PREVIEWS: Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 1, Round 5

Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues

Saturday, April 1^st

 

Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 1, Group 1

 

Kilkenny v Cork

Cork have already sealed their Semi-Final place but will look to secure top spot whilst also gaining revenge for their All-Ireland Final defeat to the Cats in September. Kilkenny are firm favourites to secure the other Semi-Final place and a win will ensure this for them whilst also giving them a chance of catching top spot on score difference.

 

Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)

Venue: MW Hire Training Centre, Kilkenny

Throw-in: 2.30pm

 

Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 1, Group 2

 

Galway v Limerick

This tie is a battle for top spot with Galway holding the advantage with a superior score difference. Galway will look to finish the campaign with their 100% record intact. Limerick have nothing to lose as only a win will secure them top spot, but the safety net of having already reached the Semi-Final should ensure an exciting match.

 

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)

Venue: Duggan Park, Ballinasloe

Throw-in: 3pm

 

Offaly v Clare

These two sides are playing for pride and to secure third place in the group with the Semi-Finals now out of their reach. Having both defeated bottom placed Meath, victory in this match will be all about building confidence as they head into the All-Ireland Championships in June in what looks set to be an evenly balanced contest.

 

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)

Venue: St. Brendan’s Park, Birr

Throw-in: 1.30pm

 

Sunday, April 2^nd

 

Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 1, Group 1

 

Tipperary v Waterford
Tipp have a slim outside chance of snatching second place but will need other results to go their way and for a huge swing in score difference, however a third win of the campaign would still represent a good showing in the group stage. A victory for Waterford will see them overtake Tipp in the table and round off a good campaign for na Déise.

 

Referee: Fintan McNamara (Clare)

Venue: The Ragg

Throw-in: 2pm

 

Wexford v Dublin

Wexford still have a chance of securing second place but will need a favour from Cork as well as overhauling a large score difference with their nearest rivals Kilkenny. Dublin have had a disappointing campaign thus far with no points on the board, but will have been buoyed by their display against Tipp in their last match whom they fell to by just a single point.

 

Referee: Owen Elliott (Antrim)

Venue: Innovate Wexford Park

Throw-in: 2pm

 

Division 2

In Group 1 four teams can still take the two Semi-Final places on offer with Carlow, Derry and Kilkenny in the best position as they are all tied at the top on 9 points, separated by score difference only, as they sit 3 points ahead of Wexford – it will be an exciting weekend with teams keeping a close eye on each other's scores.

 

In Group 2 Cork have already secured their Semi-Final berth with Galway best placed to take the other. Both Kildare and Westmeath can still catch Galway but they will know that their fate is in their own hands and if they can avoid defeat against Kildare on Saturday they will reach the knockout stages.

 

Division 3

Dublin and Kerry will battle it out this weekend to see who will take top spot with both sides already guaranteed their Semi-Final places. Should Clare avoid defeat to Tyrone then they will ensure that both they and Roscommon will progress to the Semi-Finals although bottom of the table Tyrone already face a mammoth task to overcome their poor score difference.

 

Full Fixtures:

 

Fixture	Venue	Throw-In	Referee
Kilkenny v Cork	MW Hire Training Centre, Kilkenny	2.30pm	Ray Kelly

Fixture	Venue	Throw-In	Referee
Galway v Limerick	Duggan Park, Ballinasloe	3pm	Liz Dempsey
Offaly  v Clare	St. Brendan’s Park, Birr	1.30pm	Cathal Egan

Fixture	Venue	Throw-In	Referee
Galway v Kildare	Duggan Park, Ballinasloe	1.30pm	Fintan McNamara

Fixture	Venue	Throw-In	Referee
Tipperary v Waterford	The Ragg	2pm	Fintan McNamara
Wexford v Dublin	Innovate Wexford Park	2pm	Owen Elliott

Fixture	Venue	Throw-In	Referee
Derry v Wexford	Celtic Park, Derry	2pm	Philip McDonald
Down v Carlow	St. Joseph’s High School, Newry	2pm	John Dermody
Kilkenny v Laois	Danesfort GAA	2pm	Andrew Larkin

Fixture	Venue	Throw-In	Referee
Antrim v Cork	All Saints GAC, Ballymena	2pm	Paul Ryan
Westmeath v Armagh	Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA	2pm	Aiden O’Brien

Fixture	Venue	Throw-In	Referee
Clare v Tyrone	Wolfe Tones Camogie Pitch, Shannon	2pm	Mike Sheehan
Dublin v Kerry	Institute of Technology Blanchardstown	2pm	Liz Dempsey