Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship semi-finals: Galway v Wexford
(Saturday, Nowlan Park, 3.30pm); Cork v Kilkenny (Sunday, Walsh Park, 4pm)
THE Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship has reached its semi-final stage, with Galway taking on Wexford on Saturday and holders Cork going head-to-head with Kilkenny on Sunday.
All eyes will be on Nowlan Park on Saturday as Galway and Wexford battle it out for a spot in the All-Ireland final on September 13. Galway may be viewed as slight favourites heading into this clash as the Tribe came through their group unbeaten, with victories over Cork, Limerick, Offaly and Saturday’s opponents (1-11 to 0-6).
Wexford were in impressive form when they overcame Dublin at the quarter-final stage and they performed strongly in their group stage, winning four matches, with their only dropped points coming in their defeat to a rampant Kilkenny side, who eventually topped the group.
The Slaneysiders will be hoping to reach the All-Ireland final for the first time since they claimed the title to seal their famous three in-a-row, but will know that, with their eye on a double, National League champions Galway will prove tough opposition.
On Sunday, reigning All-Ireland champions Cork will be hoping to see off Kilkenny in Walsh Park at 4pm, as they aim to book a spot in the final to defend their crown. The Rebel county were impressive in their wins over Limerick and Offaly, as well as in their quarter-final victory over Tipperary.
Kilkenny have a chance to make up for last year’s narrow final defeat to Cork as they aim to win their first title since 1994. The Cats have been in impressive form so far this season as they came through the group stages unbeaten, with wins over Clare, Dublin, Tipperary and Derry and they will be hoping to maintain that record on Sunday.
This year’s campaign looks set to mark the end of an era for Cork ace netmider Aoife Murray. Murray has been Cork’s star number one for a dozen years and has amassed four senior All-Irelands and three Allstars. But in recent years, a painful back problem, arising from herniated discs and damaged vertebrae, has made it increasingly difficult for the Cloughduv 'keeper.
“I was told by a consultant in November 2013 that I was done,’’ Murray said.
“It’s always good to get a second opinion and I spent 16 weeks in Santry to get back last year. I thought then that was a good time to say ‘Aoife, you got away with it. You had a good recovery, won an All-Ireland - hang up the boots’. But I’m back for more punishment.”
Part of that punishment has been the gruelling travel schedule from Dublin for county training.
“If you get into my car, there are two or three hot water bottles and a few ice packs,’’ she added.
“Last year, I was travelling most Tuesdays to Cork from Dublin. This year, I haven’t done it as much. I’m a little bit older as well, hitting towards being 32, so everything takes a little bit longer.
“This is it. I can’t do Dublin to Cork anymore unfortunately. Mentally, I would say I would have another few years left in me, that I would have something to give, whether that would be to the other goalkeepers in the team or whatever. But the mileage is catching up on me.
“I never really look past the next game, but you want to be hurling in September. That’s everybody’s main aim. I came out of retirement and I kind of feel I’ve got a second shot at it. So I would hope I have another few weeks in me.”
Kilkenny will have something to say about that on Sunday.
SATURDAY
All-Ireland U16 A Championship semi-final: Dublin v Galway (Nowlan Park, 1.30pm), Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny); All-Ireland U16 C Championship semi-finals: Antrim v Carlow (O’Raghallaigh’s GAA, Drogheda, 2.30pm), Referee: Julie O’Neill (Armagh); Kildare v Westmeath (Ratoath GAA, 2.30pm), Referee: Philip McDonald (Cavan); Liberty Insurance Senior Championship semi-final: Galway v Wexford (Nowlan Park, 3.30pm), Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork)
SUNDAY
All-Ireland U16 A Championship semi-final: Cork v Tipperary (Walsh Park, 2pm), Referee: Peter Dowd (Meath); All-Ireland U16 B Championship semi-finals: Derry v Dublin (O’Raghallaigh’s GAA, Drogheda, 2.30pm), Referee: John Dermody (Westmeath); Waterford v Meath (Athy GAA, 2.30pm), Referee: Justin Heffernan (Wexford); Liberty Insurance Senior Championship semi-final: Cork v Kilkenny (Walsh Park, 4pm), Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)
