It’s Semi-Final Time In This Year’s Intermediate And Junior Camogie Championships

It’s semi-final time once more in this year’s Liberty Insurance camogie championships and this time, it’s the turn of the intermediate and junior teams as another fantastic weekend of sporting action lies ahead. First up, the intermediate semi-finals get underway on Saturday in Nowlan Park, with Waterford and Meath opening proceedings at 2pm. Both sides are hunting for their first final at this level and it should be an even and well-contested affair. Meath come into the game having finished on level scoring with Cork in their group, but took second spot due to the head-to-head. With wins over Down, Galway and Wexford to date this year they will be looking forward to the challenge of Waterford. Meanwhile, the Deise girls are favourites coming into the game thanks to a 100 per cent winning streak in this year’s championship. They have secured wins over Antrim, Kildare and Kilkenny on route to this semi-final and will be determined to book their spot in the final. Second to take to the pitch at Nowlan Park will be Cork and Kildare who face off at 4pm in what is set to be another interesting clash. Cork will be hoping to earn their spot in the final, having last found their way there in 2009, while Kildare are aiming for their first final showing ever at this level. Cork topped their group with three wins from four, while Kildare finished second in theirs and it should be another close contest. On Sunday, it will be the turn of the Premier Junior teams with a double-header kicking off in Birr from 1.30pm. First up, it will be the battle of the midlands as Laois and Westmeath will go head-to-head for a coveted spot in the final. Laois will be confident going into this game, having an unbeaten record to date, and having already overcame the Lake County comfortably back in July. However, there’s no doubt Westmeath will come out fighting in this match and though they may be the underdogs, a shock could be on the cards. Next up it will be Dublin and Roscommon who play off at 3.15pm. The Dubs finished second in their group, falling only to a rampant Laois side, while Roscommon finished third in their group. Though Dublin had the upper hand when the sides last met, this should prove to be another close game. Also in action this weekend are Carlow and Kerry who will play off in the Junior A championship final on Sunday at 2.30pm. Both sides hope to lift the Nancy Murray Cup for the first time in this much-anticipated final. Carlow reached the final thanks to a determined and hard-fought win over Clare while Kerry overcame Meath to reach the final. The Kingdom only had three points to spare the last time these two sides met, so it’s certainly a tough one to call.