Nowlan Park is the setting next Sunday afternoon, when the Irish Daily Star National Camogie league semi-finals take place. Kilkenny are first in the arena at 2pm against Galway, followed at 3.45pm by Tipperary’s clash with defending League/All-Ireland champions Wexford.
It’s a huge weekend of GAA activity involving Kilkenny GAA teams in the busiest weekend to date so far in 2011.
Kilkenny Intermediates and Under-16 teams are also in action, as Saturday will see Kilkenny hurlers travel to Croke Park for their National hurling league clash with Dublin, as St Kieran’s College attempt to defend their All-Ireland senior colleges hurling crown.
Kilkenny have enjoyed playing Galway over the last three years as they were successful in their last five outings since 2008. Each game resulted in an average three point win for Kilkenny.
The sequence began in the 2008 League decider when Kilkenny ended their league famine winning their first title since 1993.
Anne Downey’s charges ran out 3-11 to 0-17 winners as goals from Aoife Neary, Michelle Quilty and substitute on the day Edwina Keane secured a narrow victory.
The two teams clashed in the championship later that summer in Tom Ryall Park, Kilmanagh as Kilkenny ran out 1-13 to 1-9 winners but they still missed out on a semi-final place. The next clash was one of Camogie’s most memorable moments — the 2009 All-Ireland semi-final. Galway having lost the All-Ireland final the previous year, were favourites to defeat a largely inexperienced Kilkenny outfit. An Orla Kilkenny goal in the 38th minute appeared to have put the Westerners on course for a final place as they led 1-10 to 0-8, but Kilkenny kept plugging away.
They trailed by just two points with four minutes of injury-time played, but with the home crowd momentum swinging their way, Kilkenny managed to conjure up something special.
A surging run upfield from Elaine Aylward found Marie O’Connor and she rifled an unstoppable shot for a classic moment that saw the crowd erupt into rapturous delight.
Katie Power pointed moments later, and Kilkenny were on their way into an All-Ireland final for the first-time since 2001.
Twice they played Galway last year, and on both occasions they emerged victorious by three points. The league semi-finals were played in O’Connor Park, Tullamore on a beautiful warm Saturday afternoon. Kilkenny overturned an eight-point deficit entering the last quarter.
Prior to that, they had squandered four goal chances including a missed penalty. An inspiring display by Leanne Fennelly at centre-back along the introduction of substitute Collette Dormer snatched a Kilkenny victory, as they went down by a point to Wexford in the league decider.
Kilkenny’s first championship match against Galway resulted in a three point victory as they won 1-14 to 1-11. There was disappointment for Kilkenny as they were well beaten by Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final, as Galway reached the All-Ireland decider.
Despite only losing by two points to Wexford, a late goal only served to put a better reflection on the scoreboard as the Model ladies were a far superior outfit. Kilkenny topped their group in the league section. They began their campaign with an emphatic 32-point walloping over Dublin which Shelley Farrell scored 3-2. They emerged victorious against Tipperary in Tom Ryall Park, Kilmanagh in a performance of two halves.
Goals from Michelle Quilty and Aoife Neary gave them a 2-9 to 1-2 lead, but Tipperary kept plugging away, and they were only three points down at full-time — 2-11 to 2-8.
Kilkenny managed to battle a draw against Cork down in Leeside as they were forced into a wholesale changes due to injuries. Michelle Quilty continues to be sidelined, and will be for another month. Her absence means she’ll miss the league final if Kilkenny qualify, and also Mullinavat’s first game of the League away to St Lachtain’s on Good Friday.
Catriona Ryan should return in goal after missing the Cork game, while Grace Walsh will be in contention for a starting slot in defence after impressing in the same game.
Anne Dalton gave a colossal display at centre-back, and it will be interesting to see does she continue at no 6 or does she revert to her more customary midfield position.
If Dalton remains at centre-back, Lizzie Lyng and Katie Power will be favourites for the midfield positions. However, there are a number of positions up for grabs in the attacking division.
All-Ireland winning colleges students Noelle Maher, Sarah-Anne Quinlan, Claire Phelan along with Grennan College’s Kelly Hamilton are more than likely to see section at some stage, as Aoife Neary and Denise Gaule are close to certain starters. Gaule has performed very well against Galway in the past. The Waterford IT student scored 0-3 from play on her Inter-county senior debut in the 2009 All-Ireland semi-final as she was the outstanding performer scoring 0-4 from play in the group stages of the championship last year. Marie O’Connor appears to be another player most likely to start in attack. Galway have laboured somewhat in the group stages. They began their campaign at home to Wexford in Ballinaslow as they were undone by two late goals from the champions.
They easily accounted for Clare 0-17 to 0-8, before a late goal from the experienced Veronica Curtin saw off the challenge off a brave Offaly outfit —1-10 to 0-11.
The Westerners will be boosted by the return of the Killimore contingent fresh from their All-Ireland success including Anne-Marie Hayes and Brenda Hanney.
Galway have enjoyed under-age success over the last two years winning the last two under-16 All-Ireland’s and ending Kilkenny’s long standing reign as Minor All-Ireland champions last year.
They have a considerable wealth of experience and youth.
Goalkeeper Susan Earner, Veronica Curtin and all-star forwards Aisling Connolly and Therese Maher are all leading lights, while Rebecca Hennelly and Niamh McGrath are amongst Galway’s young rising stars.
Make no mistake, Kilkenny are in for a tough battle this Sunday, but a familiar tale should echo at the end of play — a Kilkenny victory.
