THE draws for the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships were broadcast across The Camogie Association's social channels on Thursday evening and the two Ulster sides in the mix will have experienced contrasting emotions.
Down look to have been drawn in the toughest possible group, Group 1, alongside championship contenders Cork and Galway, with an opening game against Clare at a Down venue on the weekend June 3-4.
The draw means that in the second round in the middle of June, former Down forward Sorcha McCartan will face the team-mates she helped to the 2020 All-Ireland Intermediate title.
McCartan featured for the Leesiders in last year’s senior final and has been in top form for them during their current league campaign.
Antrim, on the other hand, have been placed in Group 3 with Waterford, Limerick and Offaly, three teams they have already met this season in the Very Ireland Camogie League and that was a point the Saffrons’ manager Elaine Dowds brought up when contacted for her reaction.
“Yeah, we already have played all three in the league and that gives us a good idea what to expect in the championship.
“Waterford would be the favourites to top the group; they were in the semi-finals last year and they beat us in our last league game. In fact they have won all their league games to date. Limerick beat us to make the quarter-finals last year and Offaly drew with us a few weeks ago in the league.
“We will have our work cut out, but, at the same time, if we do the work over the next two months we should have a great chance of making the knock-out stages for the first time in many a year.”
Defending champions Kilkenny will get the defence of their title under way in a group involving Dublin, Tipperary and Wexford. The formbook would suggest that the Cats and neighbours Tipperary would make the knock-outs.
The Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Championship will get under way a week earlier than the senior on May 27-28.
Both Derry and last year’s Premier Junior winners Antrim feature in Group 2, along with Carlow and Wexford’s second team. One or both surely stand a good chance of coming through to the quarter-finals.
Intermediate champions Galway have been given the stiff task of emerging from a five-team group involving the second strings of Cork, Dublin and Kilkenny, as well as Kildare, while Meath, Laois, Kerry and Westmeath make up Group 3.
The Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship also begins on May 27-28, with Armagh, who lost the last two finals, lined up against Mayo, Limerick and Offaly in Group 2.
Group 1 consist of just three teams: Cavan, Wicklow and Tipperary, while Tyrone must play Clare, Louth and Roscommon in Group 3.
As in previous years, six teams will qualify for the knockout stages of each grade of championships, two from each group. Two of the three group winners will advance directly to the semi-finals, with one team joining the other three second placed teams in the quarter-finals.
The identity of those straight to semi-final will be determined by a draw involving the three group winners.
The quarter-final pairings will be decided by an open draw but there will be no repeat pairings. i.e. the group winners participating in the quarter-final cannot play the runner-up from their group.
Hilda Breslin, Uachtaraán Cumann Camógaíochta said: “The Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship draws always throw up exciting pairings and interesting discussions, and this year is no different. I want to thank our sponsors Glen Dimplex for their invaluable support in year two of our partnership together. I wish all our players and counties good luck and success in what promises to be a thrilling championship. We look forward to a summer of excitement and continuation of the great action we have seen during the National League this year.”
Mike Cavanagh, Glen Dimplex Head of Communications said: “We are extremely excited to be sponsors of the Camogie All-Ireland Championships, particularly following the athleticism, skill, determination and passion on display at last years’ championships. We are delighted to be part of these great moments in Irish sport, taking place throughout communities across Ireland. We wish all the Premier Junior, Intermediate and Senior teams the very best of luck.”
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Championship
Group 1: Cork, Galway, Clare, Down
Group 2: Kilkenny, Dublin, Tipperary, Wexford
Group 3: Waterford, Limerick, Antrim, Offaly
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Championship
Group 1: Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Kildare, Galway
Group 2: Derry, Wexford, Carlow, Antrim
Group 3: Meath, Laois, Kerry, Westmeath
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship
Group 1: Cavan, Wicklow, Tipperary
Group 2: Armagh, Mayo, Limerick, Offaly
Group 3: Clare, Louth, Tyrone, Roscommon
