Cavan and Armagh camogs in semi-final action

CAVAN and Armagh camogs have an All-Ireland final berth in their sights on Saturday as the All-Ireland Premier Junior semi-finals are down for decision in Donaghmore Ashbourne.

Laois v Cavan 2pm
The semi-final draws have brought us repeat clashes from the group stages. The 18-point triumph by the hosts at the St Fintan’s GAA grounds in Mountrath represents definitive superiority and set the Midlanders, who had won Division 3A of the Very League, on their way to topping Group 2.

Cavan, who while relegated in the League, were operating in Division 2A, which is the tier for first-team intermediate outfits, recovered well. They won their remaining three games, concluding with a gutsy triumph over Limerick at Dr Plunkett Memorial Park in Kilnaleck, to cement runner-up spot.

Their ten-point quarter-final victory over Tyrone came at a price however, as goalie Michelle Ellis was injured in the that game.

Armagh v Tipperary 4pm
Just as in the first semi-final, Armagh (beaten finalists in 2022) and Tipperary (beaten finalists last year) have very recent previous. In this case, it was in the final round of the round-robin phase, when both were assured of progression to the knockout stages from Group 2 having navigated their three previous ties without blemish. Tipp had home advantage and prevailed by 11 points.

The Orchard girls, who already have a national title under the belts this year having won the Very League Division 3A crown, had to overcome a sticky Roscommon challenge in the quarter-final to set up this reunion, getting back to their free-scoring ways in the 1-20 to 1-10 triumph. Former Cork All-Ireland winner and All-Star, Jenny Curry, a mother who will be 41 in October, illustrated her enduring influence once more with a second-half goal.

Tipperary have been favourites for this championship from the outset, having reached the Division 2B League final and only lost by three points to a Cork side that have subsequently advanced to the semi-finals of the intermediate championship without dropping a point. They also drew with Kilkenny, who topped the other intermediate championship group.

Both games are live on TG4 YouTube.