Waterford camogie star Orla Hickey says confidence is growing within the camp as they prepare for a major All-Ireland Series showdown with Galway Today in Walsh Park.
Speaking following their opening-round victory over Tipperary in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Series, Hickey said it was “always nice to get revenge” after the earlier Munster final defeat, and praised the squad’s response.
Waterford opened their All-Ireland campaign with an important home win over Tipperary, a result Hickey felt showed both progress and resilience within the squad.
She noted that while key forwards Bet Carrington and Niamh Rocket were well marshalled, the team’s strength came from elsewhere on the day. Eimear O’Neill’s standout performance earned her player of the match, with Hickey highlighting the importance of having multiple players stepping up when needed.
“Tipperary had their homework done on our main scorers, but it’s great to see other girls really showcase their talent,” she said.
Waterford now returns to Walsh Park, a venue Hickey says brings an added lift for the players. Having spent much of their early championship campaign away from home, she believes the return to Waterford support can make a real difference.
“It means a lot to us. You can really get a crowd behind you, and it’s always special playing at home,” she said.
Today’s opponents are reigning league and All-Ireland champions Galway, a side Waterford know well after meeting twice already this season. Galway came out on top in the league final in Nolan Park, but Waterford did secure a league win away in Galway earlier in the year, adding intrigue to the latest meeting.
Hickey expects a fierce response from the western side.
“They’re champions for a reason. They’ll be very physical, very direct, and we’re expecting a real battle,” she said.
She added that recent results, including Cork’s win over Galway, will not change Waterford’s preparation, stressing that “you always expect a different Galway team to show up.”
Waterford have reached two finals this season but came up short on both occasions, a setback Hickey admits has been tough to process. However, she says the group has shown maturity in moving forward quickly.
“You have to park it, learn from it, and move on. At the end of the day, we weren’t good enough on those days,” she said.
One of the key positives this season has been the growing strength in depth across the panel, with returning players and emerging talent adding competition for places. Hickey highlighted the impact of players such as Clodagh Carroll returning, Alicia Forrest coming into the squad, and Roisin Curran making an impact off the bench.
“This is one of the strongest panels we’ve had. There’s real competition, and it’s bringing everyone on,” she said.
She also spoke about her on-field understanding with Lorraine Bray, saying she enjoys pushing forward and contributing in attacking areas when possible. Bray’s leadership, she added, has been invaluable both on and off the pitch.
With a strong sporting calendar competing for attention, Hickey finished by encouraging fans to come out and support the team in person.
“There’s nothing like live sport. The atmosphere is different when you’re there,” she said.
Fixture: Waterford vs Galway
Competition: Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Championship, Group 1
Throw-in: 2:00 pm Sunday, 14th of June
Venue: Azzurri Walsh Park
Sport on WLR is brought to you by Auto Boland Ford.
For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.
