All-Ireland Senior Camogie Previews: Unbeaten Cork and Galway battle for semis qualification
UNBEATEN SIDES: This will be Cork’s first real test and it is a test they had struggled with for a number of years until finally getting the better of the Maroons in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final. Photo by Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile
This It has been a campaign to forget for both teams, neither of which has managed a point from four outings. Limerick got closest, leading by two points mid-way through the second half against Derry at Owenbeg three weeks ago but conceding the last eight points.
The Shannonsiders are bottom of the table with a 14-point inferior score difference to Antrim however, so a draw would secure the Saffrons’ senior status next year. Whoever finishes bottom will be relegated.
This is a really mouth-watering prospect. It seems as if losing last year’s All-Ireland semi-final to Waterford has jolted Tipperary into a new level of performance.
They ended a two decade national trophy famine by winning the League and are four from four in the group phase of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior championship, having gotten a modicum of revenge on the DĂ©ise in the opener.
Kilkenny were thought to be in transition, with Denise Gaule and Claire Phelan no longer in the trenches and a new manager in Peter Cleere. But that mistake has been made before about the Black and Ambers, and they remain real contenders.
A draw with Waterford means they must win this to grab top spot and a direct route to the semi-final, while a share of the spoils will be sufficient for Tipp.
It’s funny how the fixtures algorithm how thrown up so many straight shootouts, whether it be for top spot/semi-final, bottom/potential relegation or as in this case, with the final qualification berth up for grabs.
Waterford are in the box seat by virtue of their draw against Kilkenny but all the pressure is on them as last year’s All-Ireland finalists, while newcomers as last year’s intermediate champions, Derry are buoyant as a result of securing senior status early with wins against Antrim and Limerick.
The Suirsiders would seem to have far more scoring power, however, and crucially are close to full strength for the first time this year.
Yet another head-to-head, this like Tipp/Kilkenny, between two unbeaten teams battling for semi-final qualification. This will be Cork’s first real test and it is a test they had struggled with for a number of years until finally getting the better of the Maroons in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.
They went on to take ultimate honours then and while they were workmanlike in the League under new manager Ger Manley, they have been humming since, even without some key defensive injuries which might be more significant in a game like this.
Galway reached the League final and after losing that, Siobhán McGrath withdrew from the squad but Niamh Mallon made her first appearance in the jersey after her transfer from Down in that decider at Croke Park and nearly pulled it out of the fire.
She has been electric since even as Galway gradually grew into the competition. This is a game both managements will welcome, regardless of the result.
Wexford will be desperately disappointed by their performance against Dublin, which puts them up against it, though the injury to Claire O’Connor might have been too much to deal with. Still, after drawing with Galway, it was a massive letdown.
Both sides have beaten Down. A win would be enough for Wexford to grab the third qualification position were Dublin to only draw with Down, while Clare would need a big win and Dublin to lose up north.
It was always going to be a struggle for Down this year and losing one of the best players to ever wear the red and black, Niamh Mallon to Galway multiplied the difficulty quotient by any number you care to pluck out of the ether. Their negative scoring difference of -99 tells its own tale.
Dublin are coming off a dreadful performance against Cork, in which they failed to score for play and were opened at will by the Rebels. Coming after such an eye-catching effort against Wexford, it was puzzling.
They remain in pole position for the final quarter-final berth, while Down would need something miraculous to avoid relegation as basement dwellers in the group.
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