The Camogie Association and Littlewoods Ireland were today joined by top players; 2019 All-Ireland winner Heather Cooney from Galway and Kilkenny superstar Katie Power, to launch the 2020 Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues.
Camogie, like many women’s sports in Ireland, is going through a transformative and revolutionary period in terms of style and culture. To highlight this change and the real women of substance who are leading it, Littlewoods Ireland have produced a new video series with the message ‘Style Meets Substance,’ featuring Heather Cooney, Katie Power, Cork’s Amy O’Connor, Waterford’s Niamh Rockett and Limerick’s Naomi Carroll which will run throughout the League campaign.
The 2020 season will begin this weekend with two double-headers in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and LIT Gaelic Grounds, as Cork take on Waterford on Saturday ahead of the Cork hurlers versus Tipperary and Limerick facing Tipperary on Sunday ahead of the Limerick hurlers against Galway. This year’s Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues will see a number of double-headers with the GAA taking place throughout the competition, opening the game up to a wider audience.
The season will see the trial of six new playing rules during the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues following an engagement process with players, managers, referees and other key stakeholders in 2019.
Littlewoods Ireland Managing Director Rossa Butler stated: “This is our fourth year as title sponsor of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues and over those years we have seen the sport evolve. The introduction of these trial rules will bring added interest to the League which is great for players and fans alike. There has been a complete culture shift around women’s sport in Ireland and all of us at Littlewoods Ireland are proud to be part of that conversation. We want to showcase camogie for the spectacle that it is and inspire people to get behind the sport and the players.”
Speaking about the upcoming Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues, President of the Camogie Association Kathleen Woods said: “I am eagerly awaiting the start of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues this weekend and the return of intercounty competitions for 2020.
“Last year’s campaign culminated in a thrilling Final that set the tone for the year as Galway completed the first part of a famous double and I expect such great excitement once more this year.
“With the introduction of Trial Playing Rules in this year’s competition it is a great opportunity for us to review several areas of our games as we continue to strive to refine our game and engage with players and other key stakeholders to ensure that it continues to grow and prosper.
“This is the fourth year of Littlewoods Ireland’s sponsorship of the Leagues and we are delighted to work with such an enthusiastic and innovative partner to continue promote our game to new audiences.”
For exclusive content, behind the scenes action and access to exclusive competitions, follow Littlewoods Ireland GAA and #StyleOfPlay on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on blog.littlewoodsireland.ie
Saturday February 1st
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 1, Group 1
Cork v Waterford, Páirc Uí Chaoimh @ 5pm – Double-header with Cork v Tipperary, National Hurling League.
Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 2, Group 1
Galway v Kerry, Gort GAA, Co. Galway @ 1pm
Referee: Barry Nea (Westmeath)
Sunday February 2nd
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 1, Group 1
Offaly v Clare, St. Brendan’s Park, Birr, Co. Offaly @ 2pm
Referee: Owen Elliot (Antrim)
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 1, Group 1
Dublin v Galway, TU Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 @ 2pm
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)
Limerick v Tipperary, LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick @ 4pm – Double-header with Limerick v Galway, National Hurling League.
Referee: Andrew Larkin (Cork)
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 2, Group 1
Down v Derry, Mayobridge GAA, Co. Down @ 2pm
Referee: John Dermody (Westmeath)
Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 2, Group 1
Kilkenny v Cork, John Lockes GAA, Callan, Co. Kilkenny @ 2pm
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)
Westmeath v Meath, Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA, Co. Westmeath @ 2pm
Referee: Eamon Cassidy (Derry)
#StyleOfPlay
