Waterford's Aoife Dunne heads towards goal despite the attention ofr Clare's Claire Hester during their recent Munster Championship meeting at Fraher Field
Waterford’s intermediate Ladies Footballers go in search of a seventh Munster Intermediate title on Saturday afternoon when they take on Clare in Mallow.
Victory on Saturday would mean that it would be the second time that the county have won seven titles in a row at provincial level, equalling the run which was achieved by the great side of the 90s.
Clare go into Saturday’s game in the knowledge that they have been playing football at a higher grade than Waterford in the last few years which they will feel is something that will stand to them.
The Banner have played a League division above Waterford in the past two years after Waterford were relegated at the end of the 2013 competition and they have been playing senior since they won the Munster Intermediate Final in 2008.
However, the Banner are playing without some important players from the last few years of late.
Niamh O’Dea, a dual inter-county player is in the US for the summer. Another inter county player Eimear Considine is part of the Irish Rugby Sevens panel that’s attempting to qualify for next summer’s Olympics while Naoimi Carroll is also attempting to qualify for next summer’s Olympics with the Irish Hockey team.
Another player that has served the side well over the past few years Louise Henchy is also not involved of late.
It remains to be seen if any will play any part this weekend for Clare and if they are not involved it will be a blow to their counties chances.
When they visited Fraher Field recently for the final game in the round robin series of games Clare had some good performances from the likes of Grainne Nolan, Niamh Keane, Ellie O’Gorman, Kate Coughlan, Róisín Howley, Marie Considine and Ciara Cahill.
Waterford won that match by seven points and will know that even with the somewhat understrength side that they fielded they could have won by more.
However, it should be noted that in addition to the players mentioned above for Clare that were missing, they also made five changes to the published team on the handout before the game started.
Waterford ought to start with Katie Hannon between the posts with Megan Dunford, Michelle McGrath and Linda Wall starting in the full-back line with Elaine Power flanked by Emma Murray and Mairead Wall.
However after strong showings in the last game, Nora Dunphy and Caoimhe McGrath would also merit starts in defence.
In the middle of the field Karen McGrath could well be partnered by Louise Ryan while in attack Maria Delahunty will start at centre-forward with Aileen Wall and Grainne Kenneally on the flanks and Sinead Ryan on the edge of the square with Mary Foley and Aoife Murray operating in the corners.
However, other players such as Hannah Landers and Michelle Ryan could also push hard for a place in the team from the start.
Clare will feel that they can improve on the recent loss against Waterford but the Deisewomen will deservedly go into this match as favourites.
