Intermediate/Junior Championship preview

Wexford v Kilkenny (Group B)

Wexfords survival hopes in this years intermediate championship were kept alive, with a last gasp goal deep into injury time courtesy of Tara Maloney assisted by Deirdre Fox against Longford ( 3-7 to 2-8 ).

The Model county must now prepare to meet  Kilkenny on Friday evening ( tonight) in Wexford Park with the throw in time fixed for 7.45pm.

This will be the first meeting in this code between these two great sporting counties, and it’s the Model county that will go into this encounter as hot favourites to collect all the points, however the cats, who are debutantes at this level can not be under estimated, and there is no doubt that they will give a good account of themselves on the night.

 

Longford v Fermanagh (Group B)

Longford play host to table toppers Fermanagh on Sunday next, in what should be a close and exciting game. Longford go into this game with just one defeat on their record, and that occurred on Sunday last as they watched Wexford snatch victory from their grasp in the dying seconds of the game , and it’s a loss that the Longford girls will not want to relive this weekend, while the Erne girls will be going all out to keep their unbeaten run in this years championship intact.

 

Roscommon v Cavan, Clare v Limerick (Group A)

Roscommon will welcome near neighbours Cavan to their patch on Sunday next, as both sides go head to head in this group ‘A’  fifth round intermediate championship encounter.

On paper the home side should have the edge, the Roscommon girls are in joint second place on six points with Clare behind the Tipperary side who are untouchable at the moment with nine point to their credit. While Roscommon will be keeping their collective fingers crossed ( not while playing ) for a Limerick win against the Banner, Clare will also be keeping the Cavan girls in their prayer, hoping that the Breffnies can do them a great favour and over turn Roscommon.

The fire will be lit under the melting pot at 3pm on Sunday next in both Roscommon and in the Banner county and the best of luck to all involved.

 

Junior championship preview

Wicklow v Offaly (Group 2)

Leinster junior champions Wicklow will play host to Offaly in Blessington GAA grounds on Sunday next, with a throw in time of 3pm.

This game has all the making of  an epic encounter, only three points separated the sides when they last went toe to toe in the leinster championship semi-final.

Wicklow are unbeaten in this years all Ireland championship, and are in pole position with nine points while Offaly have three points and are in third position, behind Antrim.

The Faithful county lost out to the Saffrons by the narrowest of margins (2-9 to 1-13) in last weeks encounter in Tubber, and although they lost out, the game will have been ideal preparation, and will have generated enough motivation to ensure that this determined Offaly team will be fully focused as they make the journey East on Sunday next to take on the Garden county in this important third round game.

Wicklow on the other hand have not had a championship game since  the 20th of July last, when they made the long trek north to take on Antrim in their own back yard, Wicklow were the victors on that occasion with  six points to spare (3-9 to 0-12).

The Home side will once again be looking for a big game from their forward line, in particular the in form Geraldine Norton, while at the opposite end of the field the Wicklow back line must be ever alert to the treat from Offaly’s Mairead Kavanagh, the Offaly hot shot notched up a personal tally of 1-7 when both sides last met in the Leinster championship semi-final in June of this year.

So, the stakes are high for both sides, and the stage is set, for another thriller between these two competitive teams on Sunday next.