Littlewoods Ireland National Camogie League Division 2: Antrim v Wexford
It is fair to say that Antrim manager Aidan McKeown is looking ahead to the new season with a little more optimism than 12 months ago when he and Joe Baldwin took over the reins.
Prior to their term in charge Loughgiel had fulfilled the county’s fixtures in both the Ulster and All-Ireland championships.
This time last year the pair found themselves in charge of a group of players, none of whom came from the county champions.
“It certainly was frustrating for us, because essentially the experience that is needed for any county team usually comes from the club that is at the top and that wasn’t happening,'' he said.
“We had a number of good experienced players but had to bring in a lot of new players, some of whom hadn’t even featured at under-age level.
“It would be great if all the top club players in the county were eager to play for Antrim.
“That isn’t the case at the minute, but we will work with whoever is prepared to put the effort in.”
The numbers at the start of 2017 were not huge and the team limped through the league, but things had begun to look up by the time the championship arrived.
“Yes, I would have to say that we were looking forward to the summer with a very good minor team winning the All-Ireland and doing back-to-back Ulster titles with ease and we were hoping to integrate quite a few of those,'' he added.
“Some did come into the frame, others couldn’t commit because of exams and then holidays. So basically it was more disappointment all round.”
But the management team has had a more encouraging start to the year with turnouts at training good and schools’ camogie also on a high: “The Ulster senior schools’ final was between two north Antrim schools for the first time ever and there was a lot of potential there. Cross and Passion winning on Saturday to reach the All-Ireland final is another great boost to camogie.
“I know some of them are young yet, but after they play minor in the spring time, I would like to see quite a few coming on board with the seniors.”
A few more of last year’s minor squad are already out with the seniors in the pre-season and McKeown is hopeful that this can be translated into some decent results.
“We were not too far off the pace in a few games last year; for example Wexford beat us by just two points in the championship and it would be great if we could get a result against them on Sunday,” he declared.
However the Saffron supremo is also aware that the younger players will take a while to bed into the game at senior level: “It is a step up for any player to go to senior level and we were very encouraged by the progress made by Aine and Cliodhna Donnelly and Emily Falloon last year. This year they should be able to push on.
“We had one or two others in the mix last year and were very happy with them, but they are either involved with university or opting to play football. You never know, that may change.
“But more from the 2017 minors are coming through too and remember this is a group of girls who won a lot of titles at under-age level. They are all fine players and are confident on the ball.”
“I think that we are definitely in a better position to win a few games in this league and you would have to be optimistic for Antrim camogie with the material coming through at under-age level.”
After Sunday’s visit from Wexford Antrim have two more home games in the league against Carlow and Westmeath, and away games in Cork and Down.
Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 1 league Round 4
Section 1
Cork v Tipperary – CIT, Cork - @ 3pm
Galway v Offaly - Pearse Stadium - @ 12noon – Double Header with Hurling NL
Wexford sit this weekend out and that means that Cork will probably move clear at the top with an expected win over Tipperary, while Galway should move off the foot of the table with victory against Offaly
Section 2
Clare v Meath TBC
Kilkenny v Limerick – Piltown – 3pm
Waterford v Dublin – Carriganore – 2pm
Kilkenny are the form team at the moment and that means that Limerick will struggle to make much headway against them.
Meath are well off the pace at this level and will do well to contain Clare to a ten points’ gap while Dublin should beat Waterford, but the Déise will make it pretty difficult for them
Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 2, Section 1
Antrim v Wexford - Erin's Own GAC pitch (Cargin, Toomebridge) – 2pm
It might only be the opening game of the campaign for both teams, but it is a key one for the Saffrons who have gone through a difficult couple of seasons at senior level.
Last year just two points separated the teams down in Wexford Park and there is a lot of optimism that Antrim can reverse that result and gain momentum for the next fixtures. And with only the Cork game involving a long journey, a good start could be very useful indeed.
Seasoned players such as the Martin sisters, Orlagh O’Hara and Katie McAleese now have around them a number of last year’s minors, probably the most successful group to come through the under-age ranks for the county.
It is difficult to gauge the strength of the visitors, especially as their Division 1 team doesn’t have a game this weekend and that will release players who might not normally be available.
That said, if Antrim can get their own game in order, they can get off to a positive start.
Westmeath v Down - Coralstown Kinnegad – 2pm
Here are another two counties that have shown a lot of promise in recent seasons at under-age level.
Westmeath are still a work in progress, with schools’ success at national level transferring into good performances for the under 16s and minors. They already have promoted members of the current minor panel into the senior squad.
Down may have won the All-Ireland Minor B crown as recently as 2016 and brought through a number of that team last year into senior ranks under the same management team headed by Declan Napier, but they have been slow to get a senior manager in place this term.
Clonduff’s Robert Wilson only took over at the start of February and has only had a couple of training sessions ahead of this opener. That leaves them in a weak enough position and vulnerable to an opening round defeat.
Cork v Carlow – CIT Cork – 1pm
Cork are the strong favourites to win Section 1, but the strength of Carlow’s resistance will allow the others a glimpse of what improvements they have to make before meeting the Lee-siders
Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 2, Section 2
Derry v Armagh – Owenbeg – 2pm
An all-Ulster battle on the opening day wouldn’t necessarily suit Armagh.
Over the past couple of seasons, Derry have played at the higher level in Division 1. During that period they didn’t win too many games, but the experience they gained should stand them in good stead.
However, because of Slaughtneil’s excellent All-Ireland club exploits, they will be short of a number of key players down the spine of the team. That will of course open up possibilities for other players trying to impress new boss John O’Dwyer.
Karen Kielt is the team’s top-scorer, but the Kilrea girl is likely to operate at midfield and that could restrict her scoring returns especially in the absence of the Emmett’s experienced performers.
Armagh are a team on the up for the past couple of years and they will hope to pick up a couple of wins in this league – but would probably have preferred to be facing a less familiar foe in the opening round.
They had a good outing in a challenge against Antrim a fortnight ago and have added the Donnelly sisters into the mix after the exit of Eglish from the club championship.
It will be difficult for them to take the points, but the quality of their performance will indicate the progress they have made.
Tipperary v Dublin - The Ragg, 2pm
Dublin have done a fierce amount of work in the last couple of years to bridge the gap with their senior team and this group will have benefitted from that.
Tipperary camogie seems to have fallen back a little in recent seasons, but they won’t be easily beaten at home. An interesting 50/50 game could result
Laois v Kildare TBC
These two teams have a wealth of young talent coming through and that should be on show in this fixture. Kildare are probably slightly ahead of Laois and should win this
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Match Box
Littlewoods Ireland National League Division 1 league Tables (3 pts for a win)
Section 1 :
Cork 2 2 0 0 28 19 9 6
Wexford 3 2 0 1 49 41 8 6
Tipperary 2 1 0 1 34 26 8 3
Galway 1 0 0 1 6 13 -7 0
Offaly 2 0 0 2 15 33 -18 0
Section 2
Kilkenny 3 3 0 0 59 28 31 9
Limerick 3 1 1 1 43 31 12 4
Waterford 3 1 1 1 42 42 0 4
Dublin 3 1 1 1 47 54 -7 4
Clare 3 1 1 1 36 44 -8 4
Meath 3 0 0 3 18 46 -28 0
