another from a tight angle.
Three goals arrived between the 19th and 21st minutes. Katie Murray was quickest to react when her sister Emma struck the post. She attempted a fisted point but it dipped below the crossbar. The ball flicked off a Ballymac defender and landed in the net. The holders hit back straight away as Bríd McMaugh beat three defenders and poked home. Katie Murray then soloed past three blue shirts and billowed the top corner. She punched the air with delight.
Ballymac cut the gap to one in the third quarter as Kellyann Hogan, McMaugh and Lily Browne all split the posts. It looked ominous for Comeragh at this stage but they rose to the challenge. Déise camogie player Máiréad Power kicked their first point of the second half on 43 minutes. Emma Murray intercepted the subsequent kickout and supplied Katie for her fourth green flag. There was no way back for Ballymac after that.
Substitute Aoibhe Shankey lashed in a fifth major nine minutes from time. Caoimhe Hassett’s late point was the icing on the cake as Comeragh played possession football in the closing moments. The dog days are over for the girls in red, green and yellow.
Katie Murray 4-0, Aoibhe Shankey 1-0, Caoimhe Hassett, Máiréad Power, Clodagh Power 0-1 each.
Bríd McMaugh 1-1, Lily Browne, Aileen Wall 0-2 each, Kellyann Hogan 0-1.
Abbey Norris; Nora Dunphy, Trish Kelly, Orlaith Kennedy; Caoimhe Hassett, Cora Murray, Aoife Murray; Emma Murray, Keeley Corbett Barry; Áine Power, Katie Murray, Máiréad Power; Clodagh Power, Eibhlín Power, Ava Connolly.
Shauna Dunphy for Ava Connolly (41), Aoibhe Shankey for Clodagh Power (41), Ellen Bolger for Áine Power (51), Kaylynn Broxson for Máiréad Power (55), Sarah Connolly for Eibhlín Power (60).
Lauren Fitzpatrick; Sadhbh Hallinan, Michelle McGrath, Maeve Ryan; Karen McGrath, Ruby Browne, Grace Carrigan; Aoife Barron, Kellyann Hogan; Aileen Wall, Bríd McMaugh, Ciara Ryan; Lily Browne, Clare Walsh, Summer Peters.
Orla Barron for Ciara Ryan (HT), Clodagh Hallinan for Lily Browne (47), Aoibhin McCarra for Walsh (60).
Paddy Smith
Comeragh goal getter Katie Murray.
Katie Murray’s fourth green flag killed the Ballymac comeback.
The end of an era in Déise ladies football.
Comeragh will meet Tipperary winners Moyle Rovers in the Munster championship on October 27.
