Captain Caithriona McGlone is hoisted shoulder high in the Hogan Stand after Waterford claimed the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie title at Croke Park on Sunday last.
Caithriona McGlone skipped down the steps of the Waterford team bus on Sunday night, and led her team mates in a joyous dash across Rice Bridge, with the Jack McGrath cup in tow.
With the Mount Misery cliff face appropriately re-adorned in white and blue for the occasion, this humble, engaging and talented group crossed the Suir as All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie champions for the first time.
Having seen off Kildare by 2-9 to 1-5 in Croke Park that afternoon, Sean Fleming’s side completed a remarkable year by securing their place in next year’s All-Ireland Senior Championship.
Claiming this title in addition to their Division Two National League title undeniably makes 2015 the greatest year in the county’s camogie history, and ensures thinner competitive air next season. But that’s what it’s all about: pursuing excellence against the game’s best.
And this trailblazing group of players have carved out a niche for themselves, just like the minor hurlers of 1929, the senior hurlers of ’48, the Ladies Footballers of ‘91 and the Under-21 hurlers in 1992: others will follow, but the first-time champions are always particularly cherished.
The stunning progress made over the past half-dozen years has ensured that this cannot be hailed an overnight success, as Sean Fleming has stressed on more than one occasion this year.
But let’s hit the pause button, for this week at least, and revel in one of the headline-grabbing acts of the Waterford sporting year.
To take the ultimate prize, Waterford had to show incredible resolve in both their semi-final win over Meath and Sunday’s victory against a Kildare side they’ve not defeated three times this season.
They trailed in both matches, by nine in the opening moments of the second half against the Royals and by five on Sunday after Kildare exploded out of the blocks with a third minute Noelle Earley goal, soon followed by points from Melissa Lyons and Emer Reilly.
But back came Waterford, clocking 2-4 without reply, the goals coming from Aisling Power and Beth Carton, arguably the finest young camogie talent in the country at present.
And it was fitting that All-Ireland glory was secured thanks to a second half display marshalled by Lorraine Bray, solid as a rock all season and Trish Jackman, who completed 30,000 miles by air, train and road in commuting between Waterford and Lincoln, to make training and to play. Trish’s commitment is comparable to her talent and it’s fair to assume that no-one has ever put in more mileage in ultimately taking a proud place on the steps of the Hogan Stand.
“We’ve a core of girls left from the 2011 junior team and to have so many of last year’s minors gelling the way they have with the older players has really exceeded our expectations,” said a delighted Sean Fleming amidst the hubbub of the Granville foyer.
“I was hopeful from the start of the year that we were capable of doing something special, and every time we were put under pressure this year, we kept responding. We just kept responding, and we got our just rewards today. It’s a great achievement and I’m very proud of them all.”
And so he should be. A lot of us ‘joined the journey’ with this marvellous team this year. Now it’s incumbent that we stick with them as they move into the next level. And they do as All-Ireland champions. Port Láirge abú!
