Cork aim for three from three in U23 camogie championship

Cork will look to maintain their perfect start to the U23 All-Ireland camogie championship when they take on Waterford at MTU tonight, throw-in 7.30pm.

This third round of the round-robin series sees Cork in confident form after back-to-back victories that have underlined their potential title credentials.

They opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-11 to 0-11 away win over Galway, the defending champions, before producing a dominant display against Dublin, running out convincing 5-19 to 0-9 winners in their second outing at home on Easter Sunday.

Those results have signalled intent from a Cork side determined to go one better than last season, when they narrowly lost out to Galway in the All-Ireland final.

Manager Jerry Wallace has been working hard with this side for some time now, and he will be determined to keep their winning run going to ensure their qualification for the knock-out stages.

He will face some of the players he coached during his time in charge of the Waterford senior side, so knows they can’t take anything for granted.

But he has a strong squad at his disposal, with a nice blend of pace, scoring power, and experience throughout, and their two performances to date suggest the Rebels are building momentum as the games go on.

Several players have caught the eye in the opening rounds, with Orlaith Cahalane, Ciara Golden, and Niamh McNabola prominent.

Add in others like Amy O’Riordah, Ava Fitzgerald, Amy Sheppard, and Rose Murphy, all have played their part so far.

Wallace is building confidence in the players, and their ability to sustain pressure was needed in their win over Galway.

Against Dublin, they were never really under any pressure, in a game they were always expected to win.

Waterford, meanwhile, are still seeking their first win of the championship.

They opened with a tough defeat to Kilkenny, losing 3-15 to 0-4, and followed that with a 1-19 to 0-6 loss against Tipperary in round two.

Despite the results, the Déise outfit will be eager to show improvement and compete strongly against a fancied Cork side, knowing they will have to be at their best to have any chance of upsetting the odds.

With home advantage at MTU  and confidence high, Cork will be targeting another strong performance to cement their position in the round-robin standings.

Waterford, for their part, will be hoping to frustrate the Rebels and produce a display that reflects their potential.

All signs point to a Cork win as they continue their push towards their ultimate aim - All-Ireland success.