After the highs and celebration of the two Kilkenny and Carlow All Ireland winning teams last September it’s back to business for all three sides this coming weekend.
Kilkenny Seniors get the ball rolling on Saturday with a home clash in Division 1 against Tipperary at 2pm in MW Hire Training Centre in Dunmore.
Kilkenny are the reigning League Champions and will obviously be favourites going into this game.
It will be interesting to see what line up Ann Downey goes with because the squad has never been as strong as it is currently.
You would have to think that Kilkenny will start off with a win in this one.
On Sunday then Kilkenny Intermediates also have a home game in Division 2 when they host Down at Danesfort for a 2pm start.
Mike Wall has had to put together a completely new panel after last years All Ireland winning side were forced to move to the senior grade, although this is set to leave a lot of those girls with virtually no game time.
In turn Wall has had to look at the upcoming youth and to be fair there is by no means a lack of talent coming through.
Down have always been strong and they will provide a stern test in this one and I think it might take Kilkenny Intermediates a little bit of time to gel together and be familiar with one another so Down might just win this one.
Carlow are also in Division 2 action on Sunday and they take on Derry at 2pm in the Netwatch Training Centre in Fenagh.
Mark Brennan’s charges will be without the Myshall contingent who are obviously in All Ireland Final action on March 5th.
This gives the fringe players an opportunity to stake a claim for a starting place and like Mike Wall, Mark has brought up a good few girls from the underage ranks for this season.
Derry have flirted with the top tier teams for a long time and to get a result here on Sunday will be a big ask.
The one thing with the Carlow girls though is that a lot of them have played together already despite the youthful age of the panel, but without the Myshall girls I think Derry might edge this one on this occasion.
