Camogie previews: Limerick looking to bounce back against Offaly
Limerick's Donna Kenny in action against Kilkenny. Pic: ©INPHO/Stephen Heaney
It may just be the second round of action in Group 2 of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, but there is a real sense of jeopardy in this weekend's contests as counties chase the top two spots in the six-team table.
Leinster champions Wexford suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Offaly in their opening assignment, and know they must make amends this weekend at home in order to breathe fire into their championship campaign.
The Model County accounted for Kilkenny and Dublin to claim provincial honours, but defeat in Tullamore leaves them with their backs against the wall in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship.
The in-form Banner come to town, hot off an opening-round 2-16 to 3-10 victory over Dublin. Goalkeeper Doireann Murphy produced a last-minute save to deny the Dubs a draw in Ennis, while Lorna McNamara backed up her Centra Camogie League final tally of 2-6, going one better with 2-7 against the same opposition.
The Yellowbellies will need to keep tabs on one of the most in-form forwards in camogie right now, if they are to prevail.
Clare boss Eugene Foudy said his team are braced for a "dogfight" in Chadwicks Wexford Park, with their hosts in need of victory.
The stakes are strikingly similar in Parnell Park. The visitors arrive with a pep in their step after an impressive victory last weekend, while the hosts will feel they are in 'must-win' territory.
The Girls in Blue have struggled to build upon their run to the 2024 All-Ireland semi-finals, but the talent is clearly there in the panel at present. If things click, there is no doubt that they could match their county hurlers' feat against the Cats at the same venue, six days earlier.
Kilkenny meanwhile ran riot against Limerick at UPMC Nowlan Park last weekend, with Aoife Prendergast striking for 2-8. Jimmy Meagher's team are fancied to claim one of the two All-Ireland quarter-final berths on offer in this group, and victory in Donnycarney on Saturday would set them up nicely.
Limerick are looking to turn things around after an 11-point defeat to Kilkenny last weekend, and face a Faithful County side riding a wave of momentum upon their return to the senior ranks.
After heavy defeats to Kilkenny and Tipperary in their last two games, the Treaty need to make a statement in TUS Moylish if they are to steady the ship.
Mairéad Teehan's last-minute strike secured an unlikely opening win for Offaly, and another three points on Saturday would go a long way to achieving their primary objective of avoiding an immediate return to the intermediate ranks.
The Leinster outfit have loftier ambitions, however, as captain Amy Byrne targeted a quarter-final spot at the outset of the championship.
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