Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship
Group One Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway
Group Two Derry, Wexford, Carlow, Antrim
Group Three Meath, Laois, Kerry, Westmeath
THE ULSTER CHALLENGE
EXPECTATION may have risen above potential for Derry after they took Antrim to the last few minutes in the Ulster senior semi-final a few weeks ago.
New manager PJ O’Mullan did not have full hand to play with during the league – but defeats by Kerry and Meath were unexpected and sorely felt with Kerry beating Meath in the final in Croke Park.
There has been a big turnover of players since last year. Just 13 of that panel remain with injuries playing their part while others have simply not made themselves available.
Then regular goalie Niamh McQuillan has recently picked up a serious injury and will be out for a few weeks, hoping that she can get back at some stage before the end of Derry’s championship run. Niamh Gribbin was between the posts against Antrim in the Ulster semi-final and did well.
Overall that was a creditable performance, but I understand that Gráinne McAtamney has since withdrawn from the panel and that further reduces the experienced heads around it. A few have been around the county scene for a number of years, but the absence of Slaughtneil players, apart from Aoife Ní Chaiside, is regrettable with so many youngsters attempting to find their feet at this level.
Derry have only one home game – their opening one this weekend against Wexford – potentially their most difficult tie. Win that and they can build up a head of steam.
VERDICT Derry should make the knock-out stages with ease, but further progress will depend on which of the Group One (reserve) teams meet them and at what point.
A Croke Park appearance will only happen if they continue to reproduce the determination and spirit they showed in the Ulster semi-final against Antrim.
ANTRIM’S reserve team continue to take strides forward with an appearance in the Division 3B league final last month and the eclipse of the Ulster intermediate title last weekend.
Given their turnover of players due to injury and promotion to the senior squad, this has been quite an achievement. The talent that has come through from the past two minor squads and school teams has been welcome.
With many of the All-Ireland winning minor team from earlier in the month eligible next year, that means that only a handful were allowed to move up. Three, Aoibheann Donnelly, Cara O’Boyle and Erin Coulter, featured against Cavan last week.
VERDICT This championship is very much a step up for the Saffrons. However, the sequence of games could help them in that they may well get results in the opening two games and enter the Derry game with a quarter-final place secure. That would be success.
PANELS & FIXTURES
DERRY
N McQuillan, A Ní Chaiside, D O’Kane, A McAllister, A Shaw, S O’Connor, M McNicholl, D McGuckin, N Gribben, A McGill, S McGill, E Mullan, R Downey, A Lennon, B McCullagh, C Collins, E Doherty, E McCloskey, E McGuigan, E Murphy, L Coyle, L McKenna, L Lennon, M Heggarty, N Quinn, O Hull, R McAllister
Saturday, May 27 v Wexford (h)
Saturday, June 10 v Carlow (a)
Saturday, June 24 v Antrim (a)
ANTRIM
A Graham, M McKinley, C Kearney, E Traynor, C Crawford, E McMullan, B Magill, A McNeill, F McIntosh, E McIntosh, B Magill, S Fyfe, D Cosgrove, M Bakewell, O Laverty,
N Neeson, C Laverty, C O’Boyle, A Donnelly, E Coulter, S Cosgrove
Saturday, May 27 v Carlow (h)
Saturday, June 10 v Wexford (a)
Saturday, June 24 v Derry (h)
