History awaits for Gailltír this afternoon should they come out on the right side of the Munster Club Camogie Championship Final against Clare champions Truagh Clonlara.
Not since Ardkeen in 1984 have a Waterford club played their part in Munster Camogie’s senior showpiece - but having seen off De La Salle in Waterford before cruising past Limerick’s Newcastle West, the sky is the limit for what Róisín Hartley’s side can achieve.
The club have tasted success in Munster four times at intermediate level as well as their famous All-Ireland success in 2020 - but now feels like exactly the right time for the blue and navy to make their mark at Munster senior level.
No Waterford club has ever lifted the AIB Senior Cup, but not many Waterford clubs have possessed as much talent as Gailltír have at their disposal.
One of the stars of this Gailltír team is remarkably still a minor - namely Emma Fitzgerald.
After her county final heroics, Fitzgerald shot 1-6 against Newcastle West of Limerick in the Munster semi-final last weekend, and joint captain Kate Lynch says she’s an incredible asset for the club to have.
“Sometimes we come across each other and she’s a tough one to mark, she can go anywhere”, said Lynch. “Her first touch and her hurling ability is second to none. It’s the same with her sister Aoife - the two of them are definitely the most skilful on our team without a doubt. She’s a tough one to be marking in training, you definitely wouldn’t be volunteering to mark her anyway.”
Truagh Clonlara find themselves at this stage of the competition having defeated Tipperary champions Clonoulty Rossmore last time out - and like Gailltír, they too are bidding for their first ever Munster senior crown.
Lynch says they are wary of the fact many of their squad have inter-county experience with the Banner.
“There’s kind of three or four names that you’d definitely recognise from playing with the Clare panel over the last number of years, but this is our first time competing at the senior level in Munster so we’ve never actually come across them before. We’re really looking forward to the occasion, it being a first ever senior Munster final for the club and we can’t wait for it.”
Lynch is hoping to see some familiar faces in the crowd in Fethard.
“Hopefully we get good support, we had great support the last day which was over three hours away, so hopefully people can get out and support us this Sunday in Fethard.”
Gailltír versus Truagh Clonlara will be brought to you live on WLR this afternoon thanks to Loanitt.
Join Tomas McCarthy and Mark English for live commentary from 2:50pm in Fethard.
For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.
