WEXFORD HAVE WON four of the last eight titles, while Cork are second on the Roll of Honour with 24, so this certainly represents a battle of camogie’s bluebloods. Wexford were the most recent to scale the summit, having completed a three-in-a-row in 2012. Cork haven’t claimed the O’Duffy Cup since 2009.
They have always been in contention in the intervening period, but their only appearance in the final was when Ursula Jacob inspired Wexford to that historic success two years ago, scoring one of the best goals ever seen in an All-Ireland final en route to totting up 2-7.
The likes of the Mackey twins and Julia White really established themselves that season and players of the calibre of captain Anna Geary (fresh from her Rose of Tralee commitments), Briege Corkery, Rena Buckley and Gemma O’Connor forming an experienced core, and Orla Cotter shooting the lights out, they came through a stern test in the quarter-final against Clare to reach this juncture.
The Leesiders were shocked by Clare in the league semi-final, having won the spring competition the past two years but it is no surprise to see them back in the last four at the end of August. Last year was a strange one for Wexford. JJ Doyle stood down after such a successful period, only to return on the eve of the championship after the departure of his replacement, Martin Lynch.
A number of key players were unavailable too and it was their famed stubbornness that got them to the semi-final. They never looked like maintaining their run against Galway but are a completely different proposition this year. Helena Jacob has taken over the reins, having been part of the aforementioned All-Ireland winning squads, and also been in charge for many of WIT’s recent Ashbourne Cup successes.
Una Leacy is amongst those who have returned to the fold, taking some of the scoring burden off the remarkable Jacob. Katrina Parrock and Kate Kelly remain key operators in that department too, while Mags D’Arcy and Mary Leacy’s mastery in the back seven is crucial. Wexford won by six points when the teams met in Group 1 but the perils of reading too much into round-robin games when you reach the knockouts stages are well known by now.
This is a repeat of last year’s final but despite the fact that Galway were deserving winners that day, there are many pundits tipping Kilkenny to reverse the placings this time around.
Galway failed to make the league semi-finals and stuttered through their championship group as well. They failed to beat either Wexford or Cork but had too much firepower for Dublin and that was enough to get the champions into the quarter-finals.
Many thought that Clare might end their reign but Tony Ward’s girls showed character, if not the fluidity they would have liked, to beat off a determined opposition after extra time.
Galway didn’t really get going until the knockout stages last year too and will be hoping for a similar trend. Just as now, Kilkenny were the team with the better record, having won all their games but that counted little in the end, as Galway’s finals’ experience told.
They were more controlled and clinical but having gone through that should stand to Kilkenny. The Noresiders, who have made excellent progress under Niall Williams and Graham Dillon, have looked very good this year, winning the league along the way.
They maintained the good impression when accounting for all four opponents in Group 2. Denise Gaule and Aoife Neary are part of an outstanding forward line that has been scoring heavily, while Kate McDonald and Jacqui Frisby are key operators in a back division that has conceded just one goal in the campaign. Ann Dalton is one of the game’s best players.
Galway have lost Therese Maher, who retired having finally ended her marathon quest for the Holy Grail, but Aislinn Connolly is back after taking a year out, while Lorraine Ryan has been a tremendous leader in recent years and Niamh McGrath is deadly accurate both from play and placed balls.
Liberty Insurance Premier Junior Semi-Finals
Tomorrow
Down v Roscommon
Radley Park, Leixlip, 4.00pm, Jenny Byrne
Down’s superior fire-power with Niamh Mallon, Sarah Louise Carr and Fionnuala Carr proving a potent scoring trio, should cause the Roscommon defence numerous problems. The Ulster side, will be aiming to make amends for last season’s exit at the same juncture.
Verdict: Down
Laois v Dublin
Athy, 4.00pm, Ger O’Dowd
Last year’s beaten Premier Junior finalists, Laois led by Sarah Ann Fitzgerald at centre forward face a huge task against neighbours Dublin. The Metropolitans will look to Cliona McCullough at centre forward and Emma Flanagan to reach this year’s finals.
Verdict: Laois
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Junior A final
Sunday
Carlow v Limerick
It says something for the work being done in Limerick that they have two teams in All-Ireland finals this year. Credit to Carlow too, who won the junior B title in 2012 and have also experienced major success by virtue of Myshall’s dominance in the junior club championship over the past two years.
The Shannonsiders went into the championship on a high, having won the Division 4 league, while Carlow have done well to put a very difficult Division 3 campaign to one side. They have been the best two teams in the competition, topping their respective groups and then coming through their semi-finals, although with varying degrees of difficulty.
Ciara Quirke ran riot when Myshall won their second consecutive All-Ireland last November, scoring 2-7. A member of an esteemed and very well known GAA family in Carlow, she is a vital player for the county team too and scored two goals in the semi-final win over Offaly. Eileen Murphy also poached a brace in a performance that was at a very high level. A repeat of this type of brilliance would make them very hard to beat.
For their part, Limerick had five points to spare over Kerry in the penultimate round. They have been training with the intermediates and that has been an obvious benefit as they battle for places in another squad that is just an hour away from garnering the ultimate reward. While the team is managed by Ger Curtin, intermediate boss Joe Quaid is involved as a selector.
The influence of Muireann Creamer, Noreen Barry and Caitrín de Bhál will have to be reduced if Limerick are to be denied a hold of the Nancy Murray Cup on their first final appearance at this level.
Battle of heavyweights as Cork and Wexford meet in last-four showdown
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior semi-finals
Tomorrow
Cork v Wexford
Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2.00pm, Alan Lagrue
WEXFORD HAVE WON four of the last eight titles, while Cork are second on the Roll of Honour with 24, so this certainly represents a battle of camogie’s bluebloods. Wexford were the most recent to scale the summit, having completed a three-in-a-row in 2012. Cork haven’t claimed the O’Duffy Cup since 2009.
