NIAMH Mallon, who starred with Galway in the All-Ireland series this summer, is set to link up with her former club Portaferry once again.
She will be in the panel for the final group game of the senior championship against Mayobridge this Saturday (2.30pm).
Mallon’s transfer back to the Ards’ club was signed off a fortnight ago on the same day that Portaferry sprung a championship surprise on neighbours Ballygalget.
Although Mallon attended that derby game, she wasn’t eligible to participate as she needed to wait 48 hours until her registration came through.
Mallon is a sports scientist at Orreco, a Galway-based firm where she conducts the company’s Redox testing and also works on the development of their Elite Female Athlete Program.
This year, Pádraic Joyce brought her in as a nutritionist with the Galway senior men’s football panel.
She commuted from Galway to play camogie for Down and Portaferry since taking up the Orreco post in 2018.
Earlier this year, however, she transferred to the Tribe and immediately linked up with their senior squad.
Despite picking up a couple of injuries and missing two group games, she won her place in the Galway forward line and contributed 1-21 in their All-Ireland run, her goal along with two points, helping to edge out Tipperary in the semi-final.
Her return to the Ports will be a major boost ahead of the knock-out stages of the competition, although the club has done pretty well so far in the competition without the player who inspired them to the only Down senior title in their history three years ago.
The 0-12 to 1-8 win over Division One league champions Ballygalget a fortnight ago included six points from her cousin Saoirse Sands, and they should beat Mayobridge on Saturday to top Group B.
If that happens, they will automatically progress to the semi-finals at the start of October.
Despite defeat to their neighbours last time out, Ballygalget should beat An Ríocht in the earlier game (1pm). The Ards’ side and An Ríocht will both progress to quarter-finals as second and third place qualifiers respectively.
Group A still has a bit to run, but the games down for decision this weekend can go some distance towards solving the issues.
Holders Liatroim will complete their group schedule with a trip to Ballycran. Although this is a bit of a banana skin for them, the Fontenoys should do enough to win and that would guarantee them second place in the group.
Clonduff, who beat them last Wednesday, are now favourites to finish top. They will take a big step towards achieving that by beating Ballyholland.
The final round of group games on Sunday week should see Ballycran or Ballyholland fill the third qualification spot and face Ballygalget.
THE knock-out fixtures in the Errigal Group-sponsored Derry senior championship will be known after the final round of group games on Friday evening.
Last year’s finalists Swatragh and Slaughtneil look strong favourites to secure semi-final spots as winners of their respective groups.
Swatragh play last year’s intermediate champions Newbridge, who shipped a heavy defeat to Bellaghy last weekend. A draw would be good enough to see the Davitts top the group, but it’s hard not to see another comfortable win.
If that happens, then both Bellaghy and Eoghan Rua are guaranteed another game in the quarter-finals next weekend. The pair meet in Bellaghy and the home team should take the spoils.
Group B is also running to form, although the games are a lot closer. Slaughtneil were pushed by Ballinascreen last weekend, while the ‘Screen were lucky to win their opening game against Lavey by a single point.
The 10-in-a-row-chasing Emmetts have to visit Gulladuff in their final group game. A draw would see them top the group, leaving Lavey to face Bellaghy in the quarter-final – assuming of course that Ballinascreen pick up their second victory at home to Glen.
Denn beat holders Crosserlough in the opening round of the Mannok-sponsored Cavan senior championship and then defeated Laragh in round two.
However, despite leading by eight points at one stage, they conceded two late goals to Lacken in round three and lost by a single point.
The action resumes after a short break this Saturday, with Denn at home in their final group game against Castletara. They are expected to win this game and that would mean that they would still have a decent chance of topping the table.
Crosserlough recovered from their opening defeat to beat Laragh and they now face a crunch tie with the Lacken side that defeated Denn last time out.
Down Senior Camogie Championship
Saturday
Group B (1pm) Ballygalget v An Ríocht; Clonduff v Ballyholland
Group A (2.30pm) Portaferry v Mayobridge; Ballycran v Liatroim Fontenoys
Errigal Group Derry Senior Camogie Championship
Friday (6.45pm)
Group A Swatragh v Newbridge; Bellaghy v Eoghan Rua
Group B Lavey v Slaughtneil; Ballinascreen v Glen
Mannok Cavan Senior Camogie Championship
Saturday (5pm)
Denn v Castletara; Crosserlough v Lacken