Ulster sides chasing perfect start in ladies championships

By Niall McCoy

DOWN’S season has been a superb one to date with promotion from Division Three and an Ulster Intermediate title bagged, and they’ll be hoping to carry that form into the All-Ireland series as they travel to Redhills on Sunday for their Intermediate opener against Cavan.

Caoibhe Sloan and Peter Lynch’s side are on a real rise at the moment having claimed the All-Ireland Junior title last season, but they will have to be wary about a Breffni side that played a division above them in the league this year.

The counties did meet in the Ulster Intermediate preliminary round last month with Down easing to a 10-point win in Newry, but this should be closer given it’s on Cavan turf.

Monaghan’s stirring comeback came up just short in their provincial final against Down, Chloe McBride making a massive contribution from the bench, and they’ll aim to take that second-half performance into their meeting with Clare at Clones.

Tyrone are also in action in the Intermediate grade as they travel to Leitrim. Both these teams finished second in their respective leagues, but given that the Red Hands operated in Division 2 and their opponents in Division 4, anything other than a Tyrone win would be a major surprise.

London didn’t compete in the National League so Derry will be going in a bit blind when they welcome the Exiles to Ballymaguigan on Sunday.

The Oakleaf County managed just one win in Division Four, Emma Doherty top-scoring with 1-8 against Kilkenny, so they’re chasing a change in fortunes.

Antrim (Intermediate) and Fermanagh (Junior) have bye weeks with the Senior action not starting until next weekend.