On Wednesday, October 29th, the Waterford Minor Ladies Footballers were honoured with a Civic Reception at Waterford’s City Hall, in recognition of winning the ZuCar U-18 C All-Ireland title.
Having edged out Armagh with a one-point win in the All-Ireland Semi Final, the Waterford players, through outstanding teamwork, grit and composure claimed the All-Ireland title on July 26th. A pulsating final against Westmeath saw the Déise team claim their second U-18 title in a row with a scoreline of 5-20 to 3-10.
The team, management, and family members were greeted warmly by Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Seamus Ryan, Elected Members and the Council’s management team.
Mayor Ryan welcomed the team and said, “This group of young women came together from 14 different clubs across the county, travelling long distances, training early mornings and late nights, and put in huge effort, all for the love of their sport and their county. That level of dedication, week in and week out, is something to be immensely proud of.
“Under the guidance of manager Fiona Laffan and her backroom team – a group I’m told, who between them hold an incredible 54 All-Ireland titles – these players developed not just as footballers, but as teammates, leaders and strong young women. Fiona, along with Noirin, Catriona, Raivis, Hannah, and all the support crew, have shown what experience, encouragement, and passion can achieve.”
The Mayor also acknowledged captain Ava Connolly, who couldn’t be present on the day and vice-captain Deirdre Roche, along with all the players “who pulled on the Déise jersey this season” saying, “You’ve given Waterford people something to cheer about, and you’ve set an example for younger girls watching from the sidelines, dreaming of doing the same one day.”
Mayor Ryan then handed over to Cllr. Niamh O’Donovan who formally proposed the motion and congratulated the team on their resounding success saying, “As someone who’s passionate about women’s sport, this is close to my heart.
“This team from 14 clubs from all over the county represents exactly what’s best about community sport…talent, teamwork, a shared sense of belonging and community spirit. These young women have shown what commitment looks like, what leadership looks like, and they’ve given the next generation a reason to believe ‘that could be me someday’.”
The motion was seconded by Cllr. John O’Leary who added, “Isn’t it fantastic that we can now say Waterford has two All-Ireland winning teams this year? It really shows the strength of underage sport in our county and the commitment of the people behind it. This is an achievement you’ll remember for the rest of your lives!”
Manager Fiona Laffan then spoke saying, “It means a great deal for us to be here today, not only to celebrate the success of the girls, but also to recognise the hard work and commitment that went into making this year a success.”
Paying tribute to the backroom team, she said they gave their time freely out of love of the game and their contribution can’t be measured. She also thanked the County Board for its ongoing support and belief in the team which “has been phenomenal”
She thanked the sponsors, the parents, families and all the supporters and concluded, by commending the players, saying “they have been nothing short of exceptional and played with a level of maturity far beyond their years and represented their county with pure class, both on and off the pitch.”
As Hallowe’en approaches, Waterford City & County Council is reminding the public not to supply waste materials such as pallets, tyres, or old furniture for use in bonfires.
Waterford City and County Council is delighted to announce that St. Joseph’s House on Manor Hill has won the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Award 2025 in the Safety & Security (Housing) Category. The award was accepted by Mayor of Waterford City and County, 
