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Kilkenny eye final place on hectic final round of Centra Camogie Leagues
The Cats host Antrim on Saturday afternoon in Nowlan Park at 2pm
Reporter:
Kilkenny People Reporter
20 Mar 2026 4:41 PM
Email:
sport@kilkennypeople.ie
It’s that time of year – permutations on top of permutations in Gaelic games as we wrap our heads around who can be promoted or relegated across different codes and tiers.
But for sheer complexity, Division 1A of the Centra Camogie League is out on its own.
Waterford are safely through to their first ever top-tier final. Michael Boland’s charges have hit the ground running in 2026, and four consecutive wins see them flying high – Beth Carton et al overwhelming the field to make a real statement of intent ahead of the summer.
So the Déise look forward to the Division 1A final on April 12th in UPMC Nowlan Park.
Running the numbers, four of the other five counties in the six-team division could join Waterford in the showpiece, while all five remain in danger of relegation to the second tier for 2027.
The script was supposed to be far more straightforward. So how did we end up here?
Opening-day losses for 2025 All-Ireland finalists Cork and Galway threw the cat amongst the pigeons early on. The Rebels falling to Waterford. The Westerners succumbing to Tipperary.
Round two didn’t bring any improved fortunes for the pair.
The Lee-siders were expected to make amends when Antrim took the long trip to MTU, but the newly-promoted Saffrons had other ideas, causing a seismic shock.
Hampered by a blizzard which delayed their flight home from the team holiday in New York, Galway eventually touched down onterra firma only to be met by a red-hot Déise.
Rooted to the bottom of the table after two rounds, the ‘big two’ found themselves in a hole.
Since then, they have gone unbeaten. Cathal Murray’s outfit recorded away victories over Tipperary and Antrim. Ger Manley’s side had too much for Kilkenny, before surrendering an eight-point half-time lead to draw with the Premier County in round four.
Mixed results for the Blue-and-Gold and Black-and-Amber leave the two counties still in the mix at both ends of the table.
Antrim exceeded expectations, but have been unable to add to their sole victory thus far.
Scoring difference is the primary tiebreaker should two or more teams finish level on points, opening up a myriad of possibilities.
To sum up the potential chaos: any team across Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Cork and Antrim could be relegated, yet all except the Ulster outfit could also end Round Five with a final spot secured.
Galway and Kilkenny are in the driving seat – victory for either and besting the other’s scoring difference will lock in a date with the Déise. Should both fail to win on Saturday, it would open it up for the chasing pack.
The mantra for every team this weekend? Take care of your own business. Worry about results elsewhere after that.
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