Hurling & Camogie

Cavan continue on upward curve but will find Wexford a tough opponent

REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY*** Launch Of The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Finals, Croke Park, Dublin 5/4/2022 The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Finals take centre-stage this weekend with Croke Park Stadium playing host to the Division 1 & 2 Finals on Saturday, April 9th. They will be followed on Sunday by the Division 3 & 4 Finals taking place in Kinnegad GAA, as the curtain gets ready to come down on another excellent league campaign. In the Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 Final, the Murray managers go head-to-head as Paudie Murray brings his Rebel side back to the capital to face the newly crowned Manager of the Year, Cathal Murray and his All-Ireland Senior Championship winning side. It is a repeat of last year's All-Ireland Senior showdown between the two counties, with Cork looking to avenge the defeat they suffered in the same stadium just a couple of months ago. Both teams boast an unbeaten record so far in the League campaign, one of which will come to an end this weekend. Throw-in is at 7pm with the game live on RTE 2. In the Division 2 Final, also live on RTE, Antrim will take on Wexford after both counties came through their respective Semi-Finals on Sunday last. Wexford comfortably topped Group 1 with four wins from four, while Antrim also finished top of their group with three wins from three. Throw-in is at 5.15pm. In the Division 3 Final, Cavan play Wexford in an exciting match-up, with both teams experienced in winning silverware over the past few seasons. Both counties are also unbeaten in this year’s league campaign, with three wins from three. In the Division 4 Final Wicklow will take on Mayo after both teams progressed through the campaign to secure qualification to this weekend’s final. Mayo secured a 100% win record to date, while Wicklow fell to defeat against this weekend’s opponents in the earlier rounds of the campaign. Speaking at the launch Uachtarán of the Camogie Association, Hilda Breslin said: “We are delighted that our Littlewoods National League has been so successful. We look forward to four exciting finals this weekend, with the standard of camogie and skills we have seen throughout the competition we are sure our finals will be outstanding. “We encourage all supporters to buy your tickets and come to the games in person to show your support. Our division 1 & 2 league finals double header in Croke Park on Saturday evening will be an occasion to bring the whole family too. Our division 3 & 4 double header on Sunday sees our emerging teams take to stage in Kinnegad GAA. “We would like to thank our sponsors Littlewoods for their continued support of our game and players, focusing on our amazing athletes in their campaigns. Our players as role models for all young players deserve to hear the roar of crowds, let’s see the support in person. We wish all teams the best of luck this weekend.” Littlewoods Ireland Head of Marketing Catherine O’Toole said: “We are proud to be the title sponsor of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues for a sixth year running. Our objective is always to showcase Camogie for the phenomenal sport that it is and inspire people to get behind the sport and the players. We are fully committed to supporting the Camogie Association in growing this awareness further. “This season we have been delighted to have fans, families and supporters back in attendance at matches and stadiums across the country over the past few weeks as this has been a massive boost for both the players, teams and fans alike. I very much look forward to the finals of the Camogie Leagues this weekend and we wish all the players and supporters across all the divisions the best of luck.” Tickets for the Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 & 2 finals can be purchased through ticketmaster.ie or at the following link. Tickets for the Division 3 & 4 finals can be purchased on camogie.ie. Pictured is Cavan’s Aideen Coyle and Wexford’s Aideen Brennan Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY*** Launch Of The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Finals, Croke Park, Dublin 5/4/2022 The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Finals take centre-stage this weekend with Croke Park Stadi REPRO FREE***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY*** Launch Of The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Finals, Croke Park, Dublin 5/4/2022 The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Finals take centre-stage this weekend with Croke Park Stadium playing host to the Division 1 & 2 Finals on Saturday, April 9th. They will be followed on Sunday by the Division 3 & 4 Finals taking place in Kinnegad GAA, as the curtain gets ready to come down on another excellent league campaign. In the Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 Final, the Murray managers go head-to-head as Paudie Murray brings his Rebel side back to the capital to face the newly crowned Manager of the Year, Cathal Murray and his All-Ireland Senior Championship winning side. It is a repeat of last year's All-Ireland Senior showdown between the two counties, with Cork looking to avenge the defeat they suffered in the same stadium just a couple of months ago. Both teams boast an unbeaten record so far in the League campaign, one of which will come to an end this weekend. Throw-in is at 7pm with the game live on RTE 2. In the Division 2 Final, also live on RTE, Antrim will take on Wexford after both counties came through their respective Semi-Finals on Sunday last. Wexford comfortably topped Group 1 with four wins from four, while Antrim also finished top of their group with three wins from three. Throw-in is at 5.15pm. In the Division 3 Final, Cavan play Wexford in an exciting match-up, with both teams experienced in winning silverware over the past few seasons. Both counties are also unbeaten in this year’s league campaign, with three wins from three. In the Division 4 Final Wicklow will take on Mayo after both teams progressed through the campaign to secure qualification to this weekend’s final. Mayo secured a 100% win record to date, while Wicklow fell to defeat against this weekend’s opponents in the earlier rounds of the campaign. Speaking at the launch Uachtarán of the Camogie Association, Hilda Breslin said: “We are delighted that our Littlewoods National League has been so successful. We look forward to four exciting finals this weekend, with the standard of camogie and skills we have seen throughout the competition we are sure our finals will be outstanding. “We encourage all supporters to buy your tickets and come to the games in person to show your support. Our division 1 & 2 league finals double header in Croke Park on Saturday evening will be an occasion to bring the whole family too. Our division 3 & 4 double header on Sunday sees our emerging teams take to stage in Kinnegad GAA. “We would like to thank our sponsors Littlewoods for their continued support of our game and players, focusing on our amazing athletes in their campaigns. Our players as role models for all young players deserve to hear the roar of crowds, let’s see the support in person. We wish all teams the best of luck this weekend.” Littlewoods Ireland Head of Marketing Catherine O’Toole said: “We are proud to be the title sponsor of the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues for a sixth year running. Our objective is always to showcase Camogie for the phenomenal sport that it is and inspire people to get behind the sport and the players. We are fully committed to supporting the Camogie Association in growing this awareness further. “This season we have been delighted to have fans, families and supporters back in attendance at matches and stadiums across the country over the past few weeks as this has been a massive boost for both the players, teams and fans alike. I very much look forward to the finals of the Camogie Leagues this weekend and we wish all the players and supporters across all the divisions the best of luck.” Tickets for the Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 & 2 finals can be purchased through ticketmaster.ie or at the following link. Tickets for the Division 3 & 4 finals can be purchased on camogie.ie. Pictured is Cavan’s Aideen Coyle and Wexford’s Aideen Brennan Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division Three final: Wexford v Cavan (Sunday, Kinnegad, 3pm)

