Vikki Falconer celebrates with Shona Curran following Waterford's All-Ireland ICC semi-final
Great sporting comebacks are memorable because they are so rare. It isn’t very often that a team or sportsperson overturns a significant deficit, in the face of what appear insurmountable odds.
We all remember Offaly in the 1994 All-Ireland Hurling Final, five points down with five minutes to go, only to defeat Limerick by six.
We readily recall Passage coming from seven points down with seven minutes to go only to see off Ballygunner by three in the 2013 SHC Final, the Ryder Cup ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012, and Liverpool’s Champions League Final resurrection a decade ago.
Should Waterford go on to win this year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie title come September 13th, I have no doubt that Saturday last, August 22nd, 2015 in Nowlan Park will become the Deise side’s own ‘Istanbul’.
To turn over an eight point half-time deficit against Meath, as they did last Saturday is the stuff that dreams are made of.
In the previous three seasons this team have fallen at the penultimate stage at this grade. As they trundled down the tunnel, almost three goals in arrears, those bad memories of past, crushing heartache must surely entered their minds.
Oh to be a fly on the wall during that interval – a camogie dressing room is something I have no knowledge of. I can only imagine the scene.
Was there raised voices and shouting? Angry exchanges, League trophy broken off the wall, inspirational speeches or perhaps just a calm serene air of just knowing what was required. We’ll never know, although I suspect calm voices and clear heads ruled. Nonetheless, some things are best kept in house.
Whatever was said or not said by manager Sean Fleming and his backroom team the one thing we do know is that Waterford came back out onto the field a side transformed.
The introduction of Shona Curran and some positional switches most notably the ever-dangerous Beth Carton to full-forward also helped to worked the oracle.
There was a sea change in Waterford’s attitude and work rate – energy levels which, in the opening half seemed absent, were on supercharge upon the resumption of play.
Lorraine Bray and Catriona McGlone in particular were like spring lambs abound with energy, leaping all over the place, winning possession and generally causing mayhem for their opponents. Beth Carton, as hard a grafter as she’s as graceful with a hurl, chased a Meath player all of 50 yards before hooking and dispossessing her.
The shackles were off and Waterford began to hurl with abandon. And the one constant throughout this game was Trish Jackman, this team’s consistent beacon and natural leader.
We have some great sportswomen in Waterford, such as Kelly Proper, Jessie Barr and Niamh Briggs but Trish Jackman sits comfortably in any company, the top performer in her chosen sport, the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of Waterford camogie.
In a different world, different sport, and different gender I’m sure the likes of Nike and Puma would be forming an orderly queue to snap up such talent.
But Trish Jackman and Sean Fleming’s Waterford have earned their Croke Park appearance. Sunday, September 13th may well prove Waterford Camogie’s day in the sun. We all love winners and make no mistake, these comeback girls are winners. Waterford’s camogie team both deserves and needs support and there are no penalties for being late to the party. There is plenty of room on the bandwagon. I’m on board. We should all be.
