Weekend Previews- Galway and Laois stand between Kilkenny Senior and Intermediate teams and League final Spots; and Minor’s hoping to dethrone Limerick, Under 16 have Leinster final showdown with Dublin

Irish Daily Star National League Division 1

Semi Final

Kilkenny vs Galway (Sunday) 

Venue: (O’Connor Park Tullamore, 3.45pm) Referee: Owen Elliott

The Kilkenny senior camogie team will hope to book their place in the Division one League final when they take on Galway in O’Connor Park Tullamore on Sunday. Kilkenny the reigning champions made a slow start to the league campaign when Cork edged them out in the opening game. Kilkenny bounced back brilliantly recording wins over Derry Dublin and Clare to secure Sunday’s semi final against Galway. New Kilkenny manger Fintan Deegan will have to be happy with the form the senior players are in, but also the new players to the team this season, the way they gelled into the panel, with the main focus being on developing a team for the championship. Galway will provide a stern test on Sunday, with the 2013 All Ireland champions having grit between their teeth after Kilkenny ended Galway’s interest in the 2013 All Ireland championship. They have many household names with Orlaith McGrath and Niamh Kilkenny in very good form. Galway have being in very good form in the league following up an opening round draw against Limerick with wins over Tipperary, Offaly and a comprehensive victory over Wexford to secure a semi final spot. This game has all the hallmarks of being a cracker. On paper you would have to fancy Kilkenny to edge the tie on Sunday, but expect a tense close encounter.

Irish Daily Star Division 2

Semi Final

Kilkenny vs Laois (Sunday)

Venue: (O’Connor Park Tullamore, 2.30pm) Referee: Eamon Cassidy

Neighbors Laois stand between Kilkenny and a league final spot when both sides meet in O’Connor Park Tullamore on Sunday. The Kilkenny panel has been in great form in the league this season. They recorded three good wins on the trot over Meath, Tipperary and Down, they suffered a setback in round four when Waterford proved too strong, but bounced back with a trilling two point victory over Cork in the last round with Therese Muldowney getting the vital goal in the fourth minute of injury time to book Sunday’s showdown.  Laois have also being in good form this year recording wins over Kildare and Antrim in the opening two games, they suffered their first and only defeat to Wexford in round three but bounced back recording wins over Galway and Westmeath to book Sunday’s showdown. The last time the sides met Laois edged out Kilkenny by a single point with stunning second half performance having being down by ten points at half time in that game to end Kilkenny’s hopes of making the league knock out stages. Laois have many household names among their ranks with Niamh Dollard, Sile Burke, and Sarah Ann Fitzgerald up there with the top players in the country.  This is a very hard game to call, but I feel Kilkenny have the right mix this season of young and experience players to edge Laois on Sunday, but don’t be surprised if it goes right down to the wire.

Minor A All Ireland Championship – Sighle Nic an Ultaigh

Semi Final

Kilkenny vs Limerick ( Saturday)

Venue: (St Brendan’s Park, Birr, 3.45pm) Referee: Ray Kelly

The Kilkenny minor team will hope to book their place in the All Ireland final for the first time since 2013 when they take on Limerick in Birr on Saturday. Kilkenny have been in fantastic form this season running through there group games undefeated recording wins over Clare, Wexford, Tipperary and Cork to book Saturdays semi final. Limerick the reigning All Ireland champions are also in good form after defeating Dublin, Waterford and Offaly and suffered their only loss to Galway in their final game to book Saturday’s semi final. They have many talented players among their ranks and will be happy with the form that Rebecca Noonan, Caoimhe Lyons and Aisling Scanlon are in. Limerick will provide a stern test for Kilkenny on Saturday, but I feel Kilkenny are a stronger more experience side this season and should shade it on Saturday, but expect it to go down to the wire.

Leinster Under 16 Final

Kilkenny vs Dublin (Sunday, Time: TBC)

 Venue: TBC      Referee: TBC

The Kilkenny under 16 team will hope to claim their first silverware of the season when they face Dublin in the Leinster final on Sunday. The under 16 panel bounced back brilliantly from there narrow opening round loss to Sunday opponents Dublin when they recorded wins over Wexford and Offaly.  Dublin are also in impressive form this season running through the group undefeated. Kilkenny will be hoping to gain revenge for their opening round loss to Dublin on Sunday as they feel it was a game that got away after putting in an excellent first half performance to just come up short at the end.  This is a hard game to call, I feel the hurt of their opening round lost to Dublin should be the motivating factor for a  Kilkenny victory on Sunday, but no expect more than a point or two to be in it at the end.