Now it’s down to the real business.
The semi-finals for the All-Ireland Camogie championship go ahead this Saturday afternoon in Nowlan Park. For the second time in three years, Kilkenny and Galway square up to one another in what should prove to be a blockbuster clash, if previous meetings between the two counties are anything to go by.
This is the eighth time that the two counties have met over the last four years, and Kilkenny have won five of those contests.
Both teams have become well-acquainted with one another in recent years. While Galway have won the two previous clashes between the counties so far this year, it’s this semi-final clash that will prove to be the knockout blow.
Back in April, Galway produced a late surge to overcome Kilkenny by a solitary point. The game ended 0-14 to 2-7, with experienced veteran, Veronica Curtin, scoring the winning point.
The two teams clashed as recently as a month ago, with both having already qualified for the semi-final.
However, a full-blooded contest emerged with Galway coming out on top, 0-12 to 0-9, in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, where both sides squandered numerous goal-scoring chances including a missed penalty on both sides.
Galway are a formidable outfit, as they proved in their opening game, when they defeated Wexford easily, 2-14 to 0-9. Veronica Curtin sprung from the bench like she has throughout the championship, and scored two opportunist goals late in the first-half, while goalkeeper Susan Earner pulled off two important saves.
Galway possess a wealth of skill and experience, having contested two of the last three All-Ireland finals. In attack, they have the players who are matchwinners on their day.
All-star Brenda Hanney has had a great year captaining Killimor to All-Ireland success. She is a handful, and has proven so against Kilkenny in the past.
Aisling Connolly, daughter of legendary Galway hurler John Connolly, is also a current All-Star, and is a prolific sharpshooter, particularly from frees.
Discipline is going to be essential, and Kilkenny will have to be careful not to give away needless frees, or Connolly will punish them.
Tara Routledge is one of their younger players, and despite not scoring against Kilkenny in their most recent outing, she proved to be a handful for Jacqui Frisby and won a penalty on that occasion.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny appear to be timing their run to peak just perfectly.
Since the second-half of the Tipperary game, there is more of a settled look to the side.
Catriona Ryan is one of the most dependable goalkeepers around, while the full-back line of Collette Dormer, Catherine Doherty and Jacqui Frisby has been Kilkenny’s most impressive line this year.
Team captain Elaine Aylward is returning to her very best at No 7, and the remaining two positions in the half-back line will come from Edwina Keane, Keeva Fennelly and the two county minors, Claire Phelan and Grace Walsh.
Anne Dalton is one of the first names into Anne Downey’s teamsheet, and is pound for pound the best camogie player on the planet.
Most encouragingly, the attacking division is becoming more settled.
Michelle Quilty has been flying throughout the championship, and looks a nailed-on cert for an All-Star.
Denise Gaule has produced her best form with the county over the last month, and the Windgap forward has made a major impression against Galway in the past.
In the 2009 All-Ireland senior semi-final, Gaule scored 0-3 from play against the Westerners on her inter-county senior debut.
Aoife Neary has played well in patches to date, and still has to produce a big display. Perhaps Saturday will be the day to do it.
Aine Fahey, Shelley Farrell, Marie Dargan and Edel Maher are all in contention to start, with three out of those four almost certain to make up the remainder of the attack.
On the bench there is the experience of Lizzie Lyng, the youthful surge of the highly-talented Kelly Hamilton, and Marie O’Connor – who has fond memories of playing Galway, as her last gasp goal snatched victory in that epic 2009 semi-final clash.
The Kilkenny version of 2011 is a much more rounded version than the 2009 version, with more forward power now.
A strong team will assemble, and the challenge for Anne Downey and the mentors is to the get the balance of selection spot-on.
Achieve that, and an All-Ireland final place beckons.
