Very National Camogie League Division 1A
Waterford 1-9
Galway 0-15
Report by Tomás McCarthy at SETU Arena
Photos by Noel Browne
Waterford suffered another one score defeat to Galway in round two of the National League on Saturday afternoon.
Jerry Wallace’s side showed way more aggression than the previous week in Cork and led by four early in the second half. Maggie Gostl found the net while Mairéad O’Brien and Niamh Rockett supplied two points apiece. The home team went 32 minutes without a score however.
Galway reeled off eight unanswered singles to secure back to back wins. Carrie Dolan converted eight frees while defenders Shauna Healy, Ciara Hickey and Áine Keane delivered inspirational second half scores.
Back to back defeats puts Waterford in relegation trouble ahead of a trip to Dublin next Saturday. The Déise haven’t beaten the Tribeswomen in league or championship since earning promotion to the senior ranks in 2015.
Mairéad O’Brien proved an absolute handful at full forward. She won high ball, set up scores and ran direct at the maroon defence. Galway tried several different markers on her. Niamh Rockett dragged the Déise back into the game in the first half. Corner backs Rachael Walsh and Alannah McNulty stood up to danger women Niamh Mallon and Niamh Niland.
The Westerners raced 5-1 up after eight minutes. Carrie Dolan converted two frees while Sabina Rabbitte, Niamh Niland and Olwen Rabbitte also split the posts. Maggie Gostl got Waterford’s opener from an acute angle. Abby Flynn beat two Galway defenders in the fourth minute but her shot was blocked by goalkeeper Sarah Healy.
Waterford recovered as Kate Lynch settled into her role as sweeper and Mairéad O’Brien moved to full forward. Direct ball into the Modeligo attacker paid dividends. O’Brien pointed and then grabbed a high delivery which led to a Niamh Rockett score. Abby Flynn added another before Rockett fired a fabulous equaliser in front of the stand. O’Brien saw a shot deflected away for a 45 which Beth Carton converted (0-6 to 0-5).
Niamh Mallon equalised off a turnover ball. The impressive O’Brien restored the Déise’s lead with her second point. On 27 minutes, Carton got in behind the Galway rearguard and played a pass across to Gostl. She missed the ball with the hurley but still managed to deflect it home. A four point deficit was suddenly a four point lead. It could have been greater as O’Brien and Rockett missed chances. Dolan nailed her third free in injury time as the Déise went in a goal to the good at the break (1-7 to 0-7).
Gostl was surprisingly substituted as Annie Fitzgerald entered the fray. Carton put the hosts four ahead once again with a free after 45 seconds. Dolan dispatched three at the opposite end. The Galway defenders followed their markers down the field and corner back Shauna Healy levelled on 51 minutes (1-8 to 0-11).
Number six Ciara Hickey sent over the lead point from distance with four to play. Another Dolan free followed. Carton pulled a free wide of the target before Eimear O’Neill missed the next one. Áine Keane and Dolan (free) sent the Tribeswomen four in front deep into injury time.
Carton hit back with a free. Waterford’s first score in 32 minutes. The vocal Galway backroom team in the stand screamed for the final whistle but Gavin Donegan played seven added minutes. O’Brien failed to connect with a last gasp Carton free as the sliotar sailed left and wide.
Scorers for Waterford: Maggie Gostl 1-1, Beth Carton 0-3 (2fs, 1 45), Mairéad O’Brien, Niamh Rockett 0-2 each, Abby Flynn 0-1.
Scorers for Galway: Carrie Dolan 0-8 (8fs), Áine Keane, Ciara Hickey, Shauna Healy, Niamh Mallon, Olwen Rabbitte, Niamh Niland, Sabina Rabbitte 0-1 each.
Waterford: Noelle Murphy; Rachael Walsh, Keeley Corbett Barry, Alannah McNulty; Bevin Bowdren, Lorraine Bray, Tara Power; Orla Hickey, Eimear O’Neill; Beth Carton, Mairéad O’Brien, Kate Lynch; Maggie Gostl, Abby Flynn, Niamh Rockett.
Subs: Annie Fitzgerald for Gostl (HT), Molly Comerford for Rockett (55), Niamh Ahearne for Flynn (55).
Galway: Sarah Healy; Shauna Healy, Dervla Higgins, Alannah Kelly; Ciara Hickey, Áine Keane, Rachael Hanniffy; Jennifer Hughes, Carrie Dolan; Sabina Rabbitte, Olwen Rabbitte, Niamh Mallon; Mairéad Dillon, Ailish O’Reilly, Niamh Niland.
Subs: Katie Manning for Niland (41), Emma Helebert for Hughes (41), Caoimhe Kelly for Dillon (58), Niamh McInerney for Dolan (64), Ava Lynskey for O’Reilly (64).
Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)
