The Ballymacarbry ladies stayed on track for 43 county titles in a row with a 3-10 to 2-1 win against Gaultier in Colligan on Saturday morning.
Clare Walsh, Aileen Wall and Ruby Browne all found the net for Mike Guiry's side. Goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick made a second half penalty save from Emma Fitzgerald. Ballymac will meet the winners of Comeragh Rangers and Erin's Own in the county final.
Emma Fitzgerald and Róisín Kirwan goaled for Gaultier. Aoife Hartley and Clodagh Carroll stood out in defence.
This game was moved from 4 pm to 10 am due to the orange weather warning for Waterford. Ballymac took the field with twelve of the team that lost the All Ireland club final to Kilkerrin-Clonberne at Croke Park last December.
Both sides struggled with the blustery conditions in the first quarter. Former Waterford captain Karen McGrath eventually opened the scoring for Ballymac on eleven minutes.
The girls in blue squeezed the kickout and three points followed in the space of 60 seconds. Lily Browne, Aoife Barron and Aileen Wall made it four nil by the fourteenth minute.
The champions continued to punish Gaultier turnovers as Lily Browne and Clare Walsh added points. On 19 minutes, veteran defender Michelle McGrath intercepted a kickout. She passed to Aileen Wall who put Walsh through on goal. The number fourteen rolled the ball to the back of the net (1-6 to 0-0).
Two minutes later, Annie Fitzgerald won a Gaultier penalty. Emma Fitzgerald buried it in the bottom corner of the net. The Eastern side were guilty of six first half wides as they reached the dressing rooms six points adrift.
Aileen Wall put the game to bed when she fired to the top corner within five minutes of the restart. Clare Walsh brought her personal tally to 1-2 before Kellyann Hogan kicked two points.
Clodagh Carroll won a late penalty for Gaultier but Lauren Fitzpatrick dived to her left to deny Emma Fitzgerald. Róisín Kirwan did grab a consolation goal with two minutes left. Ballymac went down the other end straight away as Aoife Barron and Aileen Wall created a goal for Ruby Browne.
