Determined Waterford not shirking new challenges

The tests are coming thick and fast for Waterford’s ladies as they adjust to life back in Division One – an away date at Cork C of I last weekend ended in a 4-0 defeat, while this weekend they must hit the road again to take on champions Cork Harlequins.

A baptism of fire it certainly is, but the Déise girls have no interest in shirking the challenges that lie ahead this season, if defender Karen Power’s fighting talk is anything to go by.

“I guess survival would be the primary aim, although having said that we are a team that is used to winning after last year and that is a great habit to be in,” she explains.

Waterford's Paula Guiry shields the ball from C of I's Rebecca Sweetnam and Cathy Kenefick last weekend. Picture: Rachel McSharry

“We are well up for a good battle, and showed plenty of heart and determination last year – we will expect to contest at the very least and won’t be happy without some decent results. At the very least we will strive to earn the respect of our Cork and Limerick counterparts!”

No-one can deny that Waterford’s desire and hunger to re-establish themselves as a force in the top tier is good for the game in Munster, creating as it does a third centre for hockey across the Division One spectrum.

Power is aware of this, and adds that maintaining a team at the highest level is important for hockey in the south-east too, pointing to talents such as Jeamie Deacon, Fiona Bradish and Niamh Herlihy who have left to experience top-level hockey with their college teams.

“It’s a great opportunity for the club to establish themselves as a Division One side again,” says Power. “We have an excellent underage structure with a number of good U14s coming through, so its important for the senior players to try and build for them to aspire to and hopefully come through the ranks.

“We’ve had the problem before of players leaving after school to play with their college teams, so it will certainly be a help if we can boast a Div1 team. We’ve teamed up with WIT to try and develop the sport further in Waterford. It’s also a boost for the club having lost our men’s teams a couple of years ago.

“As I’ve alluded to before we will strive to earn the respect from Munster that we deserve. We are a small club and constantly struggle for numbers both on the pitch and off. We have a committee which does Trojan work to keep the club going and to try and develop the sport, particularly at underage level.

“I think that it’s crucial that Munster sees and recognise the contribution that Waterford makes to (hockey in the province), relative to the size of the club. Last year we had three senior teams playing Munster League and two U14 teams. At times some players played two (even three!) games in a weekend to help make a team, never mind a squad! We also have great numbers at kids hockey, which is run every Sunday morning.”

The Waterford team that played the club's first game in Division one since being promoted last year. Picture courtesy of Karen Power.

But back to more pressing matters; Power feels there were plenty of positives to be taken from last weekend’s Garryduff defeat, despite the comprehensive look of the score-line.

“There were some nerves before the game, but I think all things considered we had a respectable performance and realised that we can in fact hold our own in Division One,” she said.

“We played an organised and well-versed C of I team, while our set-pieces left a lot to be desired. But, again on a positive note that is something that we can easily work on. We’ve had soccer and camogie players finishing seasons so we haven’t had the preparation that we might like with a full team but that will also improve.

“I’d say (it was) a wake-up call, and we know what we need to do. By all accounts we’ll have our work cut out at Harlequins next week but if nothing else we’ll be up for the challenge!”