Top county title contenders all feature in the group of death

REIGNING county and All-Ireland club champions Sarsfields have been pitted against their two greatest rivals – Ardrahan and Mullagh – in the proverbial ‘Group of Death’ in the redrawn Galway senior camogie championship.

It’s the toughest draw possible for Michael ‘Hopper’ McGrath’s charges given Ardrahan were champions in 2018 and Mullagh, who also boast an array of talent, were winners in 2014. Two of those three will advance to the knockout stages with the bottom team heading for a relegation battle.

The other group is equally as competitive with 2019 county finalists St. Thomas’ facing an Oranmore/Maree side sure to be inspired by Ailish O’Reilly and Niamh Hanniffy and former ‘queenpins’ Davitts.

In Senior ‘B’, it has also thrown up two very interesting groups. In Group 1, Athenry and Cappataggle is the big showdown, although 2019 intermediate champions Carnmore will be looking to spring a surprise themselves.

In Group 2, all eyes will be on the clash of a seasoned Eyrecourt outfit and 2015 champions Killimor. That said, it will not be lost on either that 2018 intermediate winners Craughwell defeated both of these upon their return to the senior ranks last year.

While Sarsfields look the firm favourites to retain the senior title – which they also won in 2016 and ’17 – the nine-team intermediate championship, on the other hand, is a lot more difficult to predict.

Made up of three groups of three, one mouth-watering meeting to catch the eye is that of 2013 All-Ireland intermediate winners Castlegar and 2019 county intermediate finalists Kinvara, both of which are looking to make a return to the senior ranks. Also in Group 1 is Ballinderreen.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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