With two wins, Galway’s senior camogie team have effectively secured a 2018 All-Ireland quarter-final berth and another against Limerick will set them up for a table topping showdown with Kilkenny. Cathal Murray’s charges discounted Clare and Waterford and will be expected to deal with the Shannonsiders’ challenge.
Galway's total in the camogie matched what Limerick, Clare and Waterford scored combined this afternoon as the three Munster counties battle it out for third spot behind the Tribeswomen and Kilkenny in the group. pic.twitter.com/caBoy31kkY
— Joel Slattery (@JoelSlattery) June 16, 2018
If anything, the drama could about off field matters. Before Tony O’Donovan’s resignation as Galway senior manager following the league campaign, the previous incumbent’s dismissal during the winter indirectly took down the county executive.
Mark Dunne returns for a Galway senior camogie championship match for the first time since the 2017 All-Ireland semi-final. But his focus will be on Limerick as himself and Niall Corcoran are part of Declan Nash’s management team.
Limerick could turn to former Galway senior camogie manager https://t.co/Ndi5ec2pD5 pic.twitter.com/yXgYVU62h9
— Limerick Leader (@Limerick_Leader) April 12, 2018
The former Limerick inter county hurler is also, like Murray, just facing his third competitive game after John Tuohy’s surprise resignation following a third consecutive league semi-final. But the Treaty county have never brought that form into the summer and a quarter-final will be their minimum target.
And taking points from Galway could be the best way to achieve that. With only one point from two games following their draw with Clare, Limerick led Kilkenny before fading in their opening contest before the Noresiders emerged victorious by 2-18 to 0-11.
The last championship meeting between the counties was 2015 when Galway were 4-16 to 0-12 winners in Kenny Park but that result came either side of two tough battles. In 2014, Limerick beat Galway in the spring and only went down by one point in the 2016 semi-final.
Niamh Mulcahy is Limerick’s main threat along with midfielders Karen O’Leary and Sarah Carey. Keeper Laura O’Neill and defenders Muireann Creamer and Rebecca Delee hold the central positions while Sinead McNamara, Lorraine McCarthy and Lisa Scanlon giving Nash options from the bench.
Galway will be expected to win pulling up. Minor keeper Sarah Healy has yet to concede a goal; Sarah Dervan, Tara Kenny, Heather Cooney and Lorraine Ryan lead the defence; while Ann Marie Starr can expect to be partnered by Niamh Kilkenny who missed the Waterford game with a thumb injury.
Rebecca Hennelly, Niamh McGrath and Aoife Donohue are favourites for the half forward positions with Carrie Dolan and Ailish O’Reilly in the corners. Based on results so far, Galway should be on three wins come Saturday evening.
Verdict: Galway
