In Croke Park this Saturday, Waterford and Cork will line out for the third time this year, but this time all the chips are on the table.
Defeat to the Leesiders in Munster as well as in the All-Ireland series means that Cork are 2-0 so far, but the Déise girls will be hoping to make it 2-1 when it counts for the most.
A Munster Championship semi-final loss to Matthew Twomey's side was followed by another loss in the group stages of the All-Ireland series. That loss was one of only two that Derek Lyons' side shipped in the All-Ireland campaign.
Dublin were too good on the opening day, but aside from the Dubs and the Rebelettes, Waterford have been a force to contend with in this year's Championship.
Photo Credit Noel Browne
How we got to this point
Wexford offered less than what may have been expected when they came to Walsh Park in May. Captain Lorraine Bray was to the fore at the city ground firing 2.2, with Orla Hickey also raising a green flag. De La Salle supremo Beth Carton drilled over 8 points as part of the 3.18 to 0.9 demolition of the Yellowbellies while St. Annes Niamh Rockett was five points to the good - all of them coming from play.
Tipperary had proved to be a spectre looming over Waterford's shoulders for four years. Making the quarter-final stages every year since 2018 Waterford were knocked back by the Premier on each occasion, but 2022 saw that trend get bucked.
1.16 to 0.13 was how it ended. Abby Flynn’s first-half goal proved decisive for the Déise - who scored the first six points in a dominant showing in wet and windy conditions. Beth Carton hit 0-8 while captain Lorraine Bray led from the front once again with 0-3 from play. Roisín Kirwan proved a real handful with two points and two assists from full-forward, while Niamh Rockett hit three points.
Photo Credit Noel Browne
While the Tipp result was historic for a number of reasons, it wasn't the most important result for one player. Defender Kelley Corbett Barry thought the win over Wexford was the won that spearheaded their campaign.
"We all know that playing Dublin in the first round didn't go well for us. We just wanted to park it there and then. We knew we had way more in us so going out against Wexford we just brushed off the shoulders and went at them. I think it's fair to say we pulled off a great performance that day. It showed us what we're able to do and what we're capable of. It was great to have that confidence going into the Tipp game. We were playing Division 2 at the start of the year and it was a real turning point in the sense that we're at the seni0or stages now and we're driving on from here. It clicked with us as regards the level we need to be at. After the Wexford game we were at training and we thought that we need to drive on from here. That's what we did and we got the win against Tipp then."
Unfortunately, that history-changing win over Tipp was followed by a second loss to Cork, but a final group game win over Clare could not have offered a better end to the group phase. 2.12 to 1.12 away in Cusack Park was a huge positive note for Waterford heading into the knockout stages. Despite a strong fight back from Clare, Derek Lyons' team were able to gut out a home stretch rally to deny the Banner a home win in what was a fantastic game of camogie.
The trip to Dublin
With two losses on the board against Cork this year, revenge must be on the mind this weekend. A knockout game offers a chance for payback with no opportunity for Cork to come back at them.
Barry is of the opinion that regardless of geographic proximity, Cork are a rival much like every other team are rivals.
"Every team that we're playing now you have to see them as a rival. I don't really think it makes a difference whether they're Munster or Leinster or anything like that. You're going out with one job - to get a win on the board. It was tough when we played them the last day not getting the win, but we know the talent we have in the group. There's so much belief in the group that there's nothing stopping us on Saturday."
