Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship quarter-final
Derry v Meath (Sunday, Inniskeen, 2.30pm)
THIS game is a repeat of the 2023 All-Ireland intermediate final that went to a replay in Clones before Derry delivered a knock-out blow early in the second half.
However, there are significant changes over the last three years. Derry have only five players in their panel who started that game, while Meath have eight and no fewer than 14 of the Derry panel have started their first ever inter-county senior game this season.
Naturally there had to be a bedding in period in the league campaign. Derry only won two games in the spring. Meath won three and qualified for the final on scoring difference at the expense of Laois. There they lost the final to Kerry by 1-7 to 0-8.
Neither Meath nor Derry have demonstrated much consistency through the championship groups over the past six weeks. Both are still standing after losing twice.
Meath lost their first two games against Westmeath and Laois.
Those were shock results, the Westmeath one in particular, which they lost by 4-13 to 1-12. A 2-11 to 2-9 defeat to Laois, therefore, was an improvement.
That meant, entering the last game, Meath needed to not only beat Carlow comfortably – but rely on Laois winning against Westmeath. Both happened and the Royals narrowly made the quarter-finals on scoring difference.
Derry also have struggled in the seeded Group 1. They held Antrim fairly well until full-back Eimear McCloskey picked up a second yellow card.
There was a much better performance – and result – in round two as they came from behind to snatch a deserved 1-11 each draw against Down.
That meant that they left for Tralee a fortnight ago knowing that they could reach the semi-finals automatically by beating Kerry.
Again they started well, but fell away in the second half to a 2-16 to 0-8 defeat. A fortnight, though, may have helped to get that performance out of their system.
Their last meeting with Meath was in early March in Find Insurance Celtic Park.
Although Meath ended up winning by 2-12 to 1-11, Derry have improved since and should be in with a fair chance of getting a result on Sunday.
The accuracy of Carla Collins from the dead-ball can keep them in any game, but others need to step up to the mark to get them over the line.
Should Derry stick in the game and are level or ahead coming down the straight, they can make it through to the semi-finals in a fortnight.
Verdict: Meath will start as slight favourites
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship relegation play-off
Carlow v Westmeath (Sunday)
WHEN these teams met in the league, Westmeath won by seven points. When they met in the championship group stages, Carlow won by 3-12 to 4-6.
While Westmeath have struggled right through the season, Carlow have been steadily improving, but a 12-point defeat by Meath last day out will have hit them. Westmeath were recently in the senior championship promising a lot. Relegation to junior would hit them very hard.
