Having had a look at the senior fixtures for Sunday 3 October, Áine Fahey and Martin Quilty have been going through this weekend’s intermediate round of games on the latest edition of Camán Caint.
With five games up for decision, here’s how our team are expecting things to work out.
You can listen to the podcast in full below with the intermediate preview beginning from the half-hour mark.
Mullinavat v Emeralds/St.Anne’s, 11am, Mullinavat
With another “titanic” battle on the cards this weekend, there’s a cracker to be had in south Kilkenny this Sunday morning in the Kilkenny intermediate camogie championship.
“That’s going to be crazy”, starts Áine Fahey on this week’s Camán Caint camogie podcast.
“That is definitely a game that you get your money’s worth for. It would be an awesome game to go down and see, you’d be coming up with some of the best camogie players in the country, in the county, to go down and see that. It will be interesting to see will Davina Tobin be told to go back and sit back on Leann Fennelly. Will Niamh Sweeney pick her up?
Who’s going to pick up Julianne Malone? How are you going to stop Elaine Aylward? But then you’ve got the Emeralds attacking, how are you going to stop them as well? That’s going to be an absolutely brilliant spectacle of a game. And if anybody is around Mullinavat and you want to see how it’s done, go down and watch that game because it’s certainly going to be worth it.
Áine prediction: Too close to call
Barrow Rangers v James Stephens, 11am at Paulstown
With both teams picking up wins last weekend, it’s a top-of-the-table clash this Sunday morning in Paulstown.
Paulstown will fancy themselves in this one. I think their experience being up at intermediate level for so long will shine out on that one. You could have said that against Rower Inistioge last weekend as well.
The only thing I will say about James Stephens, when they get on a run, they’re very, very hard to stop. I feel that Barrow Rangers need to cut that out straight away if that’s what they’re going to be doing.
Raking up a score that The Village did last week. that’s going to be good. That will be a huge advantage to them and they’ll be brimming with confidence going in to (Sunday’s game).
You would have to fancy Barrow Rangers I suppose, but you know what, that could end up being a draw. That’s going to be another very, very good game. Anything could happen there. I just feel like maybe Paulstown’s experience could push them through.
Áine’s prediction: Barrow Rangers
Danesfort v Rower Inistioge, 11am at Danesfort
Both teams lost out last weekend and will want to get going with a victory as games progress.
“It is going to be a tough battle”, says Áine, “both teams are going to be coming into the game more likely very deflated with themselves”.
“I think Rower Inistioge will probably be a bit more hurt due to the fact nearly everyone has an expectation of them.I know from years ago playing against Rower Inistioge, they were next to near incredible.”
“You just couldn’t get over them and they were always niggling and they were always there or thereabouts. They were just so tough.”
“I feel like they might have lost their way a bit over the last couple of years, but they want to and they need to start building on that again. They’re probably going to be more hurt than Danesfort, and I think that they could punish Danesfort severely this weekend.”
Áine’s prediction: Rower Inistioge
Shamrocks Ballyhale v O’Loughlin Gaels, 11am at Ballyhale
Despite a loss for Ballyhale last weekend while O’Loughlin’s picked up full points, this one still has the potential to be a tough encounter with Ballyhale no pushovers at home, suggests Martin Quilty on this week’s podcast.
“That could be a very good game as well. You’ll be really expecting your go-to players to be standing up. Laura Murphy will have to have a massive game for O’Loughlin Gaels. Danielle Quigley will need to be standing up and shining as well”, says Áine.
“Then you look to Ballyhale Shamrocks, Keeva Fennelly is back into the flow as well so you know she’ll be wanting to have a big massive game herself. Edel Frisby, we know what she can do, Mags Fennelly, we know what all these girls can do.”
“Ballyhale are definitely going to want to get three points on the board. Especially going down to Ballyhale, they’ve got such a good name in the hurling world that the girls are going to want to replicate that and get themselves to the top two.”
“It’s going to be a good battle but I just feel with O’Loughlin’s, the scoring power that they had last weekend – wherever that’s coming out of – I think they could probably pip it.”
“I do think they’re going to be very, very confident going into that (game), and I think that’s could potentially what will hold Ballyhale back is their lack of confidence.
“I think it was 2-3 they only scored last weekend and I think that’s going to hurt them.”
“Going on scores and confidence from last weekend I think O’Loughlin’s are going to drive it on.”
Áine’s prediction: O’Loughlin Gaels
St. Claire’s v Glenmore, 11am at Kilmacow
“Both teams will be disappointed after last weekend and it’s going to be an epic battle”, says Martin about the final game of the intermediate calendar for this weekend.
“It’s a massive south derby”, says Áine, “St. Claire’s have been rebuilding over the last couple years and they’ve been doing very well with an awful lot of young players.”
“Glenmore, all of a shot nearly came out of nowhere – won a junior county final, won an intermediate county final, went up to senior, came straight back down and have been struggling a bit since that.”
“I believe they can regroup themselves. Ruth Jones – I had the privilege of playing with her down in WIT – she’s just a phenomenal player for Glenmore.”
“Whoever gets going early in the game and puts the most scores on is going to win it”, says Martin, “but still, I fancy that could end up in a draw.”
Aine’s prediction: St. Claire’s
Listen: Camán Caint Episode 4
This week’s Camán Caint is a Kilkenny camogie championship opening round recap and round 2 previews.
