Galway seniors can edge out Tipp in big camogie showdown

IT’S a huge weekend for Galway camogie as the county’s seniors and U-16s both face Tipperary in the All-Ireland quarter-final (3:30pm) and final (12 noon) respectively at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday.

Meeting in the senior championship for the first time since 2011, when the Tribeswomen won 3-20 to 1-11, Galway and Tipperary has the potential to be a thriller, although you would feel Tony Ward’s charges do possess a little bit more quality in their ranks overall.

Indeed, having narrowly lost to Kilkenny in their opening championship game, the Westerners subsequently defeated kingpins Wexford in their own backyard, before accounting for Clare and Derry in their final group games to qualify for this stage of the competition.

“In the long run, we were probably better off (losing to Kilkenny)” remarks Galway boss Ward. “Nobody likes losing championship games but the extra game (All-Ireland quarter-final) should stand to us if we win on Saturday. Last year, we went straight through to the semi-final and we were five weeks waiting for that game.

“In the end, Cork caught us because they were up to pace playing games in between. So, we are better off with an extra game. Again, that is not to say we looked to be losing any game going into the championship. We didn’t plan it like that; we planned to top the group.”

For team news see this week’s Tribune here