Waterford and Cork lock horns at Carriganore on Saturday for Round Two of the Very Camogie League Division 1A.
By Daragh Ó Conchúir
This is a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final in which Cork prevailed comfortably. Both sides are under new management, although Ger Manley was a coach under Matthew Twomey.
The incoming Waterford boss, Jerry Wallace knows plenty of the Cork contingent, the Leeside native having overseen the success of the Rebels in four of the last five All-Ireland minor championships and guided the likes of Saoirse McCarthy, Fiona Keating, Laura Hayes and Orlaith Cahalane to name just four along the way.
The former Cork senior hurling coach actually applied to replace Twomey but when Manley got the nod, quickly accepted the invitation to take the reins from Seán Power, who surprisingly called it quits after just a year in charge of Waterford.
The Déise were promoted as Division 1B champions last year before ending a 78-year absence from the blue riband fixtures of the camogie season, and thanks to a goal from Beth Carton, edged out Tipperary by that margin in their opening tie of the new campaign.
Katrina Mackey slotted eight points and Emma Murphy the last two as Cork came out on top by the minimum against Kilkenny in a 1-17 to 1-16 humdinger.
The go on their travels for a second consecutive week and with their Suirside hosts sure to be motivated to show that the 19-point gap last August was a bad day at the office rather than a true reflection of their merits, a stirring affair can be expected.
Throw-in is at 2 pm and WLR will be bringing you on-air updates throughout the game thanks to Tomás McCarthy.
Tipperary v Galway, The Ragg, 3 pm, Saturday, February 24th.
Galway got their bid for third consecutive top-flight Very National League title off to a promising start with a convincing victory over Clare. New captain, Róisín Black led a strong defensive effort, while one of four debutants, Niamh Niland slotted four points from play and was many people’s idea of player of the match. Unusually for the westerners, they didn’t register a goal.
Newly-married manager, Cathal Murray has always taken the League seriously and given player form in the competition a high value when picking teams later in the season, so we can expect Galway to maintain a high level.
Tipperary came out the wrong side of a dogfight with Waterford last Saturday by a goal and will want to get the show back on the road. They were without perennial leading scorer Cáit Devane, among others, but have a fine record at The Ragg – last weekend’s tie was moved at the 11th hour, which might not have been a help.
They don’t fear Galway either. They began this competition last year with a one-point victory over the Tribeswomen in Ballinderreen, so this will be an interesting contest once more.
Kilkenny v Clare, UPMC Nowlan Park, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2 pm Saturday, February 24th.
These two teams are in pursuit of a first triumph after being downed last weekend. Each is in a transitional phase and Clare fought valiantly in their nine-point defeat to Galway. Áine O’Loughlin was a constant threat up front in particular.
Denise Gaule, Claire Phelan and the Walsh cousins, Miriam and Grace, are among the big-name absentees for the Cats, who are under new management with two-time All-Ireland hurling winner, Peter Cleere succeeding his former Black and Amber teammate and two-time All-Ireland winning manager with the Stripeywomen, Brian Dowling.
Katie Nolan and Aoife Doyle were prominent as they pushed Cork all the way, before being denied by a point on home territory and they will be very anxious to complete their two-match run at UPMC Nowlan Park with a brace of points.
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