Camogie leagues start Sunday
A NEW inter-county camogie season begins on Sunday with both Senior and Intermediate Wexford teams in action in their opening fixtures of the Littlewoods National League.
The first string will open their Division 1 campaign away to Waterford (W.I.T., 3.30 p.m.) with the Intermediates preceding them with a home Division 2 tie against Laois (time and venue TBC).
Both sides will play under the stewardship of joint managers John Kelly (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier) and Matty Flynn-O’Connor (Duffry Rovers), bringing much-needed cohesion between the two panels.
Recognising that managing both sides comes with double the duties, the duo have extended their backroom team. Derek Long (Shamrocks), Tom Dunphy (Duffry Rovers), Rose Ryan (Rapparees) and Laura Cullen (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier) are selectors.
Dunphy, as boss, and Ryan (selector) have been involved with the second string for the last few years and bring a wealth of knowledge to the management team, especially with regards players on the fringes of the Senior squad.
As well as those, Barbara Ryan remains as a cool head in the background (team admin.). Yvonne Tracey also returns as nutrition/diet specialist, Pa Whelan is trainer, while Donal ‘Gammy’ O’Connor is team physio.
The Senior team follow their season opener away to Waterford with a home clash against All-Ireland champions Kilkenny seven days later.
After a week’s break, Tipperary make the short trip south-east on March 12.
The only taxing away fixture, a scoot down the road to Cork, comes the weekend after St. Patrick’s Day (Sunday, March 19) with Wexford finishing their Group 1 campaign at home to Dublin on April 2.
Should the Kelly/Flynn-O’Connor managed team escape the tougher of the two groups, opponent-wise, the Division 1 semi-final is scheduled for April 9 with the final following two weeks later.
Times have been tough for the Intermediates in recent years but they will be hoping new blood and new ideas get them going in the right direction.
After beginning their campaign at home to Laois, Wexford host Down seven days later.
That’s the end of the home games as the Slaneysiders visit a pair of neighbours, Kilkenny and Carlow, on consecutive weekends (March 12 and 19).
The only taxing journey sees Wexford head north to face Derry on April 2.
Should Wexford advance, the Division 2 semi-finals are scheduled for April 16, with the final following two weeks later.
All in all, Wexford could hardly have cherry-picked their respective schedules any better, in terms of travel.
With the same personnel over both sides, problems will arise, but with the current exception of the final round where the Seniors host Dublin and the Intermediates visit Derry, start times should be staggered to allow management attend both fixtures.
As is the norm at this stage of the year, several experienced players are expected to play limited roles, or even no part, in the league campaign.
It’s therefore expected that new players, identified in pre-Christmas trials, will get the chance at both Senior and Intermediate levels in the coming weeks.