Cork club camogie championships throws in five days after All-Ireland final loss
St Finbarr's Aoife O'Neill in action against Inniscarra's Niamh Dilworth during their SE Systems senior championship camogie match at Castle Road last year. O'Neill will be one of the players the Barrs will look to again this season. Picture: Dan Linehan
Less than a week after the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland final some of the players involved have to put the defeat to Galway behind them as the SE Systems Club Championship gets underway tonight.
There is only one game this evening as Seandún take on Carbery at Castle Road, throw-in 7.30pm.
Next Wednesday, the defending champions, St Finbarr’s, get their title defence underway in what will be a tough game against Blackrock.
But tonight, both divisional sides will be hoping their Cork players are all available and fit to start.
For Seandun, they will be hoping that Amy Lee, Amy O’Connor, and Niamh O’Leary will be available to start.
On the opposite side, Libby Coppinger, Ciara O’Sullivan and Claire Kingston are eligible to line out for Carbery.
No doubt both sets of selectors know by now who will be there for what should an entertaining game.
Seandun won the title in 2022, which led to Amy O’Connor captaining Cork to All-Ireland glory in 2023, and they will be hoping to repeat that feat this year.
It’s never easy for a divisional side with club games as well but in fairness to Seandún they seem to be able to handle it well.
They won’t be taking Carbery lightly but will be considered slight favourites to get off to a winning start.
Next Wednesday, the Barrs are in action and will be the fancy of many to retain their title.
They have already won the league this year and will be determined to continue that winning run.
With the depth of their squad, it’s difficult to see who is going to stop them,
From the Cork senior side, they have Meabh and Orlaith Cahalane, Sorcha McCartan, Kate Wall, and Aoife O’Neill all lining out.
But there is plenty more talent in this squad, which will be further boosted by the return of Aisling Egan, who was away for several months travelling. Stephenie Punch, Ciara Hurley, Liz O’Donovan and Ciara Golden are just some of the others available to Brian O’Sullivan and his management team.
Blackrock will be led by Hayley Ryan and Erin Curtin, but know the tough task they have ahead of them next week.
The same night Aghabullogue will take on Éire Óg at Blarney, with the former looking to the likes of Cliona Healy and Meadhbh Ring, but there is plenty more to this side than just those two.
They face an Ovens team who gave the Barrs a tough test in the league final a number of weeks ago, so will be going into the championship confident of doing well.
They will also have had the advantage of having all their panel together over the last few weeks.
They have a good squad, with the likes of Edel Sheehan, Aoife O’Callaghan, Shauna Sheehan, Clara Murphy, Erin Healy and Isobel Sheehan just some of the players they will look to.
Glen Rovers, who surprised some by their run to the semi-final last year, are always tough to beat and open against Courcey Rovers, led by Saoirse McCarthy.
For the Glen they will look to their Cork star Emma Murphy, Leanne O’Sullivan, Katie Walsh and Denise Luby to get off to a winning start.
Sars, who won in 2023 and lost last year’s decider start with a local derby against Killeagh, one of the outstanding games from last year.
Orlaith Mullins and her sister, Clare, will be two of the players Sars will look to, along with Sinead Hurley and Ava Fitzgerald.
Killeagh will be backboned by Laura Treacy and Hannah Looney and will be determined to make up for their loss to Sars last season.
SE Systems Senior Club Camogie Championship: Carbery v Seandún, Castle Road, 7.30pm.
SE Systems Senior Club Camogie Championship: Aghabullogue v Éire Óg, at Blarney; St Finbarr’s v Blackrock, at Castle Road; St Catherines v Inniscarra, at Watergrasshill, all 7.30pm.
SE Systems Senior Club Camogie Championship: Sarsfields v Killeagh, at Castle Road, 7.30pm; Cloughduv v Ballinora, at Éire Óg at 8pm.
Seandún v Muskerry, at Castle Road, 7.30pm.
Courcey Rovers v Glen Rovers, at Castle Road, 7pm.
Carrigdhoun v Avondhu, at Castle Road, 5pm.
App?
