PREVIEWS: Tipperary camogie club championships ready for take-off in bumper opening weekend

Intermediate 

Seven teams will contest this year’s Intermediate championship with the top four teams making the semi-finals. 

Like last year there is just one group so consistency and peaking for a semi-final will be key. Kilruane MacDonaghs pushed winners Borris-Ileigh all the way last year losing out after two periods of extra time. 

Lisa Cahill will be key for them in defence while Laura Shinners was a huge goal-getter last year. Shannon Rovers have been runners-up in recent years and with Aine Slattery, Celine Guinan, Niamh Franks, Aoife Mcloughney, and Laura Leenane they will be strong contenders again this year. 

They were beaten earlier in the year in the league final by a very impressive Toomevara who in Jill Anne Quirke and Gemma McCarthy have two of the top forwards in this year’s championship. 

Moneygall will relish the opportunity to make a big impact in their first year back at Intermediate and with Mary Ryan, Niamh Larkin and Julie Kirwan they have plenty of talent. 

Newport Ballinahinch were unlucky not to reach a final last year but have lost Keeley Lenihan to travel from last year’s starting 15, while her sister Abbie continues to struggle with an ankle injury. 

They will look to Saoirse McGrath and Caroline Mullaney to lead their bid for glory. Roisin Howard had an excellent year with Tipperary this year and will be key to Cahir’s success again this year. 

They put in some brilliant performances last year but lost out in some tight games. Boherlahan Dualla will also be hoping for a big impact this year having had a debut season last year at the Intermediate level. 

Clodagh Horgan impressed for Tipperary Juniors this year while Paula Quirke, Danielle Ryan, and Anna Murphy are other key players to look out for.