Weekend Previews: Seniors and Intermediates welcome Waterford and Carlow for Piltown double header while minors travel to Clare

The busy Kilkenny camogie inter-county season continues this weekend with three teams in action. The Kilkenny senior side entertains Waterford in round 2 of the Irish Daily Star Division one league, while the Kilkenny Intermediate side will welcome Carlow for the curtain raiser of the days double header  for round 2 of Irish Daily star Division 2 league. While on Saturday afternoon the Kilkenny minor side will hope to get there  All Ireland title defense back on track when they travel to Clare to take on Clare.

Irish Daily Star National League Division 1 Group 2

Kilkenny              vs            Waterford

Venue: Piltown Gaa Complex 2.30pm Referee: John Dolan (Clare)

The Kilkenny senior side will hope to continue their winning run on Sunday when they entertain Intermediate All Ireland Champions Waterford in Piltown.

The team will be buoyed by their opening round win where they claimed a 5-09 to 0-01 point victory over Derry on Sunday last. The management team would of being happy with the performance of the team and especially the performances of some of the new players into the side this season with many making there senior debut. Sarah Kent was rock solid at full back, and at the other end of the field Sarah Ann Quinlan caused a lot of headaches for the Derry defense and bagged two goals in the process and Kelly Ann Doyle impressed after her introduction at half time. The management team will be fully aware that Waterford will pose a different threat on Sunday afternoon.

The Waterford sides are very strong all over the field with Niamh Rockett, Trish Jackman and Shona Curran well capable of causing trouble for any opposition.  The one concern they may have going into Sunday’s match is this is their first competitive game of the season.

I feel Waterford will take to the senior ranks like a fish to water but Sunday’s test may prove a bit too much and I expect a Kilkenny victory on Sunday to make it two wins from two for 2016.

Irish Daily Star National League Division 2 Group 2

Kilkenny             vs              Carlow                

Venue: Piltown Gaa Complex 1pm Referee: Andrew Larkin (Cork)

The Kilkenny intermediate team will hope to continue their good vein of form when they welcome Junior A All Ireland Champions Carlow to Piltown on Sunday.

The side travelled to Down last weekend and in a game played in difficult weather conditions emerged with a 0-07 points apiece draw. The intermediate management team would of being very happy with the team’s performance and especially with many of the players playing together for the first time and especially the performances of new players into the side this season Jenifer Norris in Full back, Lydia Phelan half back and Catherine Walsh and Rosin Breen in the forward line all put in solid performances. Carlow suffered the taste of defeat last weekend in their first ever game in the Intermediate ranks where they came up short to Laois 0-09 points to 0-07.

Carlow will provide a stern test for Kilkenny on Sunday and they have some very talented players among their ranks with Ciara Quirke well capable of causing a headache for any side.

In saying this I feel this Kilkenny side is developing well and may prove too strong for the Barrowsiders on Sunday and should secure their first victory of the league.

All Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship Group 1

Clare              vs            Kilkenny

Venue: Clare Venue TBC Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)

The Kilkenny minor team will hope to get there All Ireland challenge back on track this Saturday as they travel to Clare to take on the Banner side.

The minor team would of be disappointed to come out the wrong side of the score board last weekend’s with Tipperary emerging victorious on a 2-12 to 3-07 score line. Kilkenny were in control for long periods of the contest and led by six points at half time but Tipperary staged a second half comeback and ran out two point victors. They are a lot of positives to take from last weekend defeat and a victory on Saturday would put Kilkenny right back on track.

It is not going to be an easy travelling to Clare on Sunday as the Banner County are making great strides at under age and are very strong at minor level as last weekend victory over Offaly has proven on a 1-05 to 0-05 point score line, and they sit on top of the table on score difference as a result.

I feel the hurt of last weekend could drive Kilkenny on to get the result on Saturday and get there campaign right back on track.