Galway camogie open their National League campaign on Saturday (2pm ) when they take on Tipperary at The Ragg.
Title holders Galway will be looking to retain the crown for the first time, having beaten Cork in last year's final by 2-14 to 1-13.
All-Ireland club champions Sarsfields will once again provide a strong backbone to an experienced outfit, although Siobhan McGrath is expected to miss the opening fixtures with a foot injury. Add in senior players such as last year's captain and vice captains Sarah Dervan and Shauna Healy, Carrie Dolan, Niamh Kilkenny, All-Star Ailish O'Reilly and Aoife Donohue, manager Cathal Murray still has a good supply of experienced players to blend with newcomers from the intermediate team. They crowned a successful year with the All-Ireland trophy, captained by Lisa Casserly of Ballinderreen, and as a result will be pushing for places on the senior team. However missing this season is Sarah Healy - the St Thomas' All Star - who is overseas for the year.
Galway will face a Tipperary side boasting a new management team, led by Toomevara's Denis Kelly. Always competitive their last victory over Galway, who were then league champions, was in 2020, but they will be no pushovers.
Meanwhile Galway open their 2023 Lidl Ladies National Football Leagues over the coming weekend, taking on Cork in Pearse Stadium on Saturday (2pm ).
