National Camogie League Division Two final

Antrim v Down

Saturday, Owenbeg, 5pm

THE Ulster big two go head-to-head for the Division Two title on Saturday in Owenbeg in a game that has multiple storylines.

First of all is the title itself, then there is the bragging rights between the two teams that played in last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final. Down were the winners on that occasion but this year it appears that Antrim are in fine form, having defeated this weekend’s opponents in the first round of this year’s league.

There’s also the factor of the Championship that approaches as well. Down are preparing for a run in the senior series, while Antrim will be big favourites to capture the Intermediate title.

Perhaps bragging rights will be important, but preparation for championship probably trumps that, and getting themselves in the right form will be important.

After Antrim beat Galway 1-13 to 1-10 in the quarter-finals of the league, they played Meath in the semi-finals last weekend.

Paul McKillen told the Saffron Gael that the performance against Galway was good, but their 0-12 to 1-8 win over Meath was even better. His reasoning was that Antrim found themselves in a difficult position against Meath and had to battle to get out of it.

Roisin McCormack scored the equaliser late on and then Caitrín Dobbin scored an incredible winner for Antrim. However, while joint manager McKillen, who takes the team along with Jim McKernan and Elaine Dowds, says that the team were incredible, it does feel as though they need to improve to beat Down.

They are still missing Chloe Drain and Maeve Connolly, both of whom are unavailable because of injury.

On the positive side, they had six different scorers on the day, and that spread will be important against Down team who have been perhaps been conceding more than they would have liked this year.

Derek Dunne’s team have conceded four goals in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, having only conceded one goal in their two group games against Antrim and Derry.

After losing to Antrim in round one, they got back on track with wins over Derry in the group stages and then Cork in the quarter-finals.

Last weekend they played a Wexford team that had hammered Westmeath in the quarter-finals.

Dunne has a full selection of players to choose from. He told Gaelic Life this week that he has been very pleased with his team’s progress. He said that in their league defeat to Antrim his team were not up to the same pace as the Saffrons, but he thinks that they will have caught up at this stage. He also said that his team has developed and is stronger, and he is discovering more depth in his squad as each game passes.

One player who has improved noticeably is the experienced Karen McMullan, and she should have a big say in this weekend’s game.

Down are looking to get a win this weekend, to maintain their form, and make sure they are in the right place for what will be a very challenging Senior Championship campaign.

Verdict: Down

National Camogie League Division Three final

Armagh v Wexford

Saturday, Donaghmore Ashbourne, 2.30pm

MATTIE Lennon’s positive tenure of Armagh camogs continues this year. They beat Carlow last weekend in the league semi-final, and now take on a Wexford team whose senior team lost to Down in the Division Two semi-final last weekend.

Armagh played Wexford in their second group game and lost by a single point. So that means that the Orchard have something to work on.

Their scoring against Carlow in the semi-final was impressive as they hit 5-11. Less impressive was their concession of 3-11. What was also positive was how Lennon’s team were able to hold off a fight-back from the Leinster side.

Rachael Merry’s goals helped to give the Orchard some breathing space. Ciara Donnelly was the top scorer on the day though, and they’ll need a big return from her as well as Colette McSorley, and Sinead Kiernan to defeat Wexford this weekend.

Verdict: Armagh

National Camogie League division Three relegation final

Down v Waterford

Saturday, Clane, 2pm

DOWN’S juniors face Waterford in their battle to avoid relegation. While the seniors are competing in a Division Two final, the juniors should be able to get the important win they need to remain in the third tier.

They have played the two teams that are now in the Division Three final, hence it should be expected that they ended up on the wrong side of 5-9 to 1-1 and 1-11 to 1-5 results.

While the senior’s game is the priority, Down will dig deep to see off a Waterford team that lost to Carlow, Clare and Limerick.

They lost to Carlow by 10 points, Clare by eight points and Limerick by the same margin. The concern for the Down juniors this weekend is that their opponents can put up relatively decent scores.

Verdict: Down

National Camogie League Division Four final

Roscommon v Cavan

Sunday, Pearse Park, Longford, 2pm

CAVAN went in as favourites against Mayo last weekend and duly won the game.

Niamh Reilly’s early goal put the Westerners on the back foot and they struggled to recover after that.

The Breffni girls had a potential dispute as the game was originally fixed for the same day as their footballers, but they survived that challenge.

Their opponents in the final are Roscommon, who will present a significant step up from Mayo. The two teams met in the group stages and Roscommon won by 2-11 to 2-2. Roscommon defeated Tyrone in the semi-finals, 1-14 to 1-11.

The player that Cavan have to watch for is Leah Rowe who scored 1-7 for Roscommon against Tyrone.

Verdict: Cavan

ROIS SHOT… Antrim’s Roisin McCormick needs to be on target against Down

ORCHARD STAR… Colette McSorley has been in fine form for Armagh during the league campaign