Camogie: Waterford lay down a marker with statement win over Cork

It's early momentum for a strong Déise selection following a right battle with their near neighbours.

Sat, 14 Feb, 2026 - 16:04

Therese O’Callaghan

Waterford 1-12 Cork 0-9

There haven’t been too many victories for Waterford over Cork since they were promoted to the senior ranks 11 years ago, so you can understand the elation in a bitterly cold Azzurri Walsh Park on Saturday when they saw off titleholders Cork in round 1 of the Centra National Camogie league Division 1A.

Michael Boland’s side will stay grounded though, as they know their opponents will be stronger come championship. Cork fielded only four of their All-Ireland final starting 15, with one late change which saw Claire Kingston from Newcestown replace the injured Saoirse McCarthy.

Still, it is early momentum for a strong Déise selection following a right battle with their near neighbours.

The winners were never led. And it was a spectacular goal from Niamh Rockett, while on her knees seven minutes into the second half, that allowed them to push on.

As well, the ever-reliable Beth Carton produced seven wonderful points, all from play, on a day when new rules were trialled and referee Liz Dempsey penalised for the throw pass and dissent.

The first half was the Beth Carton show.

She set the scene with the opening point in the second minute, only for Niamh McNabola to gain parity a minute later. That would be as close as Cork would get, once the hosts got to grips with proceedings.

With the wind in their favour, the next four points went Waterford’s way.

When Carton won possession, she tapped over to extend the lead. And when the same player was fouled, Rockett converted.

An excellent build-up involving Carton and Lorraine Bray, enabled Abby Flynn to split the posts.

Bevan Bowdren’s white flag put them 0-5 to 0-1 up.

A Keeva McCarthy free kept Cork in touch. Carton extended the lead on the quarter hour mark.

Despite Cork putting different markers on the De La Salle star, she added another brace to bring her first-half total to five.

Another superbly struck free from McCarthy in the 27th minute left Waterford with a 0-8 to 0-3 half-time advantage, after Laoise Forrester had moved to perform as an extra defender for them.

From the restart McNabola set up an attack for Cork and when McCarthy followed from a free, the deficit was reduced to a one-score match.

Whilst green flags were hard to come by, a super shot from off her knees saw Niamh Rockett score the only goal of the game in the 37th minute - the highlight of the hour.

The game ebbed and flowed, but significantly Waterford kept control.

With 10 minutes left, everything was going Waterford’s way, and it remained a six-point contest. Orlaith Cahalane was introduced and injected pace to the Cork attack as a Murphy (free) and Ava McAuliffe reduced the arrears to four, 1-9 to 0-8.

With renewed drive, Waterford hit points in the 56, 58 and 60 minutes from Orla Hickey, Bray and Carton. Cork needed a goal and the nearest they came was a Murphy shot that was dealt with by ‘keeper Brianna O’Regan.

Murphy’s injury time free was the final say. Waterford had already picked up their first set of points.

Scorers for Waterford: B Carton (0-7), N Rockett (1-1, 0-1 free), L Bray, A Flynn, O Hickey and B Bowdren (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: K McCarthy (0-3 frees), E Murphy (frees) and N McNabola (0-2 each), A McAuliffe and I Sheehan (0-1 each).

WATERFORD: B O’Regan; V Falconer, C Carroll, A McNulty; R Walsh, K Corbett Barry, C Sherlock; L Bray, A Flynn; E O’Neill, B Carton, B Bowdren; N Rockett, L Forrester, R Kirwan.

Subs: M Gosti for R Kirwan (37 inj), O Hickey for L Forrester (40), S Lacey for N Rockett (48), A O’Sullivan for C Sherlock (55).

CORK: A Lee; M Murphy, L Coppinger, D O’Brien; R Harty, C Kingston, A O’Neill; M Condon, A Thompson; A Fitzgerald, K McCarthy, E Murphy; C O’Callaghan, N McNabola, H Ryan.

Subs: A Cashman for C Kingston (half-time), A Sheppard for C O’Callaghan (37), I Sheehan for K McCarthy (40), O Cahalane for H Ryan (44), O Cremin for A Fitzgerald (46), A McAuliffe for N McNabola (55).

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny).