The Kilkenny Camogie team got one over on their male counterparts already this year by quietly slipping into another league final. They seemed to come back from a no win situation last Saturday in Tullamore.
Trailing Galway by eight points with 13 minutes remaining they amazingly outscored their opposition 2-5 to no score during the final quarter to set up a final with neighbours Wexford. This fine comeback shows that there is plenty of character in this young team. I'm sure they were delighted to contest last years All-Ireland final. While on the day Cork were the better team, but for long periods Kilkenny more than held their own. The experience and disappointment of losing that final will definitely stand them in good stead for this year’s championship. The Ann Downey trained outfit have already put Tipperary, Cork, and Galway to the sword in this year’s league campaign and they will aim to win the league title on April 24. However I'm sure their main focus will be to get back to Croke Park in September.
Kilkenny have dominated underage Camogie in the last few years, winning numerous u16 and minor titles. While this doesn't guarantee senior success it must mean that some of these girls are pushing hard to get into Ann Downey's plans. It is not easy to make the jump from underage to senior. It’s the same in all codes of sport — the step up is huge, but they could not have a more experienced woman to guide them to the next level. I think it is fair to say they do not get the recognition they deserve, we seem to be wrapped up with the amazing exploits of our senior hurlers. I will be the first to put my hand up and say that I do not get to as many games as I should. I also think the Kilkenny Camogie Board could do with promoting these games a little bit better, this is merely constructive criticism as I do not want to get under anyone’s skin. This current Galway side must be sick to the teeth at the sight of the Black and Amber jersey, as Kilkenny beat them in the '08 league final and again with a late rally in last year’s All-Ireland semi final at Nowlan Park. There is still a lot of hard work ahead but could this finally be the year that they breach the gap since 1994 and bring back the O'Duffy Cup? They have all the talent in the world so it is now down to attitude and desire. Here's hoping that 2010 can be a fantastic year for the ladies.
Time for seniors to get motoring
The Kilkenny hurlers’ league campaign may have come to a premature end this year; however this Sunday's league clash with neighbours Waterford is still likely to be an intriguing encounter. The Kilkenny management have given game time to most panel members this spring. I think the time has come to get most of their perceived 'best 15' out hurling together again. It is also time to roll up the sleeves and get fully focused. I have written in the past few months that Kilkenny's priority this year is solely a tilt at the five-in-a-row. Brian Cody might differ with me on that one, but looking in from the outside they have not been fully wound up yet. I think a win against Waterford will be demanded from the management. With most of the panel back in full training for a couple of weeks now, surely a more familiar Kilkenny outfit will take to the field this Sunday. The return of Noel Hickey, Michael Kavanagh, and Eddie Brennan will once again have supporters guessing what selection will be sent out for battle. It is common knowledge that a couple of players have been let go in recent weeks to make way for fresh faces such as John Mulhall, Paddy Hogan, and one or two others — I remain mystified as to why Conor Fogarty has not been included yet. I do not care whether his father is a selector or not, he is surely entitled to be looked at after last year’s u21 campaign. Fogarty seems to have all the qualities necessary for intercounty hurling, he would be a good understudy for either cornerback position.
It is unfortunate for Waterford that the new rules of head to head battles instead of the scoring difference has come into play in the case of two teams finishing on the same points. If the old rules were in place a win for the Deise over Kilkenny would put them on the same points as Galway. If the Tribesmen were beaten by Cork next weekend it would have come down to scoring difference, unfortunately for them they were beaten by the Tribesmen so it makes this Sunday's game a glorified challenge match. I'm sure for financial reasons there will be a motion passed at congress to reverse this decision for next year’s campaign.
There seems to be no recession down in Waterford, Tipperary, or Cork as all three teams have been or are going out foreign on training camps. Surely there is no need in this day and age to be heading out foreign with all the high-tech facilities on hand in this country as the same could be achieved at home.
The most important game next weekend is likely to be between Dublin and Limerick, as this is for all intents and purposes a relegation decider. Limerick, with all their troubles look odds on to make the drop to division 2. It would be catastrophic for Dublin hurling if they got relegated, all the good work over the past couple of years would be undone and there is no guarantee if they found themselves back in division 2 next year that they would jump straight back up. We have seen this year how competitive this division has become. Still I think they have enough ammunition to remain in the highest division. There will be plenty of shadow boxing between Cork and Galway in Pearse Stadium as they meet again in the league decider the following week. All I can say is this match is likely to have no bearing on the real thing.
