Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships weekend preview

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

GLEN DIMPLEX ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

GROUP 1

Antrim v Waterford, Loughgiel Shamrocks, 12.30pm

Waterford are in fourth and outside the qualification places at present, which is not what last year’s runners-up would have been hoping for in their first season under Jerry Wallace’s stewardship. They still have their fate in their own hands, however, and given Antrim’s travails, with the Saffrons propping up the table after three heavy defeats, anything other than a victory would be a huge shock.

They do have to travel the length of the country and while Antrim have a negative score difference of -48, that is only three worse than Limerick so they will be keen to put up a good performance ahead of next weekend’s do or die battle against the Shannonsiders that will determine who finishes bottom and goes into a relegation play-off.

Kilkenny v Derry, Freshford, 1.30pm

Derry have been one of the stories of the Glen Dimplex Championship, cementing their senior status on their return to elite camogie after winning last year’s intermediate title in a replay against Meath. Now that they have claimed the scalps of Antrim and Limerick, they are in bonus territory and have a free shot against Kilkenny and Waterford. A win in Freshford would be their greatest in the modern era, and indeed would leave the Cats feeling nervous ahead of their concluding tie against high-flying Tipperary.

The Noresiders have enjoyed an excellent championship to date after being viewed in some quarters to be in transition minus the services of the legendary Denise Gaule and fantastic defensive reader, Claire Phelan. After two easy away victories, they emerged from their first significant test on home territory against Waterford and while caught late on for a share of the spoils, showed enough to suggest they are contenders for overall honours once more.

Limerick v Tipperary, Mick Neville Park Rathkeale, 2pm

This pitches a team with no point from three games against another with a full return. What makes it worse for Limerick is that Tipperary are the form team in the country, following up their League title success with a tremendous championship campaign that includes victory over Waterford. The return of multiple All-Star Cáit Devane after missing out on the first half of the season has added to the depth of the panel.

Limerick will be hoping to take some positivity from this, not least because score difference may still be a factor, though they conclude the group stages with a game against fellow strugglers Antrim, which is likely to decide which of the pair will be involved in a relegation play-off.

GROUP 2

Cork v Dublin, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm

This is an interesting affair. Cork are the All-Ireland champions and have cruised to three straight wins. If they were to lose, it would be a shock. But Dublin are Division 1B League champions, pushed Kilkenny close in a Leinster final and got to within three points of Galway in the opening tie of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship before accounting for Wexford last week in a key match-up where the third qualifying spot in Group 2 is concerned.

Cork are without Libby Coppinger at full-back until the very latter stages of this competition, at least, but did welcome back Laura Treacy a fortnight ago. Dublin, with captain Aisling Maher flourishing in a quarter-back position at centre-back, will ask some questions but the pace in Ger Manley’s team should thrive in the Páirc Uí Chaoimh expanses.

Wexford v Down, Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s GAA New Ross, 2pm

It was always going to be a difficult summer for Down, after losing one of their greatest ever players, Niamh Mallon, who transferred to Galway. That came a few years after Sorcha McCartan switched to Cork. The Mourne outfit have battled hard but suffered some tough defeats, the last against Galway a fortnight ago particularly chastening.

Wexford should be too strong, particularly with home advantage, and after losing to Dublin last time out, when they didn’t approach anything like the form that earned them a draw against Galway the week before, must take care of business to keep their hopes of progressing to the last six alive.

Galway v Clare, Kenny Park Athenry, 3pm

The lengthy gap between the conclusion of the Very League and the commencement of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship appeared to tell for Galway. It was accentuated by playing teams that had played in provincial championship in that period. They had just three points in hand of Dublin in the opening round and then drew with Wexford. They opened up against Down but Clare will be a step up from that.

The Banner girls have beaten Down too but lost to Dublin, making their prospects of advancing to the quarter-finals quite slim but a stunning victory here against their neighbours would put them right back in the mix.

Intermediate

Clare v Cork, Tubber, 12.30pm

Cork, who currently sit top of the table in Group 1 of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Championship, play current fifth place holders Clare. Cork will look to continue their successful run in the Championship after their two narrow-margin wins over Westmeath and Offaly in their first and second round games respectively. Clare will also be coming into this game off the back of a win against near rivals Galway and will be looking to take the three points on offer to help them get back up the table in Group 1.

Galway v Westmeath, Kenny Park Athenry, 1pm

These two teams currently sit in the middle of the Group 1 table, with Galway holding third and Westmeath close behind in fourth. Both teams have registered a win and a loss in the competition but Westmeath hold the slight upper hand coming off the back of a win against Wexford. Galway will come to this game with their intentions set on a win to solidify their place near the top of the table. This game takes place as part of a double header before the Senior clash between Galway and Clare at 3pm

Offaly v Wexford, Birr, 2pm

Offaly, who currently sit second on the Group 1 table, will be looking to bounce back after their one-point defeat to Cork in their round two game on June 8. Wexford are yet to register a win in the Championship and will need to bring their A game to this clash as they come up against a strong Wexford side.

Antrim v Meath, Portglenone, 2pm

Antrim are yet to win a game in this year’s Championship but will come up against a Meath side who will be looking to overcome last weekend’s heavy defeat to Dublin and get back to their winning ways.

Kerry v Carlow, Lixnaw, 2pm

Group 2 table toppers Kerry will aim to return to their winning ways after their recent defeat to Kilkenny last weekend to secure their first-place position on the table. They will meet a Carlow side who currently sit fourth on the table and who registered a comprehensive win against Kildare in their most recent round game on June 15.

Kilkenny v Dublin, Freshford, 3.30pm

Kilkenny have been impressive in the Championship so far, registering three wins from three games, earning them a second-place position on the Group 2 table. Dublin will come into this game fresh and full of confidence from their recent comprehensive victory against Meath. Both will have to fight hard to earn the three points on offer on the day.

Premier Junior

Armagh v Wicklow, Box IT Athletic Grounds, 2pm

Armagh have had an extremely successful campaign so far registering two wins from two games and sitting in second place on the Group 1 table. Wicklow sit just below them in third position on the table having registered one win and one loss from two games. They will need to come into this game with confidence following their recent heavy defeat to Tipperary last weekend.

Tyrone v Down, Garvaghey, 2pm

Tyrone are currently placed fourth on the table, and Down follow behind currently in fifth with neither teams accounting for a win so far in the Championship. Both teams will be looking to make an impression in this game to avoid placing in the bottom spot on the table coming into the final round of games in the coming weeks.

Roscommon v Cavan, Pádraig Pearses, 2pm

Having both played two games so far in this year’s Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship, Roscommon sit at the top of Group 2 with two wins, whereas Cavan sit in fourth having won one and lost one game respectively. Roscommon will come into this game with great confidence having registered comprehensive wins in their two games. Cavan, who are returning after a three-week break, will be looking to continue their winning ways after they heavily defeated Mayo in their last game.

Mayo v Laois, McHale Park, 2pm

Laois currently hold the second on the Group 2 table with two wins from two games so far in the championship. Mayo have struggled to get their season running, having not registered a win in their last three games. They will aim to make a change to that in this weekend’s clash.

All of this weekend’s Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship fixtures and ticket links can be found here - https://camogie.ie/news/tickets-on-sale-now-2024-glen-dimplex-camogie-all-ireland-championships/.