Cork and Dublin meet in Round 2 of the Very Camogie League this weekend.
Saturday, March 1
Very League Division 1A Round 2
Dublin v Cork, St Peregrine’s, 2pm
Referee: Joe Mullins (Clare)
This is a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland semi-final which Cork won with some ease but Aisling O’Neill, an All-Star nominee as a teenager in 2022, was absent then and is back in the fold. Nonetheless, on the evidence of Cork’s first round victory over Waterford, the Leesiders are in good order early on and look motivated to end a lengthy League famine. Interestingly, they have brought in Adrian O’Sullivan, the former Dublin manager, as coach this season, with Liam Cronin decamped to the Limerick hurlers. Dublin got their season under way with a good draw against Tipp at The Ragg and will hope to be more competitive this time around than when the sides last met.
Waterford v Galway, SETU Arena Carriganore, 2pm
Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)
Having faced the All-Ireland champions, Cork in the opening round, Waterford must now take on the runners-up, Galway in a bid to get off the mark. Beth Carton remains their attacking talisman but the concession of early goals had them on the back foot. They showed good resolve in the second half, however, without ever looking like reeling in the Rebels. Carrie Dolan and the evergreen Ailish O’Reilly came up with some important scores as Galway got the wraps off their season with a win down in UPMC Nowlan Park over Kilkenny. It’s another away day for Cathal Murray’s crew, and a first home tie for the Suirsiders and with both sides assimilating younger players into the panels and dealing with injuries, it should be an enlightening game.
Tipperary v Kilkenny, The Ragg, 2pm (Live on Camogie Association YouTube)
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford)
Many tales have been told of Tipperary-Kilkenny battles over the years and this rivalry remains fierce. Tipperary gave up a winning position late on and had to settle for a draw against Dublin at Fortress Ragg last week. There was plenty to like about their efforts though, particularly with some fresh blood introduced in light of high-profile retirements and injuries to skipper Karen Kennedy and last year’s Very League Division 1A final match winner, Karin Blair. Tommy Shefflin has his own retirement and injury list to overcome and he began his management term with a defeat to Galway. That provides him with an opportunity though and with a number of players for minor and schools’ winning teams at his disposal, he is hoping that some new players will make their mark.