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SATURDAY, 1 JUNE
GROUP 1
Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship round 3
Derry v Limerick, Owenbeg, 2pm
Limerick have suffered heavy defeats in their opening two games, away to Waterford and at home to Kilkenny, while Derry also shipped a big loss to high-flying Tipperary at Owenbeg last Saturday.
Last year's intermediate champions did mark their return to senior fare with an Ulster derby triumph over Antrim in the first round, however and if they can make home advantage count in this one, their status as a top-flight county would all but be cemented for next season.
Defeat for Limerick and they will be staring down the barrel of relegation.
Tipperary v Antrim, The Ragg, 2pm
The loss to Derry was a blow to Antrim, and they will be hoping Limerick suffer a similar fate so that they can have a likely winner-takes-all match in the final round to determine who avoids the drop to intermediate status. It was notable that though they conceded six goals to Kilkenny at Corrigan Park last weekend, they stayed battling to the final whistle.
The Saffrons face a tough task against the form team in the country at present in Tipperary. The League champions have the highest aggregate scoring tally in the group from their two victories and one of them was a three-point grind over Waterford. The other, in Derry, was a very one-sided affair. It would be a huge shock if they couldn’t make it three from three at the Ragg.
Kilkenny v Waterford, UPMC Nowlan Park, 3pm
This is an intriguing tie between two teams under new management. Having already lost a game, to Tipperary, Jerry Wallace’s Waterford won’t want to have another fruitless day. It would not be disastrous in terms of qualification but might raise some question marks and would certainly make things nervous.
Kilkenny took care of business, as expected, against Limerick and Antrim, and top the group on score difference but this will tell us a lot more about what Peter Cleere’s crew are at.
GROUP 2
Galway v Down, Pearse Stadium, 1pm
Down have lost to Clare and Cork and having run into a former star forward in Sorcha McCartan, now ensconced Leeside, they could face probably their greatest ever forward, Niamh Mallon in Salthill. The newly minted Sarsfields player had to go off with an injury in Galway’s draw with Wexford, however, so her participation is in doubt.
Galway were hard pressed by Dublin in the opening round, so Cathal Murray will be hoping they can open up by the western seaboard. They certainly cannot afford to slip up.
Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, 2pm
Clare won their opener against Down but disappointed in failing to really land a glove on Dublin at St Peregrine’s. That was a game they had targeted with a view to making the last six.
This tie won’t determine those aspirations, unless they manage to pull off what we be a stunning success against the All-Ireland champions, who have been professional in accounting for Wexford by nine points and Down by much more.
Dublin v Wexford, Parnell Park, 2pm
This may be the pivotal game in the group, though Clare could still have something to say about that. However, the winners will be in pole position for third place and the final qualifying spot to the knockout stages.
The Dubs were easy winners over Clare last Saturday having pushed Galway to three points in week 1. Wexford couldn’t really threaten Cork in their first outing but showed their true colours by grabbing a share of the spoils with Galway at Bellefield last weekend.
This is a repeat of the Very Division 1B final, when an injury-time goal by Grace O’Shea wrested the trophy from Wexford’s grasp. This has all the ingredients of a thriller.
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