Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Group 1
Limerick v Cork, Kilmallock, 2.30pm, referee: John Dolan
Champions Cork will have been disappointed to fall to Galway in the final few moments in last week’s opening tie. They conceded four late points as the Tribeswomen won out 1-11 to 0-12.
Ashling Thompson, Briege Corkery and Orla Cotter were extremely influential in defeat and a repeat of the same will be required this weekend against a very ambitious Limerick team.
Joe Quaid’s charges began their senior campaign with an impressive 1-12 to 1-08 win over Offaly. Niamh Mulcahy was deadly accurate from placed balls and will have a big influence on Saturday’s tie while the performances of Aoife Sheehan and Caoimhe Costelloe will also be crucial.
Offaly v Wexford, St Brendan’s Park, Birr, 2.30pm, Owen Elliott
A crunch tie against Leinster neighbours awaits Offaly who will be keen to get their campaign back on track after falling to Limerick last weekend. Siobhan Flannery and Tina Hannon hit 0-6 between them with Arlene Watkins chipping in a goal in that defeat.
More of the same from those players will be required this weekend against Wexford, who begin their All Ireland senior championship campaign. The Model County will be without goalkeeper Mags D’Arcy, who is recovering from a long-term injury. Shelley Kehoe captains the side this season and her performance and that of team stalwarts Mary Leacy and Ursula Jacob will be key.
Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Group 2
Kilkenny v Clare, St. Lachtain’s GAA, Freshford, 2.30pm, Karl O’Brien
Kilkenny at home, and buoyed up by last weekend’s 3-13 to 1-10 win over Dublin, will prove a tough challenge for Clare.
The Banner are minus a number of last year’s panel, including Eimear Considine. Carol O’Leary skippers the side and she will have to draw on all her experience to lead her charges against a Kilkenny side eager to avenge the pain of last year’s All Ireland defeat.
Tipperary v Derry, The Ragg, 2.30pm, Peter Dowd
Tipperary have been in transition the last number of years but a conveyor belt of under-age talent and success has gradually made its way to their senior ranks.
Their narrow defeat to All-Ireland champions Cork in the Munster Camogie Final will have been instructive as they commence their campaign. Cait Devane skippers the side from centre-forward and her experience is crucial.
Derry, will be led by Meabh McGoldrick and Sinead O’Kane as they also begin stage one of the All-Ireland championship.
