Waterford are Under 16 All-Ireland Shield champions at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny on Saturday afternoon last when they proved to be too strong for Offaly.

This was Waterford’s seventh time contesting an All-Ireland at this age level. Back in 2003 when the Under 16 championship was the minor championship, Waterford beat Armagh to win a first B title, and while they lost out at the same grade in 2007 and 2009, the Deise County went on to capture the ‘B’ All-Ireland title once more in 2014, 2015 and 2019.

And while Saturday’s win was a Shield win, it was the first time that Waterford won an ‘A’ Grade All-Ireland at this level, showing that the game is moving in the right direction in Waterford.

When the two sides met in the round robin section of the competition, it was Waterford that came out on top, but often is the case when two sides meet in the same championship for a second time, it is often the side that lost the first outing that goes on to win having learned most from the earlier game, but here Waterford were always in control.

Within seconds of the game throwing in Aoife Power played a great ball in around the Offaly goal which was won by Sophie White-Langford whose effort was blocked and put out for a 45 with 20 seconds on the clock, and from the resulting puck De La Salle’s Katie Mullane, a player we will hear a lot from in the years to come fired over the crossbar.

Points for the centre field paring of Niamh McGrath and Aoife Power had Waterford three up in as many minutes and like Aoife Power followed up with her second of the game.

Katie Mullane put over a brace of scores, the first from a free, the second a brilliant score from play before Waterford created a second goal scoring chance when Jodie Whelan fired low and hard at the Offaly goal but Aoibhinn Slattery in the Offaly goal made a brilliant save.

10 minutes into the game Niamh McGrath found Jodie Whelan on the edge of the square and she batted past Aoibhinn Slattery for the games first goal, and in doing so put Waterford nine points in front.

Just second later Aoife Power send in a ball from out the field which was not dealt with the defending Offaly players and when the ball fell to Jodie Whelan she finished to the net with a strike along the ground for her second major score of the game.

Laura Foley hit the mid-landers opening score on 13 minutes, but would have to wait another eight minutes for their next score when Siofra Kinty pointed from a free.

Waterford however would finish the half strong as Katie Mullane put over a fine effort for Waterford’s first score in 15 and it was quickly followed with a score from Caoimhe Flynn to give Waterford a 2-8 to 0-2 lead at the break.

Having played with a strong breeze at their backs in the opening half, Waterford knew they were going to face a much stronger test in the second and so it proved to be.

Keeva Davey on the restart put over an excellent long range free for Offaly which was followed with a Caoimhe Flynn effort at the other end.

Niamh McGrath and Aoife Power well all over Waterford did in this game and so was Katie Mullane, and when the centre field paring combine to attack the Offaly goal after the ball was lost, the De La Salle sharp shooter was on hand to win the ball and she fired to the net to give Waterford a 3-9 to 0-3 lead with 34 minutes played.

Siofra Ginty pointed from a tight angle second later, which was responded to with an effort from Elaine Coady.

Roisin Phelan hit her sides fifth score 12 minutes into the second half, and Laura Foley followed up with another score from play as Offaly began to eat into the Waterford lead with the game in its final quarter.

Offaly won a penalty with 13 minutes remaining which was hard to see what it was for as some of the Offaly players looked surprise but there could have been the slightest of tugs on the shirt of Ali Smyth. Keeva Davey was given responsibility of shooting from 20 metres out, but she saw her effort go wide of the posts.

Siofra Ginty put over a 45 with nine minutes remaining to keep the scoreboard ticking over, which was followed with another Katie Mullane effort at the other end.

Keeva Davey with another long range free brought Offaly’s tally for the game to eight, and while Siofra Ginty put over a late brace of scores for Offaly it was too little too late for her side.

WATERFORD: Lucy Beresford; Keeva Barry, Sophie Carroll-Lawler, Caragh Elliott; Katie Desmond, Maya Rossa, Frances McCann; Niamh McGrath, Aoife Power; Elaina Coady, Laura Beresford, Katie Mullane; Sophie White-Langford, Caoimhe Flynn, Jodie Whelan.

Subs: Katie Kenny for Elaina Coady (45), Amy Beresford for Caragh Elliott (55), Amy Power for Caoimhe Flynn (58), Doireann O’Riordan for Frances McCann (58), Jayne Gater for Katie Desmond (58), Tilly Nolan for Keeva Barry (60)

Scorers: Katie Mullane 1-5 (2f, 1 ’45), Jodie Whelan 2-0, Aoife Power, Caoimhe Flynn 0-2 each, Niamh McGrath, Elaina Coady 0-1 each.

OFFALY: Aoibhinn Slattery; Elodie Loonam, Tara Moran, Moya Cummins; Ailbhe Martin, Ruby Oakley, Rachel Cunningham; Siobhan Ryan, Ali Smyth; Caragh Brophy, Laura Foley, Keeva Davey; Holly Sexton, Siofra Ginty, Annie Mulhare.

Subs: Katelyn Canham for Holly Sexton (27), Róisín Phelan for Siobhan Ryan (35), Shauna Mannion for Caragh Brophy (40), Dara Delaney for Annie Mulhare (49), Amber Mortimer for Rachel Cunningham (55), Aimee Fitzgerald for Elodie Loonam (63), Saoirse Spain for Moya Cummins (63), Mary Kilrane for Ruby Oakley (63).

Scorers: Siofra Ginty 0-6 (2 ’45, 1f), Keeva Davey 0-2, Laura Foley, Róisín Phelan 0-1 each.

Referee: Enda Loughnane (Galway)