They have always been in contention in the intervening period, but their only appearance in the final was when Ursula Jacob inspired Wexford to that historic success two years ago, scoring one of the best goals ever seen in an All-Ireland final en route to totting up 2-7.
The likes of the Mackey twins and Julia White really established themselves that season and players of the calibre of captain Anna Geary (fresh from her Rose of Tralee commitments), Briege Corkery, Rena Buckley and Gemma O’Connor forming an experienced core, and Orla Cotter shooting the lights out, they came through a stern test in the quarter-final against Clare to reach this juncture.
The Leesiders were shocked by Clare in the league semi-final, having won the spring competition the past two years but it is no surprise to see them back in the last four at the end of August. Last year was a strange one for Wexford. JJ Doyle stood down after such a successful period, only to return on the eve of the championship after the departure of his replacement, Martin Lynch.
A number of key players were unavailable too and it was their famed stubbornness that got them to the semi-final. They never looked like maintaining their run against Galway but are a completely different proposition this year. Helena Jacob has taken over the reins, having been part of the aforementioned All-Ireland winning squads, and also been in charge for many of WIT’s recent Ashbourne Cup successes.
Una Leacy is amongst those who have returned to the fold, taking some of the scoring burden off the remarkable Jacob. Katrina Parrock and Kate Kelly remain key operators in that department too, while Mags D’Arcy and Mary Leacy’s mastery in the back seven is crucial. Wexford won by six points when the teams met in Group 1 but the perils of reading too much into round-robin games when you reach the knockouts stages are well known by now.
Sunday
Galway v Kilkenny
The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 4.00pm, Cathal Egan
This is a repeat of last year’s final but despite the fact that Galway were deserving winners that day, there are many pundits tipping Kilkenny to reverse the placings this time around.
Galway failed to make the league semi-finals and stuttered through their championship group as well. They failed to beat either Wexford or Cork but had too much firepower for Dublin and that was enough to get the champions into the quarter-finals.
Many thought that Clare might end their reign but Tony Ward’s girls showed character, if not the fluidity they would have liked, to beat off a determined opposition after extra time.
Galway didn’t really get going until the knockout stages last year too and will be hoping for a similar trend. Just as now, Kilkenny were the team with the better record, having won all their games but that counted little in the end, as Galway’s finals’ experience told.
They were more controlled and clinical but having gone through that should stand to Kilkenny. The Noresiders, who have made excellent progress under Niall Williams and Graham Dillon, have looked very good this year, winning the league along the way.
They maintained the good impression when accounting for all four opponents in Group 2. Denise Gaule and Aoife Neary are part of an outstanding forward line that has been scoring heavily, while Kate McDonald and Jacqui Frisby are key operators in a back division that has conceded just one goal in the campaign. Ann Dalton is one of the game’s best players.
Galway have lost Therese Maher, who retired having finally ended her marathon quest for the Holy Grail, but Aislinn Connolly is back after taking a year out, while Lorraine Ryan has been a tremendous leader in recent years and Niamh McGrath is deadly accurate both from play and placed balls.
Liberty Insurance Premier Junior Semi-Finals
Tomorrow
Down v Roscommon
Radley Park, Leixlip, 4.00pm, Jenny Byrne
Down’s superior fire-power with Niamh Mallon, Sarah Louise Carr and Fionnuala Carr proving a potent scoring trio, should cause the Roscommon defence numerous problems. The Ulster side, will be aiming to make amends for last season’s exit at the same juncture.
Verdict: Down
Laois v Dublin
Athy, 4.00pm, Ger O’Dowd
Last year’s beaten Premier Junior finalists, Laois led by Sarah Ann Fitzgerald at centre forward face a huge task against neighbours Dublin. The Metropolitans will look to Cliona McCullough at centre forward and Emma Flanagan to reach this year’s finals.
Verdict: Laois
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Junior A final
Sunday
Carlow v Limerick
It says something for the work being done in Limerick that they have two teams in All-Ireland finals this year. Credit to Carlow too, who won the junior B title in 2012 and have also experienced major success by virtue of Myshall’s dominance in the junior club championship over the past two years.
The Shannonsiders went into the championship on a high, having won the Division 4 league, while Carlow have done well to put a very difficult Division 3 campaign to one side. They have been the best two teams in the competition, topping their respective groups and then coming through their semi-finals, although with varying degrees of difficulty.
Ciara Quirke ran riot when Myshall won their second consecutive All-Ireland last November, scoring 2-7. A member of an esteemed and very well known GAA family in Carlow, she is a vital player for the county team too and scored two goals in the semi-final win over Offaly. Eileen Murphy also poached a brace in a performance that was at a very high level. A repeat of this type of brilliance would make them very hard to beat.
For their part, Limerick had five points to spare over Kerry in the penultimate round. They have been training with the intermediates and that has been an obvious benefit as they battle for places in another squad that is just an hour away from garnering the ultimate reward. While the team is managed by Ger Curtin, intermediate boss Joe Quaid is involved as a selector.
The influence of Muireann Creamer, Noreen Barry and Caitrín de Bhál will have to be reduced if Limerick are to be denied a hold of the Nancy Murray Cup on their first final appearance at this level.
4 senior players named in Galway U21 team for All-Ireland hurling semi-final
8 U21 hurlers to watch out for during this weekend’s All-Ireland semi-finals
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Camogie GAA liberty insurance all-ireland senior camogie championship Cork