Camogie Preview: Kilkenny and Clare to put undefeated records on the line
UNBEATEN: Kilkenny's Aoife Prendergast scores a goal. Pic: ©INPHO/Stephen Heaney.
It’s another big weekend in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championships, as counties vie for position with the knockout stages nearing. Group 2 in the Senior Championship enters its penultimate round, with the seeded teams in Group 1 on a break weekend.
Both Kilkenny and Clare have enjoyed perfect starts to their All-Ireland Championship campaigns, and share the summit of Group 2, with three wins apiece.
The Noresiders have been more emphatic on the scoreboard, accounting for Limerick, Dublin and Offaly by an 11-point average winning margin.
Sarah Barcoe and Aoife Prendergast have been among their top performers, and Jimmy Meagher’s outfit will be eager to make it four from four when the Banner come to town.
Eugene Foudy’s charges return to the site of their Division 1B league final success, eager to build on what has already been a hugely impressive season.
A season-ending injury to star forward Lorna McNamara is a major setback, but others took up the mantle in recent weeks.
The winner of this contest will stamp their ticket to Croke Park for an All-Ireland quarter-final on the weekend of 4th/5th July.
It’s win or bust for Offaly and Dublin, with both teams knowing they must claim victory to stay in with a chance of cracking the top two.
Dublin have prevailed in the sides' previous two meetings this year, in the League and Leinster Championship. They travel to Birr with a pep in their step, off the back of a hugely impressive 1-18 to 0-8 victory over Wexford.
The Faithful County enjoyed a remarkable home victory over the Slaneysiders in their opening assignment, but have since failed to follow it up.
Form would point to the Dubs, but last year’s intermediate champions will look to make home advantage count.
Being out of quarter-final contention after three games was not part of the script for Wexford when they hoisted the Leinster Championship trophy last month. However, their fortunes have dipped significantly since then.
The Model County still have work to do, as they look to dig themselves out of relegation danger.
Limerick come to town, in a similar position to Offaly and Dublin: they must win to keep their quarter-final ambitions alive.
Down vs Antrim, 3:30pm Saturday, McKenna Park, Ballycran
Kerry vs Derry, 3:30pm Saturday, Hermitage Park, Lixnaw
Antrim have assured themselves of a semi-final berth, with one game to spare. They now face a Down team, eager to overturn their Ulster final defeat and join the Saffrons in the last four.
Kerry are in control of their own destiny, sitting on three points in the table, ahead of Down and Derry on one point apiece. The top two progress directly to the last four.
On form, the Kingdom look best placed. But they need to take care of business at home to the Oak Leaf County.
Third and fourth place in the group will go into Monday morning’s draw for the intermediate quarter-finals, with Laois and Meath in the other bowl.
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