The Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship will kick off this weekend as Cork look to start their defence on a positive note as they look for a 30th title. Newly promoted Derry will look to cause a splash this year in the two Group format.
Antrim v Derry, Saturday May 25th, Ruairí Óg CLG, Cushendall, 2pm (Group 1)
Newly promoted Derry are away to Antrim for their first game of the Senior Championship, a repeat of the Ulster Senior Final from two weeks ago which the Saffrons won by three points.
A renewal of acquaintances of these two and Antrim will no doubt want to kick on during this Championship and try and make the quarter finals again this year. Antrim picked up three wins from five games in the league and with provincial silverware under their belts will have momentum going into this round one tie.
Beaten in the Division 2A Final and the Ulster Final. Derry have come so close this year to silverware and despite tasting defeat in those finals will have confidence going into the Senior Championship. Certainly they are competitive and going into a tough group with 2023 runners-up Waterford, 2024 Very League Division 1A champions Tipperary, Limerick, Antrim and Kilkenny they will want to start on a positive note.
Cork v Wexford, Saturday May 25th, Páirc Uí Rinn, 2pm (Group 2)
Holders Cork meet Wexford as they look to defend their crown on a positive note on home soil. Wexford beaten in the 1B League Final are a side very much aiming for big things this year.
The Rebelettes come into the tie with a 1-16 to 0-14 win over Waterford to lift yet more silverware in Munster. While they missed on a league final this year Ger Manley’s charges looked very impressive in Munster and if they can hit the right form they will take some stopping as they look for their 30th title.
You do not want to dwell on the past but Wexford will still have vivid memories of their 1B final which saw them suffer a stoppage time defeat to Dublin. Colin Sunderland’s side were at their sparkling best in the league and going into Leinster they lost by three points to Kilkenny in the semi-final. Certainly giving the Cats a scare, if Ciara O’Connor can get the service that could be the difference.
Clare v Down, Saturday May 25th, Cusack Park, Ennis, 2pm (Group 2)
With both sides having started the year off the back of difficult league campaigns, the question will be who can start the better for this All Ireland series.
Clare were relegated from Division 1A of the league suffering fifth straight defeats in the competition. Since then they suffered defeat to Cork in the Munster semi-final and certainly need to find their form. Clare finished third in the Group phase last year, with Down the only side they defeated in the three group format.
Down on the other hand also lost their provincial semi-final in Ulster, Derry prevailing 1-15 to 0-5. The Mourne County could also have had the same fate as Clare and suffer relegation in the league but a draw with Kerry on the final day saw them stay up, the only time in the league they did not taste a defeat. Down won their relegation final last term and will look to avoid a repeat this year.
Dublin v Galway, Saturday May 25th, Parnell Park, 2pm (Group 2)
Last year’s beaten semi-finalista Galway will look to start their 2024 All Ireland Series on a positive note as they travel to the capital to meet the 1B Champions Dublin.
The Dubs finished in third spot in a group with Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford last year and with another tough group this year will want to push on for a chance at the All Ireland silverware. Third spot would see them advance to the quarter finals this time around but Gerry McQuaid and Bill McCormack will want them to aim higher. Beaten 0-14 to 1-6 by Dublin in the Leinster Senior decider they will want to bounce back with a win on Saturday.
Galway haven’t played a competitive game since their league final defeat to Tipperary in April. Now they jump into a busy schedule of five matches in six weeks starting with a trip to meet the Dubs. Along with Tipp, Galway were the top side in 1A and off the back of that painful one point defeat, will they showcase their talents to get past a tricky Dublin test. A cruciate ligament injury to defender Siobhán Gardiner will see her miss out, while Siobhán McGrath is another loss to the panel.
Limerick v Kilkenny, Saturday May 25th, Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, 4pm (Group 1)
After falling to a one point defeat in the Quarter Final stage to Cork last year, Kilkenny aim to start on a positive note this year with a trip to the Bog Garden to meet Limerick.
Limerick have certainly been left disappointed with how 2024 has begun. A very solid League campaign saw them miss out on a decider and what followed was an early exit in Munster. Still Joe Quaid has a very strong squad to pick from as the likes of Rebecca Delee is back this year, while Caoimhe Costello is free scoring and will aim to torment the cats rearguard.
Peter Cleere has had a positive time as manager since taking over from Brian Dowling. While he had the likes of Denise Gaule and Claire Phelan missing from the panel and had to use the league to blood new players, they still were largely competitive. Leinster served them well defeating Wexford in the semi and Dublin in the final. This has all the feel of a real classic.
Tipperary v Waterford, Saturday May 25th, The Ragg, 4:30pm (Group 1)
After gruelling encounters in the League and Munster Championship, Tipperary and Waterford will go face to face this weekend for the third time this year and once again it will certainly be a close tie.
In their last two meetings Tipp have lost this tie by a goal. 0-10 to 0-10 at home in the League and 1-18 to 0-18 in the Munster semi-final. These two know each other too well and Tipp who lost in the semi-final to Waterford last year look to avoid yet another defeat. Tipperary were impressive in the League and ended a 20 year wait for silverware in the process, they need to be at their best to defeat a side who could be seen as their bogey team.
Beth Carton has been the difference in 2024 between these two. The 2023 Player of the Year hit 1-5 in their league encounter and fired home 1-11 when the pair met weeks ago in Munster. While Waterford got to the final last year it was a disappointing result in the end and the Deise will want to showcase their talents this year but need to get past their old foe to start the campaign on a positive note.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.