Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship Group 2
Kilkenny vs Derry (Saturday)
Venue: (Swatragh, Derry. 2.30pm) Referee: Karl O’Brien
The Kilkenny senior team will hope to make it three wins from three when they make the long trek to Swatragh to take on Derry on Saturday. Kilkenny backed up there opening round victory over Dublin with a comprehensive victory over Clare on Saturday last. Derry were unlucky last weekend to come up short by a point away to Tipperary. The last time the sides met was in the league where Kilkenny showed no mercy and ran out easy 20 point winners. Derry are a side that are making great strides in camogie circles and Kilkenny will have to be aware of the scoring ability of Karen Kelt. In saying this Kilkenny are in terrific vein of form and Derry will have to be aware of the scoring threat Kilkenny possesses as they clocked up an impressive 5-35 in two games with 4-26 of that total coming from play. Derry have a lot to play for in the championship this season and have a good chance of making the later stages of the competition, with second spot in the group going on current table rankings coming down between themselves, Dublin , Clare and Tipperary. Derry will do there upmost to make the game as difficult as they can for Kilkenny on Saturday, but on current form it is hard to see anything but a victory for the Cats on Saturday.
Liberty Insurance Intermediate Camogie Championship Group 2
Kilkenny vs Kildare (Saturday)
Venue: (Thomastown. 2.30pm) Referee: John McDonagh
The Kilkenny Intermediate team will hope to start their All Ireland Championship bid with a bang on Saturday when they entertain Kildare in Thomastown. Kilkenny will go into the championship this season with the boost of being Leinster champions having defeated Meath in the Leinster final a month ago. Kilkenny are in an impressive vein of form and possesses a very potent forward line that the Kildare defence will have to be aware of. In saying this Kildare will provide a stern test for Kilkenny on Saturday having operated in the Senior Leinster championship and they caused difficulty for the Kilkenny senior side when they met in the Leinster semi final and led after 45 minutes of the game. The last time the two sides met was in the All Ireland semi final last year where Kilkenny emerged victorious. Kilkenny will have to be aware of the scoring threat that Kildare contain with Susie O’Carroll, Melissa Lyons, Emer Reilly, Siobhan Hurley and Louise Keatley all capable of causing difficulty of the Kilkenny defence. This game has all the hallmarks of being a cracker and one that could go right down to the wire. In saying this I feel Kilkenny should have a bit too much for the Lilywhites on Saturday but expect a ding dong battle.
All Ireland U16A Camogie Championship Group 1
Kilkenny vs Galway (Saturday)
Venue: (St.Brendans Park, Birr. 4.15pm) Referee: Cathal Egan
*Please note change of day, time and venue*
The Kilkenny under 16 team will hope to begin there All Ireland Championship in the best way possible with an away victory to Galway on Sunday. Kilkenny had two teams in the Leinster Championship this year with the A side recording a brilliant victory over Dublin in the Leinster final and the B side very unlucky to fall short in the B competition to Westmeath. The two sides will become one again for the All Ireland series and will be a very formidable force and shows the pick David Williams has at his disposal. The last time the two sides met was in the final game of the group stages last season where Galway proved too strong for the Kilkenny side. It will be a very difficult test for this young Kilkenny side on Sunday but they will be buoyed by going into the championship as Leinster champions and will go all out to avenge last year’s defeat to the Tribeswomen. This game has all the characteristics of one that could go down to the wire. I feel Kilkenny are a stronger more experienced side this season and should record there first win of the campaign on Sunday.
By kristinagunn Tue 30th Jun
