It is a key weekend of championship action with the possibility, depending on results of either a joint tie or also a three way tie at the top of Group A in this year’s senior championship. There are crucial games in store for Galway, Cork and Tipperary respectively in this particular group with the former All Ireland finalists lying top on six points, while Cork and Tipperary are tied on four-a-piece with the Rebels ahead on scoring difference.
In the event of a joint tie it has been confirmed that where any two teams end level on points at the end of the group stages a play-off is required. The winning team from the play-off proceeds to the semi-finals while the other team goes to the quarter-finals. Where three teams finish up on the same points the three counties will be put into a draw. The first team drawn out finishes at the higher placing on the table for its group and the remaining two teams must play each other for the remaining positions in the table.
Galway welcome All Ireland Champions Wexford to Kenny Park in this weekend’s chosen televised game on RTÉ The Sunday Game. JJ Doyle’s side are without the influential Mary Leacy who injured knee ligaments in her side’s round three win over Dublin.
The absence of the Oulart the Ballagh player will be crucial for Wexford along with that of Lisa Bolger who sustained a hand injury and will be absent for five weeks. Galway need to secure a win in view of the fact that if Cork win and they falter at home, the Rebels will occupy joint position at the top of the table. Wexford, lie top of Group B on six points followed by Kilkenny on two points, with Offaly in third (also on two).
Cork entertain Kilkenny in Ballincollig at 1.30pm and in view of last week’s scoring spree against Offaly, hitting 5-20 in total, the Munster side are hitting top gear. Kilkenny will be anxious to bounce back, in light of the concession of two goals in the final moments of their tie against Tipperary. That win has left the Premier County in a strong position and if they secure a win over Offaly in Birr and if both Cork and Galway slip up, Tipp can also go joint top in Group A with Galway. Other alternatives, include the possibilities of wins for Cork and Tipperary and a loss for Galway, thus creating a three way tie.
Dublin and Clare are still looking for their first points of the championship with Clare extremely unfortunate against Galway at Cusack Park last Saturday. A stronger Clare outfit should record a win against Dublin.
In the Intermediate championship, table toppers Galway take on second placed Wexford while Cork and Kilkenny will be aiming to collect their first set of points of this year’s campaign. In the Junior A championship, Tyrone and Monaghan go head-to-head with both sides currently bottom of the championship table and looking for their first win. Cavan will be keen to bounce back against table-toppers Westmeath and Dublin will be aiming to go top of the table when they play Offaly in Birr. On Sunday afternoon, Meath 2 face Carlow in the Junior B championship while third placed Wicklow face Cill Dara, who need a win, having recorded two losses to date.
There is also a full round of games in this year’s keenly contested All Ireland U16 B championship as Dublin face Galway with the Blues aiming to collect their first points, while a win for Galway will see them go into joint second position with Derry, provided Offaly who lie top of the table, win their clash with the Ulster side. In group two, Waterford face Antrim who lie a point ahead of them while table-toppers Cork will aim to make it two from two when they face Wexford in Oulart the Ballagh at 5.00pm. There are three remaining ties in the C Grade, as Westmeath take on Leinster neighbours Laois; Roscommon entertain Wicklow at home and Kerry welcome Carlow to Causeway with a 1.00pm throw in.
Pictured above: Mary Leacy (Wexford) in action against Katrina Mackey (Cork) in this year’s Irish Daily Star League Final. Leacy will be absent for her side’s fourth round tie against Galway
