Ulster duo hoping to shock as they chase 3B final spots

THE junior camogs of Down and Antrim head into knock-out action on Saturday with both semi-finals of Division 3B down for decision.

It has been a testing start to the season for Antrim with their senior team on the end of a series of heavy defeats

They also began the search for a new manager after Brian Kearney and Mark ‘Duck’ McFadden stepped down with Carl McCormick overseeing their last two games, including last weekend’s win over Kerry.

At junior level, the Saffrons will take on red-hot favourties Dublin this weekend who finished top of the table.

Down are up against a Limerick team who finished second after a narrow 1-14 to 3-7 defeat at the hands of the Dubs.

Antrim were All-Ireland Junior champions in 2022 and were narrowly beaten in the Division 3B final last season.

Orlagh Laverty’s goal wasn’t enough in a 0-9 to 1-5 defeat at the hands of Clare.

This season, Down were 0-11 to 0-7 winners they met Antrim at Coláiste Féirste in the Division 3B group stages.

That was as close as it got with both teams shipping heavy defeats in the league against this weekend’s opponents.

Antrim lost 2-28 to 0-1 against Dublin with Cora Henderson their only scorer.

The Saffrons also went down to Limerick, 5-16 to 1-5.

Brogan Crossan bagged 1-2 for the losers with Henderson (two) and Sophie Erskine adding points were the other Saffron scorers.

Down also struggled against the big guns. Niamh McGrath notched all four of their points in a 4-20 to 0-4 defeat at the hands of Limerick.

The Mourne County were also on the receiving end of a rampant Dublin (5-14 to 0-3) in Castlewellan.

McGrath was aided by Ellen Shields and Katie Morgan but it wasn’t enough to lay a glove on the high-flying Dubs.

If league form is anything to go by, Dublin and Limerick are odds on to meet in the decider.