By Niall Gartland

ANTRIM Camogie is riding the crest of a wave and their experienced midfielder Amy Boyle hopes they can take the direct route in this year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Championship.

All four teams in their group will progress but the top two will bypass the quarter-final stage entirely. Antrim started as they mean to continue with an impressive victory over Derry in their opening salvo, and now they’ll host Kerry at Ahoghill this Saturday ahead of their third and final group stage match against Down.

Just a matter of weeks ago, Antrim’s U23 team clinched All-Ireland honours and a number of those players are already starting for the seniors, who acquitted themselves well in their Division 1A campaign earlier in the year, even if survival proved elusive.

They’ll be gunning for All-Ireland Intermediate honours and Loughgiel star Amy Boyle is really looking forward to their meeting with last year’s beaten finalists Kerry – not least because they don’t face a gruelling trip to the Kingdom.

“When we looked at the fixtures at the start of the year, we were pleased with how they fell. Being away to Derry and Down meant we got our Kerry game at home. It definitely worked out well for us because it would have been a long round trip otherwise.

“The way it works in our group, we’re in a seeded section, so everybody actually qualifies. However, the top two teams go straight through to the semi-finals, so that’s what we’re aiming for. We’ll be wanting to top the group and avoid that extra match and everything that comes with it.”

All-Ireland U23 winners Éobha McAllister and Katie Molloy are among those who look destined for a long and fruitful career at senior level. Boyle is delighted that the conveyor belt is in rude health.

“The U23s are flying this year. It was great to see them winning their All-Ireland. That experience of stepping onto the senior team will stand to them. They’ve already won an All-Ireland this year, so they’re well capable of making that push. A lot of them are starting, while the rest are making up the panel and really pushing for places on the starting team.”

Boyle ran out comfortable 3-14 to 0-7 victors over Derry on their first day out. It was a strong performance, though Boyle believes the final scoreline was arguably a little harsh on the Oak Leafers.

“We had played Derry not too long before that in the Ulster semi-final, so it was maybe a bit strange meeting them again so soon. Both teams probably had a better idea of the players and who they’d be marking.

So yeah, it was a good second-half performance from ourselves and we pulled away in the end. It was a lot tighter than the final scoreline suggested, but it was a great start to the championship. It was a lovely day too and everyone enjoyed it, so I think we were just glad to get things off to a good start.”