Gaultier slay giants Ballymacarbry to land a famous first Waterford county title

Teenager Katie Desmond starred for Gaultier, scoring 1-1

Gaultier, only senior for three years, are Waterford champions. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Waterford Senior Ladies Football Championship final: Gaultier 1-8 (11) Ballymacarbry 1-4 (7) 

A fantastic display of teamwork and tenacity earned Gaultier a famous first Waterford senior ladies’ football title at Fraher Field, defeating 45-time champions Ballymacarbry 1-8 to 1-4.

Teenager Katie Desmond starred with 1-1 as Gaultier, senior for only three years, secured a Munster campaign after beating provincial champions Comeragh Rangers the previous week.

Desmond opened the scoring inside two minutes before Róisín Kirwan doubled the lead. Ballymacarbry responded on 11 minutes when Ava Ryan finished into an empty net after Clare Walsh and goalkeeper Grace Geraghty collided.

Gaultier answered emphatically. Desmond burst forward, played advantage after being fouled, cut inside and fired high past Lauren Fitzpatrick to make it 1-2 to 1-0.

Kirwan added another point before Aileen Wall struck the upright at the other end, with Bríd McMaugh eventually pointing from the recycled attack. Walsh’s free reduced the deficit, but two Molly Comerford points sent Gaultier in 1-5 to 1-2 ahead.

Ruby Browne brilliantly blocked Kirwan after the restart, while Walsh converted a free for Ballymacarbry. With nerves showing and wides accumulating, substitute Emma Fitzgerald landed a superb point to restore Gaultier’s three-point cushion.

Ten scoreless minutes followed Fitzgerald’s point as every chance became increasingly precious. McMaugh was denied by Geraghty on 51 minutes as Ballymacarbry pushed desperately for an equaliser, but Gaultier’s defence repeatedly stood firm under pressure, before Browne cut the gap to two with six minutes remaining. Gaultier’s bench then made a decisive impact, Caoimhe Flynn finishing a flowing attack to edge them closer to history.

Player of the Match Desmond soon weaved through the Ballymacarbry defence and won a free, which Fitzgerald converted for the insurance score.

The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes as a sea of green flooded Fraher Field, celebrating a landmark victory for Gaultier and a thoroughly deserved first senior county crown.

Scorers for Gaultier: Katie Desmond (1-1); Róisín Kirwan and Molly Comerford (0-2 each); Emma Fitzgerald (0-2; 0-1f); Caoimhe Flynn (0-1) 

Scorers for Ballymacarbry: Ava Ryan (1-0); Clare Walsh (0-2; 0-2f); Bríd McMaugh and Ruby Browne (0-1 each) 

BALLYMACARBRY: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Grace Carrigan, Laura Mulcahy, Emily O’Gorman; Clodagh Hallinan, Karen McGrath, Summer Peters; Sadhbh Hallinan, Alice Meegan; Ruby Browne, Bríd McMaugh, Megan O’Grady; Aileen Wall, Claire Walsh, Ava Ryan.

Subs: Taylor Morrissey for Sadhbh Hallinan (19; inj); Anna Walsh for Megan O’Grady (HT) 

GAULTIER: Grace Geraghty; Martha De Paor, Shauna Fitzgerald, Aoife O’Brien; Alannah O’Sullivan, Clodagh Carroll, Erin Butler; Eimear Campbell, Aoife Power; Ali Ferguson, Maeve Sheridan, Annie Fitzgerald; Molly Comerford, Róisín Kirwan, Katie Desmond.

Subs: Emma Fitzgerald for Aoife O’Brien (38); Caoimhe Flynn for Ali Ferguson (49) 

Referee: Patrick Smyth (Shamrocks)