Tipperary are within touching distance of reaching first national camogie league final in 14 years

This Saturday's local derby between Tipperary and Kilkenny in Division IA of the Very Camogie League in Piltown, a game that would be keenly contested in any event, was given added bite when the pair were drawn in the same championship group yesterday (Thursday).  

Tipperary are unlikely to be thinking about that, though, as they are on the brink of reaching a first national final since losing the 2009 league decider to Wexford.

The indomitable Mary Ryan is the sole survivor from that squad and she made her first appearance of the season off the bench in the stroll against Clare last weekend. 

Denis Kelly’s Tipperary crew have their fate is in their own hands, regardless of what happens between Cork and Galway.

They face the All-Ireland champions, who have been off-colour, with just a win over Dublin to talk of and the confirmation that player of the year, Miriam Walsh, has suffered a serious knee injury is another blow.

While the Noresiders’ focus at this stage is on later in the year they are, mathematically, still in danger of being relegated.

They would need to ship a very heavy defeat tomorrow and Dublin to record an easy win over Clare for that to transpire. 

The match starts at 3pm and the referee is Wexford's Justin Heffernan.