Two tight Intermediate Camogie semi-finals in store
CAMOGIE FBD Insurance Intermediate Championship Semi-Finals Preview
By Saturday evening, we will know the pairing for this year’s County Intermediate Camogie Champions final after a rollercoaster of a championship.
The Intermediate championship consisted of seven teams with each team playing each other to see who will take the top four spots and a semi-final place. After a highly competitive campaign, no team has remained undefeated with Borris-Ileigh topping the table on nine points while second, third and fourth all finished with eight points with score difference determining the final standings.
So, Saturday’s double-header is expected to produce two very close games.
NEWPORT/BALLINAHINCH
V
SHANNON ROVERS
Camogie Grounds, the Ragg
Saturday 15th October
Throw-in @ 1.00pm (E.T.)
Referee: TP Sullivan
First up is the meeting of Newport Ballinahinch and Shannon Rovers. Having lost last year’s final to Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams, Shannon Rovers will be eager to reach this year’s final and go one step further. They have a good mix of youth and experience with the experience Aoife McLoughney lining out in attack with county minor players Celine Guinan and Emma Darcy. Elsewhere big performances will be needed from Gillian McKenna and Laura Leenane if they are to get past a Newport/Ballinahinch team that have delivered some very good displays this year on the way to Saturday’s semi-final.
In the first game of this year’s championship, they defeated Shannon Rovers 1-17 to 1-11. In captain, Saoirse McGrath they have an excellent leader and free-taker. Up front, Grace O’Toole and Keeley Lenihan have been doing a lot of the scoring while Caroline Mullaney has impressed at centre back.
BORRIS-ILEIGH v KILRUANE MACDONAGHS
Camogie Grounds, the Ragg
Saturday 15th October
Throw-in @ 3.30pm (E.T.)
Referee: Eddie Kennedy
Borris-Ileigh have only lost one game so far this year and that was against Kilruane MacDonagh’s by the narrowest margins, 3-6 to 1-11. They also drew with Cahir, a team that beat Kilruane. So again, a closely fought game is expected.
Key players for Borris will be Julianne Bourke and Teresa Ryan who will likely be centre back and midfield respectively. Emma Maher, Katie Fitzgerald, and Aoife Fitzgerald have been others to impress this year while captain Aedin Hogan has been excellent from frees and play.
Kilruane’s key player has no doubt being Tipperary senior Laura Shinners. She has scored key goals in almost every game for them this year and will definitely need to be watched closely.
Amy Quinlisk and Lianne O’Kelly have also been getting their name on the scoreboard throughout the year and were particularly impressive in their final group game where they recorded a 2-11 to 0-8 win over Newport/Ballinahinch.
Kilruane are coming into the semi-final with real momentum against a Borris-Ileigh team that, for many, have been the in-form side in the championship. Both sides were impressive in last year’s semi-finals despite the result not going their way.