Munster Ladies Launch TG4 Senior and Intermediate Championships

 

The TG4 sponsored Munster Senior and Intermediate Championships were launched by Munster GAA Vice President Jerry O’Sullivan in the HQ of Munster GAA in Limerick last Monday with players and management from all six counties present.

Cork selector Shane Roynane was in no doubt that Cork will be eager to win back the Dairygold Cup having lost out last season to Kerry. “I think there is a real focus on the Munster championship. Last season we lost out in an epic encounter and maybe that defeat drove us on further later in the year to win the All-Ireland but we are certainly focusing our thoughts on winning it back this year” Roynane said.

Meanwhile defending champions Kerry will have the added bonus of playing in front of home fans if they can get back to the final as it is fixed for July 12^th in Rathmore GAA Grounds. It was something William O’Sullivan Kerry Manager was quick to point to as an incentive. “It would be great to try and defend our title on home soil but we have two extremely difficult away games to Cork and Clare and to be honest the trip to Clare is a potential banana skin and one we will not be looking beyond at this date”

Clare Manager John Burke is actually looking forward to playing both the Munster champions and All Ireland Champions. “It shows you how hard it is to win when you have to play the Munster champions in Kerry and the All-Ireland champions in Cork but for us we are looking forward to having a crack off both. It’s about what you can learn by playing the best and these are two of the best,” Burke said.

In the Intermediate Championship Waterford will be looking to win a sixth title in a row. The Intermediate Cup was renamed in the memory of late Munster President Enda McDonnell who passed away in the last year. The Tipperary man was well remembered at the launch and the McDonnell family were the invited guests on the night.

Speaking on behalf of the family, wife Olive was deeply honoured “It’s amazing and something Enda would have been so honoured about. He simply lived for Ladies football,” She said

However, Waterford Captain Michelle McGrath will be doing their best to see the new cup return to Port Lairge “We have a great spirit going in training and we have a lot of very young players coming through which is really exciting. I think Tipperary will certainly be the ones to beat and they are getting a lot closer each time we play them,” She added

Waterford and Limerick were both on the mind of Tipperary Manager John Leahy who is heading into his first Munster championships. “It’s not my first Munster launch but it’s great for Ladies football to be showcasing the best that they have. Since I have got involved, I am amazed at how hard the ladies game has to fight for everything. The girls train as hard as their male counterparts and they get very little recognition for it, tonight is a great start,” he said. Leahy was not making any hasty championship predictions “We only looking at Limerick at the moment and it’s certainly only one game at a time from there” He concluded.

Meanwhile Limerick manager Andy Meaney is under no illusions of the battle he has if he is to guide Limerick to their first ever Intermediate title. “It’s a real struggle for us right now. We have taken the approach to give youth its fling and that takes time. Last season we were competitive in both our games but faded badly in the last quarter in both of them. This year we have put in a lot of work to ensure we can live with both Tipperary and Waterford who are a division ahead of us in the league.” He concluded.

The action gets under way on Friday June 20th at 7:30 PM with Cork at home to Clare in the Senior Championship while Limerick will host Waterford in the first Round of the Intermediate Championship.

 

TG4 Senior & Intermediate Championship Fixtures for 2014

Senior fixture Friday June 20th at 7:30 PM

 

Round 1

Cork V Clare.

Venue   : Cork.

Referee : Keith Delahunty.

Intermediate fixture Friday 20th June at 7:30 PM

 

Round 1

Limerick V Waterford.

Venue : Limerick

Referee : Sean Joy

Senior fixture Saturday 28th June at 3:00 PM

 

Round 2

Cork V Kerry

Venue : Cork City Venue

Referee : Mick Duffy

 

 

 

Intermediate fixture Saturday 28th June at 3:00 PM

Round 2

Limerick V Tipperary

Venue : Limerick.

Referee : M. J. O Keeffe

Note : Limerick have requested change of date and time, will be updated if agreed.

Senior fixture Wednesday 2nd July at 7:30 PM

Round 3

 

Clare V Kerry

Venue : Clare

Referee : Kevin Martin.

Intermediate fixture on Wednesday 2nd July at 7:30 PM

Round 3

 

Waterford V Tipperary

Venue : Waterford                                                                                                                                      Referee : Shane Florish

Senior Munster Final Saturday 12th July at 3:30 PM

Teams : To Be Confirmed

Venue : Rathmore G.A.A. Club

Referee : Jason Mullins

Intermediate Munster Final Saturday 12th July at 1:30 PM

Teams : To Be Confirmed

Venue : Rathmore G.A.A. Club

Referee : Seamus Mulvihill