PREVIEWS: Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Round 2

After having their first-round match postponed last weekend the Cats will finally get their League campaign up and running this Sunday with a home fixture against Munster outfit Clare. Brian Dowling’s squad will look to make their fifth successive league final appearance and they start with a challenging opener this weekend.

After a great win in their opening round clash against Offaly, Clare once again make the journey into Leinster to face off against a very strong opposition in Kilkenny. Ger O’Connell’s team started slow in their opening round match but remained resilient to earn a hard-fought seven point victory

Referee: Owen Elliott (Antrim)

Venue: Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

Throw-in: 12pm

After a disappointing result on the road in their opening round Waterford will be hoping that home advantage will play its part this weekend as they welcome Leinster outfit Offaly to WIT. The home side played well despite the result in their first fixture and will hope to get a win on the board early in the league campaign to relieve any pressure of successive defeats.

For Offaly, it is a similar situation. Having matched Clare in their opening round, they couldn’t sustain the second-half pressure and ended up enduring a seven-point defeat that didn’t do their performance justice. They will need to rectify that result if they are to have aspirations of progressing to the latter stages of the competition.

Both counties will be missing players as Gailltír (Waterford) and St. Rynaghs (Offaly) will face off in the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Final next weekend.

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)

Venue: WIT Carriganore

Throw-in: 2pm

After claiming a one-point victory over their Munster rivals Limerick in week one, Tipperary play their first home fixture of the year when they welcome the Capital to their home turf. It was a massive win for the Premier County who have proved they are strong contenders to challenge for League honours. This is their first home outing of the campaign.

Dublin suffered a three-point defeat at the hands of the defending Champions Galway in their opening round clash and the challenge doesn’t get any easier when they travel to Tipperary on Sunday. A victory would bring huge confidence for the remainder of the League so the Dubs will need to dig deep this weekend to ensure they are still fighting for the top prize.

Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)

Venue: The Ragg, Tipperary

Throw-in: 2pm

The defending champions secured an important opening round win against Dublin as they got their title defence off to the best possible start and they will be hoping to keep that momentum going this weekend as they face off against Limerick on home soil. The Connacht outfit remain the team to beat but they face stiff opposition this weekend in Declan Nash’s Limerick side.

A one-point defeat is always tough to take but for Limerick it was especially difficult in that it came at home to their Munster rivals. They will need to turn that hurt into positivity this weekend when they make the journey west in an attempt to get their first points on the group table. Another defeat would leave them six points behind today’s opponents.

Kilkenny v Clare, 12 pm, Nowlan Park, Referee: Owen Elliot

Waterford v Offaly, 2pm, WIT, Referee: Liz Dempsey

Tipperary v Dublin, 2pm, The Ragg, Referee: Justin Heffernan

Galway v Limerick, 1pm, Duggan Park Ballinasloe, Referee: John Dermody

Galway v Wexford, 3pm, Duggan Park Ballinasloe, Referee: Gavin Donegan

Down v Kerry, 1pm, Derryleckagh, Referee: Philip McDonald

Westmeath v Kilkenny, 2pm, Kinnegad, Referee: Alan Doheny

Meath v Kildare, 2pm, Trim GAA, Referee: Mike Ryan (Galway)

Antrim v Dublin, 2pm, Ahoghill GAC, Referee: Eamon Cassidy

Tipperary v Laois- TBC-TBC, Referee: TBC

Offaly v Wicklow, 2pm, Bray Emmets 3G (Wicklow), Referee: Kevin O’Brien

Limerick v Tyrone, 2pm, LIT, Referee: John Horgan

Louth v Carlow, 2pm , Darver, Referee: Suzanne Forde

Armagh v Down, 2pm, St. Colman’s College 3G pitch, Newry, Referee: Louise Reilly Smith