Exciting Junior Camogie grades hard to predict

Junior ‘A’

Group 1: Drom & Inch, Kiladangan, Gortnahoe/Glengoole, Brian Borus, St Rita's Fethard

Group 2: Holycross/Ballycahill, Templemore, Ballina, Lorrha

Moycarkey/Borris were the standout team in 2023 beating Brian Borus in the semi-final and Holycross Ballycahill in the final.

Both those sides met in this year’s league final with Brian Borus taking victory. They have been knocking on the door for a number of years (lost to Moneygall in the 2022 final) and will be hoping this year, led by captain Helena Walsh, they can make the breakthrough.

Holycross/Ballycahill are managed once again by the experience Declan Carr. They will look to get back to the final and make amends for last year. Elana McGrath is a lively forward who won a minor All Ireland this year, while the experience of Claire Stakelum will also be vital for them.

St Rita’s were beaten in the semi-final for the last two years so will be looking to go at least one step further and reach a final. They were impressive winners in the Under 21 tournament and the majority of the side will be the backbone of their junior side. Gortnahoe/Glengoole are up this year having won the Junior ‘’B in 2023. Their captain Sophie Pembroke recently was player of the match in the All-Ireland Junior final.

Tipperary junior captain Sinead Meagher will be the key forward for Kiladangan this year while in Aoife Gleeson they have an excellent keeper.

Ballina struggled in last year’s championship so will be hoping for a big improvement this year. Templemore had some impressive results last year that they will be looking to build on and in Shona McBride they have a recent All-Ireland Junior winner.

Clodagh McIntyre had a great season with Tipperary this year and will no doubt be Lorrha’s most influential player. She will need plenty of assistance though if Lorrha were to reach the last four.

Junior ‘B’

Group 1: Cashel King Cormacs, Ballingarry, Silvermines, Portroe, Carrick Swan

Group 2: Ballybacon/Grange, Roscrea, Eire Og Annacarty, Clonoulty/Rossmore, Moyle Rovers

Gortnahoe/Glengoole were crowned Junior ‘B’ champions last year after a replay against Moyle Rovers. The South side will be hoping with Gortnahoe now promoted the chance will be there for them to excel. Hazel Brennan was part of the Tipperary junior panel that won the All-Ireland while Eabha Dolan, Ellie Franklin and Ava Wall won Minor All-Irelands this year.

Clonoulty/Rossmore will also be serious contenders having won the league final impressively, beating Annacarty in the final. Like Annacarty, how they fair will depend a lot on whether they lose key players to their first team as the championship progresses.

Portroe were beaten by Moycarkey/Borris two years ago in the final but failed to get past the semi-final last year. On their day, they are a match for any team.

Ballybacon Grange won the Junior ‘C’ last year, and along with Ballingarry, Carrick Swan and Roscrea have lots of young players in their side and are well capable of taking point off each other, so an intriguing competition awaits.

Junior ‘B2’

Group 1: Shannon Rovers, Moneygall, Kiladangan, Borris-Ileigh, Brian Borus

Group 2: Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams, Toomevara, Burgess/Duharra, Holycross/Ballycahill, Moycarkey/Borris

The Junior B2 competition is one that is growing in number every year as more clubs establish second teams. This year there are ten clubs in all with two groups of five teams, a reflection of the great development being done in clubs.

With it being club’s second teams, it can often be hard to predict as some teams will lose players to their first team as the championship progresses.

Toomevara were beaten in last year’s final by Annacarty so will be hoping to go one step further this year. Shannon Rovers lost the 2022 final and reached the semi-final last year, so they also have a good track record in the competition.

For the likes of Knockavilla, Kiladangan, and Moneygall, it will be their first time having a second adult team and their teams compose of a real mix of youth and experience. Holycross, Brian Borus and Burgess/Duharra all did well in the league and should go well in the championship.

Junior ‘C’

Slieve Felim Rapparees, Rockwell Rovers, St Patrick's, Moyne-Templetuohy

This is the second year of the Junior ‘C’ competition which is for clubs fielding adult teams for their first time ever or in recent years.

Ballybacon/Grange were the winners in 2023, beating Slieve Felim Rapparess in a tough final. Having the experience of last year’s final and having won the league, Slieve Felim will be most people’s favourites to win this year’s championship. They also have some great underage talent coming through and are a club that are really thriving.

They didn’t however get it all their own way in the league final with St Patrick’s lead by the excellent Lucy O’Brien pushing them all the way.

Rockwell Rovers were beaten in last year’s semi-final and that will stand to them heading into the championship where they will also be hoping to have a big say.

Moyne-Templetuohy make up the final team in the competition and with a mix of youth and experience they will also be a tricky assignment for any opposition.