Gaultier made history at Fraher Field last night as they were crowned Waterford Senior Ladies Football champions for the first time following a 1-8 to 1-4 victory over Ballymacarbry.
In just their third season playing senior football, Gaultier produced an outstanding team performance to overcome the 45-time county champions and secure a landmark first senior title for the club.
Teenager Katie Desmond played a central role in the victory, finishing with 1-1 and later being named Player of the Match.
Desmond opened the scoring inside the opening two minutes before Róisín Kirwan added Gaultier’s second point.
Ballymacarbry responded on 11 minutes when Ava Ryan found the net, but Gaultier quickly regained control.
Desmond powered through the Ballymacarbry defence and fired home a superb goal before Kirwan added another point.
Clare Walsh and Bríd McMaugh kept Ballymacarbry in contention, but two points from Molly Comerford ensured Gaultier went into the half-time break with a 1-5 to 1-2 advantage.
The second half was fiercely contested, with Ballymacarbry continuing to apply pressure as they looked to close the gap.
Gaultier’s defence stood firm throughout, while substitute Emma Fitzgerald made an immediate impact with an important point to restore their three-point advantage.
Ruby Browne reduced the deficit for Ballymacarbry late on, but Gaultier responded once again through substitute Caoimhe Flynn following an excellent team move.
Desmond then won a late free, which Fitzgerald converted to put the result beyond doubt.
The final whistle sparked huge celebrations at Fraher Field as Gaultier completed a memorable 1-8 to 1-4 victory and secured their first ever Waterford Senior Ladies Football Championship title.
Congratulations to the Gaultier players, management and everyone involved with the club on an historic achievement.
Scorers for Gaultier: Katie Desmond 1-1; Róisín Kirwan 0-2; Molly Comerford 0-2; Emma Fitzgerald 0-2 (0-1f); Caoimhe Flynn 0-1.
Scorers for Ballymacarbry: Ava Ryan 1-0; Clare Walsh 0-2 (0-2f); Bríd McMaugh 0-1; Ruby Browne 0-1.
BALLYMACARBRY: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Grace Carrigan, Laura Mulcahy, Emily O’Gorman; Clodagh Hallinan, Karen McGrath, Summer Peters; Sadhbh Hallinan, Alice Meegan; Ruby Browne, Bríd McMaugh, Megan O’Grady; Aileen Wall, Clare Walsh, Ava Ryan.
Subs: Taylor Morrissey for Sadhbh Hallinan (19, inj); Anna Walsh for Megan O’Grady (HT).
GAULTIER: Grace Geraghty; Martha De Paor, Shauna Fitzgerald, Aoife O’Brien; Alannah O’Sullivan, Clodagh Carroll, Erin Butler; Eimear Campbell, Aoife Power; Ali Ferguson, Maeve Sheridan, Annie Fitzgerald; Molly Comerford, Róisín Kirwan, Katie Desmond.
Subs: Emma Fitzgerald for Aoife O’Brien (38); Caoimhe Flynn for Ali Ferguson (49).
Referee: Patrick Smyth (Shamrocks).
