Waterford will face Galway in the All Ireland Camogie Quarter Finals at Croke Park next Sunday.
Captain for the day Beth Carton scored 2-8 (1-7 from play) as the Déise enjoyed an 18 point victory over Derry at a rainy Walsh Park on Saturday afternoon. Abby Flynn fired 1-2 from play in the first half while goalkeeper Brianna O'Regan also starred with a second half penalty from Aine Barton. Waterford tried to pip Kilkenny for second place in Group 1 but came up short on score difference.
The home line-up showed three late changes as Rachael Walsh, Sarah Lacey and Róisín Kirwan started instead of Lorraine Bray, Mairéad O'Brien and Vikki Falconer. Sixteen underage teams from around the county gave the Déise a guard of honour as they ran out on the field.
In dark and dreary conditions, Waterford made a dazzling start. Beth Carton hit a point with just thirteen seconds on the clock. She then converted a free after a foul on Rachael Walsh. In the second minute, Róisín Kirwan turned over the ball from a Derry short puckout and passed to Abby Flynn. The De La Salle attacker cut in from the right and shot low to the Derry net. Two goals in two championship games.
Flynn finished the half with 1-2 and got fouled for a penalty on 18 minutes. Carton blasted it home off her left side (2-8 to 0-1). The 2023 Player of the Year then killed the ball with her hurley in the middle of the field and struck over a magic point. 1-4 was her first half tally. Lacey, Walsh and Kirwan also chipped in with points.
In a lop sided encounter, Waterford could afford to shoot eight wides and miss three other goal chances. Derry only managed four first half shots. Áine Barton got their first point on fourteen minutes while Bríd Rogers and Aoife Shaw also raised white flags as the hosts led 2-9 to 0-3 at the interval.
Points from Carton, Lacey and Annie Fitzgerald increased the lead to fifteen at the start of the second period. Barton belted over two placed balls at the other end.
Waterford went twelve minutes without a score before Carton tore through the Derry defence. Niamh Gribbin got a touch to her shot but it still found the top corner of the cobwebs. With five minutes left, Brianna O'Regan dived to her right to deny Barton from the spot. Her third penalty save of 2024. All Star material.
The All Ireland Quarter Final between Waterford and Galway will throw in at 1.30 next Sunday in GAA HQ. It will act as the curtain raiser to Limerick versus Cork in the All Ireland Hurling Semi Final.
