Camogs set their championship sights

Niall Gartland runs the rule over the prospects of the province’s camogie teams

Antrim

Managers: Carl McCormick and Martin Coulter

Captain: Amy Boyle

ANTRIM’s confidence will be sky-high heading into their forthcoming championship campaigns after winning the Division 1B title last weekend.

The Saffrons clinched the title – and promotion to the top-tier Division 1A – with a 3-10 to 1-11 victory over Clare with a brilliant all-round team performance.

Caitrín Dobbin top-scored with 2-1, her Loughgiel teammate Roisín McCormick clipped over three points, while Cassie McArthur and Katie Molloy also landed important scores on the day.

But while they pose a very obvious attacking threat, they’re strong in every sector with Amy Boyle and Nicole McAtamney among those who get through a mountain of work in the engine-room. Katie Lynn and Caoimhe McNaughton have been in excellent form at the back, while Catriona Graham is an excellent goalkeeper.

They won last year’s Ulster Senior Championship with a hard-fought victory over Derry and will take on Down in the semi-final on Sunday, April 27. They get their All-Ireland Intermediate campaign underway a month later and no doubt will have big ambitions on the back of their league exploits.

Armagh

Manager: PJ O’Mullan

Captain: Ciara Hill

ARMAGH were always going to find it difficult in the heady heights of Division 2A after last year’s long-awaited Division 3A success, and that’s more or less how it panned out.

They finished bottom of the table losing all five of their outings, but they did produce a number of credible displays, including a one-point defeat to Carlow – very much the one that got away.

Speaking at the outset of their campaign, new manager PJ O’Mullan, who brings with him a vast amount of experience, set forth his belief that playing at a higher level will stand to them in the long run.

They take on Derry in the Ulster Senior Championship semi-final, and it’s hard to see them coming through that one, but they’ll have high hopes of a successful All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship campaign.

The Orchard County have some really talented players in their ranks – they’ve a strong core of players who have led the way at club level for a Granemore side that clinched back-to-back Ulster Junior titles, including ace forward Rachael Merry and their skipper Ciara Hill.

They’re going through something of a transition at present and stalwarts Leanne and Ciara Donnelly are unavailable this year, but they’ll still believe that they can end their season on a high note.

Derry

Manager: Eamonn Melaugh

Captain: Rachel McAllister

AT the start of the season, Derry stood at a crossroads.

New manager Eamonn Melaugh had to contend with a serious drop-off in personnel, so it looked like they could be in for a long year.

Thankfully, however, things have very much turned in their favour. A number of players who were on the fence about a return – including Lennon twins Leah and Amy – decided to commit and it was apparent from early on in their Division 2A campaign that the team meant business.

Last weekend’s dramatic victory away from home against Kerry ensured their spot in the upcoming Division 2A final against Offaly with a promotion berth up for grabs, after which they’ll have their sights on the Ulster Championship. They take on the Orchard County in the last four and it would be a massive shock if they don’t come through that one to take on Antrim or Down on Ulster final day.

They’re the only representatives from the province in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Championship as well, and they’ll be more than confident of holding their own when the time comes.

Down

Manager: Domhnall Nugent

Captains: Clare McGilligan and Beth Fitzpatrick

DOWN had some disappointing days out in Division 1B, but they’ll still believe that they can do a job in the Ulster Championship if the stars align.

Former Antrim hurler Domhnall Nugent will attempt to plot the downfall of his native county in their upcoming provincial semi-final clash, though they fell short by six points at Ahoghill in their league meeting last month.

They’re jointly captained this year by Clonduff duo Clare McGilligan and Beth Fitzpatrick, while Saoirse Sands from Portaferry is vice-captain.

And in a major boost to their championship hopes, Paula O’Hagan, a vastly experienced campaigner, has returned to the fold and is showing that she remains a lethal threat up front.

Following their Ulster Championship campaign, they’ll give the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship a rattle. It wasn’t that long ago they were operating at senior level, but they’re a side in transition at this point in time and their main aim at this stage is consolidation.

Tyrone

Manager: Paul O’Grady

Captains: Siobhan Donnelly and Una McCann

WHILE the raw outcomes haven’t always shown it, Tyrone fared rather well in Division 3A, losing their first three matches by a few points before claiming back-to-back wins in their final round ties against Louth and Kildare.

Now in their second year operating under Mayo man Paul O’Grady, now living in Omagh, the Tyrone camogs continue to go from strength-to-strength, though it’s unclear at this point in time whether they’ll have an Ulster Championship to play for.

The original plan was that they’d take on Cavan in the Ulster Intermediate title, though the Breffni County subsequently withdrew from all competitions and that could mean that Tyrone will be fully focused instead on their All-Ireland Premier Junior campaign.

They have some really formidable players in their ranks – midfield duo Aisling Hagan and Grainne Rafferty are playing well, Cara Little and Roisin McErlean and Aine Cunningham are talented forwards, Eimear Colton is very dependable in nets and their defence has stepped up well.