Derry aiming for All-Ireland final and a trip to Croke Park

Glen Dimplex Intermediate All Ireland Camogie Championship 

DERRY head for FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday (1pm) hoping to book their place in the All-Ireland final and a trip to Croke Park next month. 

Standing in their way will be Kilkenny who like the Oakleaf girls topped their group in impressive fashion. PJ O’Mullan’s side have seen off Wexford, Carlow and Antrim without any problems which may be a concern that they have eased through without a real test. No doubt the Cats will offer a severe test, even more so with their first team now out of the senior championship which could see their intermediate side strengthened with the players that may not have tasted any senior action. 

While not challenged yet, they did however get plenty of tough games in the league that saw defeats to Kerry and Meath end their hopes of progressing to the final. They took them on the chin and moved on to push Antrim’s senior side all the way in the Ulster senior championship before attentions then turned to the all Ireland intermediate championship. 

The Derry girls bowed out in heartbreaking fashion at this stage last year at the hands of Cork when the Rebels finished strongly to edge it 0-14 to 1-10 with two injury time points. While this is a very new look Derry side that defeat is sure to still hurt the girls that were involved and could be the inspiration to get them over the line this time around. 

The sides met in the group stages last year with Kilkenny coming out on top 2-7 to 1-8, after holding off a strong fightback from the Oakleafers as they trailed by nine points at the break. 

While Aine McAlister and Aoife Shaw will lead the attacking danger for Derry, Kilkenny will be looking for Laura Greene, Afton Grace and Emma Manogue. With both sides having so many sharper shooters it may come down to who has the better defence to keep them at bay where Derry have plenty of quality in Sinead McGill and Aoife NíChaiside in front of Niamh Gribben between the posts while Dervla O’Kane and Aine McGill have impressed at midfield. An interesting encounter lies ahead and one Derry have the capabilities of coming out on top to keep the dream alive. 

The other semi final will see Meath take on Westmeath with a 3pm throw in at Thurles. 

Path to the Semi finals 

Group 2 

Derry 2-17 Wexford 0-7

Derry 6-15 Carlow 0-6

Derry 1-16 Antrim 1-6

Group 1

Kilkenny 4-13 Dublin 1-4

Kilkenny 2-13 Cork 1-8

Killkenny 0-19 Galway 0-11 

Quarter Final 

Kilkenny 0-11 Wexford 0-9