Wallace full of praise for resilient defender Falconer

Waterford manager Jerry Wallace is delighted to see defender Vikki Falconer return to action after suffering an ACL injury during last year’s All-Ireland camogie final.

The Deise were dealt a hammer blow when their outstanding marker left the field in the opening minutes of last year’s decider, Waterford’s first since 1945.

Falconer ended with a torn ACL but did collect an All-Star for her performances over the course of the campaign

“Vikki is one of those players that has given her life to camogie,” Wallace told WLR this week.

“What happened her in the All-Ireland final last year, no matter who you were – I was following Cork that day – our hearts went out to her because she is a tremendous player and we were all looking forward to seeing her battle with Amy O’Connor that day.

“Vikki has been meticulous. I remember I met her in December in Dungarvan at the very first training session when we got together.

“She came over to me, coat on and tracksuit, and she said, ‘Jerry, will you keep me in the programme?’ I said, there was never any doubt that I was keeping her in the programme and we would assist her in any way to get back.”

Falconer got some game time in the victory over Antrim last Saturday and is likely to see more for this Saturday’s clash with Derry at Walsh Park.

A draw will be enough to see the Suirsiders through to the quarter-finals, while a Derry win would give the Oak Leafers the prized spot in their stead.

Wallace is buoyed by having the strongest panel available to him since his appointment, with the return to fitness of Falconer, Abby Flynn and Anne Corcoran among others.

Into the bargain, he feels that the squad has answered his exhortation to take some of the scoring pressure off 2023 Player of the Year, Beth Carton, not least Modeligo powerhouse Mairéad O’Brien, who has raised at least one green flag in each of her four outings to date, scoring six goals in total.

“It’s a winner-takes-all game. We’re really looking forward to Derry coming to town, to Waterford, to Walsh Park. We’ve great respect for them. They’re coming in as the (intermediate) champions of last year so I’ve no doubt they’ve got their dreams and aspirations for themselves but we have ours as well and that’s to get back into a quarter-final again.

“As a manager, and a group of players, we are delighted we have all our main ammunition available for selection.”