PREVIEWS: Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Championship Week 1

 

Saturday June 15^th  

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, Group 1

Galway v Kilkenny, Athenry, 5pm (C. Egan, Cork)

In what is a mouth-watering opening round tie, Galway and Kilkenny will battle it out in what is a replay of the Division 1 League Final from a few months ago. The Tribeswomen got the better of the defending Champions on the day and they will be hoping to use that confidence when the sides meet this weekend.

 

Meanwhile Kilkenny will feel they they need to change the outcome of that result as an early start can be a great platform to progress from the group. Having went all the way to the All-Ireland final last year, the Cats will be hoping to rectify their final loss this season around.

 

Limerick v Offaly, Gaelic Grounds, 5pm (F. McNamara, Clare)

It was contrasting emotions for both sides in the league earlier on this year as Limerick made the Semi-Final stages of the Division 1 campaign, while Offaly survived the relegation play-off to retain their status in Camogie’s top tier.

 

The home side will be looking to put the disappointment of a league semi-final defeat behind them when they welcome Offaly this weekend. Having gained the confidence boost of staying in Division 1, Offaly will need to use that motivation to push them on in the Championship this season.

 

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, Group 2

Clare v Cork, Sixmilebridge GAA, 5pm (R. Kelly, Antrim)

In a battle of the Munster outfits Clare will welcome the reigning All-Ireland Champions to their home turf in the opening round of the Championship. With one win from four league matches the Banner county will need to improve their performance this weekend if they are to get a result from the Munster champions.

 

Cork will have a tough battle on their hands to retain the O’Duffy Cup this year and their defence begins on the road to their neighbours Clare. Despite losing in the League Semi-Final earlier this year, they have managed to collect silverware with victory in the Munster Championship, so confidence will still be high for the Rebels.

 

Dublin v Meath, Parnells GAA, Coolock, 5pm (O. Elliot, Antrim)

The old Leinster rivalry continues as the capital welcome the Royals in the opening weekend of action. The Dubs had mixed fortunes in the league with one win, one draw and two defeats at the hands of Limerick and Kilkenny respectively. Those tough encounters may be the experience the girls in blue needed ahead of Championship season.

 

Having a year of Senior Championship action under their belt from last season Meath will hope to make use of any lessons learned when they get underway this year around. Having topped their group in the Division 2 league, they suffered defeat in the Quarter-Final against Westmeath by the smallest of margins, so they will be looking to kickstart their season this weekend.

 

Tipperary v Waterford, The Ragg, 5pm (A. Larkin, Cork)

These teams are no strangers to each other having been drawn in the same group in the League this year. A four-point victory for Tipperary in the early months of the year will be a confidence boost for the Premier County this weekend, but they will need to replicate that result if they are hoping to progress to the latter stages of the competition.

 

The Déise will be out to prove a point of their own following on from that defeat in the league this year. With only one win from four League matches, they will need to improve their form if they are to progress to the Quarter-Finals of the Championship this year.

 

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