Camogie SF & football c’ships make for very busy weekend

After a few quiet weekends, it’s action packed from here on in with the All-Ireland Senior Camogie semi-final and the opening rounds of the McCarthy Insurance County Football championships. Some of the grades we looked at last week and we will preview the remainder today.

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie SF

Cork v Tipperary on Saturday at Semple Stadium at 6pm

“We are where we set out to be at the start of the season. The league and Munster Championship were a bit difficult for a few reasons, but that’s behind us and now we are all looking forward to Saturday,” said manager Ger Manley on the trip to Thurles.

Injuries and retirement were factors in the early part of the season, and there’s a somewhat new look to the team. “There is a bit, but we still have loads of experience and the new players have all blended in well and that is what we set out to achieve at the start of the year - effectively develop a new team.”

Winning the All-Ireland U23 Championship was also important. “It was we had lost the final last year and to be fair they worked hard all season and there was excellent co-operation in terms of getting game time into players and that helped their confidence.”

Ger knows Saturday will be a tough test. “Tipperary and playing them at home - not that we don’t mind playing in Thurles - gives them an extra incentive; we have met a couple of times already so we know enough about one another.”

In the Munster Championship, Tipp won but in the All-Ireland group game, Cork won - both games were in Thurles. “The Munster game was a bit closer then the final score as Tipp finished stronger but we were much better the last day and were deserving winners.”

The month’s break has also helped. “It did; we took a few days off then went back at it, got a lot done played a challenge game and our A v B games were very competitive which is what we wanted them to be.”

For captain Meabh Cahalane the desire within the group is as strong as ever. “It is; we knew the league would be tough with some many players out but we got a lot out of it and our focus all along has been on getting back to Croke Park and now we are just 60 minutes away from doing that.”

Just like Ger, Meabh is expecting a real test on Saturday: “You get nothing easy at this level especially against Tipperary, they have been knocking on the door for a few years now and have some good players but we are ready happy with our preparation and focussed on the job in hand.”

Tipp did lose a key player Caoimhe Maher to a long term injury but in Grace O’Brien, Caoimhe Stakelum - a minor last year, Eimear McGrath, Clodagh McIntyre and Casey Hennessy, they have players that will relish the opportunity to take Cork out especially on their home patch.

Cork though would appear to be coming good at the right time, with the team unlikely to alter much from the win over Waterford last time out.

Amy Lee will be fronted by Libby Coppinger, Meabh Cahalane, Izzy O’Regan and Meabh Murphy, while the return to fitness of Ashling Thompson adds a bit of steel to the team.

Laura Hayes, Saoirse McCarthy, Emma Murphy, Amy O’Connor and Orlaith Cahalane have the pace and ability to trouble the best of defenders.

It’s a tricky looking tie for Cork; they are favourites, and that might suit the home side, but this is a well balanced Cork side and if they produce a consistent 60 minutes they look well equipped to make the final.

Kilkenny and Galway meet in the first semi-final also in Thurles at 4pm.

The Cork game is live on C103 and the Onic Player.

McCarthy Insurance Group Football Championship

Premier Senior

Group 1

Champions St Finbarr’s open the defence of their title on Friday in Ballinahssig at 7pm against a Carrigaline side that were D2 league winners with an impressive campaign.

The ‘Barr’s league was by comparison a disappointing one but let’s put it into the context as the number of players they had involved with both Cork teams had an impact on selection.

There is an injury concern around Ian Maguire and he would be a huge loss. That said in Steven Sherlock, Darragh Newman, Alan O’Connor and Brian Hayes you would expect them to win.

One other player that will be missing is Billy Hennesey as the dual player is now based in New York and he has been a key player for both teams in the last number of years.

In the other game in Group 1, Mallow without the injured Mattie Taylor play Douglas on Saturday at 4pm in Grenagh and that might tip the scales the way of the city side.

Group 2

Group 2 has Nemo Rangers facing Newcestown on Saturday at 4pm in Cloughduv and this is a tricky looking tie for last year’s runners-up against a side that took them to extra-time in the semi-final. Mark Cronin, Micheál Aodh Martin, Conor Horgan and if fit Kevin O’Donovan will be big players for Nemo who could just edge this one.

St Michaels and Valley Rovers meet in Shanbally on Sunday at 7pm - a draw perhaps.

Group 3

Group 3 has the ‘group of death’ written all over it. Knocknagree in their very first championship outing in the top tier of Cork football face Clonakilty in Carrigadrohid on Saturday at 7pm and this has the makings of a cracker.

John Fintan Daly’s side were caught at the death in the D1 League final by a late Castlehaven goal and they will look to bounce back with Patrick Doyle, Daniel O’Mahony and Eoghan McSweeney big players for them.

It’s a hard one to call a slight and it’s a very slight fancy for Knocknagree.

Castlehaven meet Ballincollig now under the management of Aidan Kelleher as the look to try and build on the work of the last few years where they have come up just short on a number of occasions.

Luke Fahy if fit will be a boost as will the returning from his travels Cian Kiely but they face a very experienced ‘Haven side with the Cahalanes, Hurleys and Mark Collins once again anchoring their challenge and it will be a surprise if they do not make a winning start.

It throws in on Sunday at 7.15pm in Clonakilty.

Senior A

This is a very hard championship to win, as Knocknagree will testify and expect this version to be no different with a lot of quality teams in it.

Group 1

Kanturk v Ballingeary will be a lively affair as Tommy and Paul Walsh along with a host of dual players will again lead the Kanturk challenge and will be fancied to make a winning start in Ballyanly.

Aghabullogue - winners of the Premier Intermediate last year - will have Ray Keane again guiding their fortunes & will be favoured to get the better of Dohenys in Kilmichael. Both games are on 7pm on Saturday.

Group 2

Cill Na Martra open against Carbery Rangers who were relegated from the top tier last season and will look to bounce back but may find the Gaelthacht outfit too hot to handle in this one, which is on in Dunmanway.

O’Donovan Rossa and Newmarket meet in Macroom with a nod to the Duhallow side to prevail. Both games are on Sunday at 7.15pm.

Group 3

Almost neighbours Bishopstown and Éire Óg meet on Friday in Ballincollig at 7.15pm and here the city side will look to build on a good league campaign that saw then win promotion but Colm O’Callaghan’s influence for Éire Óg might get them over the line.

It’s a fascinating weekend coming up and then a week later, the hurlers take centre stage, best of luck to all teams playing this weekend and also to the clubs hosting games, all that is good about our association will come to the fore in the weeks and months ahead.