CAVAN’S upward trajectory continues.

The county only came back into adult camogie in 2020 and made an immediate impact to win the Nancy Murray Cup. Because counties could only enter one team in the championship that season they were catapulted into the junior championship to make up numbers and promptly beat Roscommon to reach the final against Armagh.

However, despite a promising first quarter, they struggled with the scoring ability of Armagh’s Donnelly sisters and lost the decider by a few points.

Last year the won Division Four fairly comfortably, but surprisingly lost to Roscommon in the junior championship and that left them with too much to do to reach the final.

A change of management came in this season and there seems to have been an immediate kick on which really gathered pace after a single-point victory over Armagh in the opening league game.

That was followed by four more wins, some again by very narrow margins, and they are back in the final.

However, their opponents Wexford have been the best team at this level last year and this. The Leinster side are unbeaten during that period, collecting the league and Junior All-Ireland on the way.

So, why have they not been promoted to a higher division? The answer lies with the county’s senior squad who didn’t win promotion last year back into Division One, even though they continue to play in the senior championship. This team has to remain in the lower division until Wexford seniors move up and that will stunt the progress of teams like Cavan.

The Breffni side will be big underdogs going into the final, but they have shown a good appetite for battling through tight games this year. The key question will be whether they can keep the game in the balance until the last quarter.

I fear they won’t be able to do that and avoiding a heavy defeat might be a good result for a team that has come a long way in a short time.