Underage Action takes Centre Stage

 

This weekend the Under 14 All Ireland Championships Finals and Minor Championship Semi Finals will take centre stage as the three Under 14 deciders take place along with both of the Minor A & B Semi Finals.

The biggest matches of the weekend are undoubtedly the Under 14 deciders where 6 counties are preparing for action on Sunday. The Under 14 A and B Finals will take place at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh with the action getting under way as Galway meet Waterford at 2pm in the ‘B’ Final.

Galway will take to the field as underdogs in this U14 B meeting having twice suffered defeat on their path to the finals losing out narrowly to both Mayo and Roscommon in the Connacht championships however, they have not looked back ever since including a massive defeat of Laois in their semi final. Waterford have been impressive in every round and have reached the final without losing any game en route.

Kerry have reached the ‘A’ Final and shown great resilience throughout their campaign as they shipped a heavy defeat to Cork in their first round but battled back to defeat the All Ireland champions for the last 3 years in the Munster Final and they also overcame a very stiff Cavan challenge in the semi final. Mayo have made no mistakes throughout their campaign as they have maintained an undefeated record throughout Connacht and they they enjoyed a keenly fought 2 point victory over a very good Dublin side in the Semi Finals. This could be a great match between two very strong teams.

The Under 14 C final will be contested by Louth and Limerick in Crettyard on Sunday at 2pm. Limerick produced a great performance to defeat Tipperary in the Munster championship final before accounting for Derry in the semi final with relative ease. Louth have had a few tough fixtures on their path to the final including defeating Westmeath in the Leinster semi final by just 2 points and they had just a goal to spare against Longford in the Leinster Final.

The All Ireland Minor A Semi Finals will also take place this weekend as part of a double header in Birr on Saturday from 2pm. The first match is the much anticipated meeting of last year’s finalists, Dublin and Galway. When they met in the 2013 Final they produced two classic encounters with the Tribes claiming the title and Galway will again call on their trio of star players Nicola and Louise Ward and Olivia Divilly who have all gone on to represent their county at senior level since. Dublin show a heavy Kilmacud Crokes contingent in their starting XV with many of their players having won All Ireland Schools honours with Colaiste Íosagain. Expect this to be a super match.

Cork and Cavan will then take to the field in the other part of the double header at 4pm. Cork as always will be strong contenders especially as they can call on senior squad members Eimear Scally and Mairead Corkery. Cavan have been making great progress at underage level in recent years and they will no doubt be very confident ahead of this meeting with an All Ireland Final place at stake.

In the Minor B Championship Leitrim will take on Offaly in Ardagh at 2pm with Armagh meeting Tipperary in the other semi final in St. Peregrine’s at 4pm.

 

Saturday, July 19th

All Ireland Minor ‘A’ Championship

Dublin v Galway, 2pm, Birr.

Cavan v Cork, 2pm, Birr.

All Ireland Minor ‘B’ Championship

Leitrim v Offaly, Ardagh, 2pm

Armagh v Tipperary, St. Peregrine’s, 4pm

 

Sunday, July 20th

All Ireland Under 14 ‘A’ Championship Final

Kerry v Mayo, MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, 4pm

All Ireland Under 14 ‘B’ Championship Final

Galway v Waterford, MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, 2pm

All Ireland Under 14 ‘C’ Championship Final

Limerick v Louth, Crettyard GAA Club