Clash of the Camogie champions at The Ragg
CAMOGIE: Very Ireland National League Division 1 Preview
By Joe Scully
TIPPERARY v CORK
Camogie Grounds, The Ragg
Saturday, 22nd March
Throw-in @ 2.00pm
Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)
This Saturday afternoon sees a mouth-watering fixture as the reigning National League champions Tipperary welcome the reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Cork to the County Camogie grounds for a top of the table clash in the Division 1A of the National League.
Both sides come into the game unbeaten so far with Cork having won all three of their games, with Tipperary recording two wins and a draw. Whoever wins the game will all but secure a place in the league final, while for the loser they will be made to sweat it out in the final round.
Tipperary manager Denis Kelly is happy with how his sides campaign has been going so far, but knows his team face their toughest test to date against Cork who are the standard bearers in camogie currently.
“We have been getting better game by game and looking forward to the weekend,” he began.
“We will be experimenting a little bit and will probably make two or three changes from the last day, but we know it will be a real challenge against the All-Ireland champions.”
The Borris-Ileigh clubman feels like this meeting against the Rebelettes isn’t a do or die game due the fact both sides will meet again later in the year and probably on more than one occasion.
“We play them in the first round of the championship later in the year and could possibly meet them in a league final if we get there, so we will see each other a bit throughout the year,” he added.
“So, it’s not going to be do or die at the weekend, but it would be great to lay down a marker if we can get a win, but it won’t be the end of the world if we don’t. But it will be a good test to see where we are at.”
This weekend’s game has come a little too soon for the likes of Karen Kennedy and Karin Blair, both yet to feature in the league so far, but he excepts them to play some part the following week against Waterford.
“They haven’t got the all clear just yet, but they’re getting lose and both are itching to get back,” Kelly revealed.
While this Saturday’s clash may not be do or die, it still promises to be a game of the highest quality, where the county who currently sit at the top of the mountain, come up against a side who are looking to knock them off their perch, and have been knocking at the door the last couple of years.
Tipp will want to send a clear message to Cork that they are coming for them, so it should be a great game on Saturday and one that could go either way and will be worth the admission fee alone.