Finally the action throws in tomorrow in both Senior competitions in this year’s We Are Dublin GAA Adult Camogie Club Championships
We’ve had plenty of Football, Hurling and Ladies Football action to while away the last few weeks. And it’s been a pleasure to follow some action after months of restrictions. And tomorrow, our very own competition get’s underway as both Senior grades of the We Are Dublin GAA Adult Camogie Club Championships finally get up and running.
All groups in both the Senior 1 and Senior 2 of the competition will throw in on what is expected to be a sunny Sunday in the capital. And this year there’s a slight change to the format, with both grades split into groups. Here’s all you need to know about tomorrow’s Senior 1 and Senior 2 fixtures.
We Are Dublin GAA Adult Camogie Championships
Senior 1 – Group 1
With the competition now split into 2 groups, Group 1 will consist of reigning champions St. Vincents, Lucan Sarsfield, and last year’s Senior 2 champions Kilmacud Crokes. As there are only three teams in the group there will be a bye week for each, with one game played in the three rounds. Vincents have the pleasure of the opening round bye and will not be in action.
Tomorrow sees newly promoted Kilmacud Crokes take on Lucan Sarsfield in their Senior 1 opener. Crokes had a fantastic run in last year’s Senior 2 competition winning four of their five round games, only dropping a point drawing their Round 5 against Naomh Mearnog. A 5-13 to 2-06 Semi Final victory over Good Counsel saw them slide into the decider where they saw off the challenge of St. Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh.
Winning four of their seven round games in 2019 saw Lucan Sarsfield qualify for a Semi Final slot in fourth position in the Senior 1 table. Sadly, that’s where their championship run ended, as they fell foul of eventual champions Vincents by 3-17 to 0-05. There’s no reason Lucan won’t be contending again this year for the top flight silverware.
Senior 1 – Group 2
A hotly contested Group 2 sees Ballyboden St. Endas, Naomh Jude, Faughs/Celtic and Na Fianna thrown together in the mix. So a relatively straight forward three rounds, no byes in this foursome.
Last year’s Semi Finalists Ballyboden St. Endas start their campaign off against Faughs/Celtic, who finished third from bottom in 2019, escaping relegation. Boden finished the group campaign joint top with Vincents, with the Marino ladies edging the table with a far superior score difference. They faced Naomh Jude in the championship last four with Judes winning 1-08 to 0-07 on the day. It’s very rare that Boden are not in the mix in the final stages of this competition, and this year should be any different.
In the second fixture of Group 2 we see last year’s beaten finalists Naomh Jude welcome Na Fianna to Faughs Hurling Pitch tomorrow afternoon. With only two wins from seven in last year’s competition, Na Fianna missed out on a knockout run, something they wouldn’t have been used to. So this year you can be sure they’ll be fighting to improve. For Judes, who lifted the title in 2018, they’ll be expected to continue that momentum and challenge again in 2020.
Senior 2 – Group 1
Group 1 in this year’s Senior 2 competition sees Naomh Mearnog, Raheny, Castleknock and Skerries Harps bundled together. Castleknock, who were last year’s Inter 1 Champions start life in Senior 2 against a Raheny side who spent last year at the bottom of the Senior 2 table. How will Castleknock adapt to the step up in grade, and life as a Senior 2 panel?
Naomh Mearnog, who finished fourth in the Senior 2 competition last year face Skerries Harps, who come down from the Senior 1 competition on the opening day. Mearnogs were drawn against St. Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh in last year’s Semi Final, with Plunketts proving too strong for the Portmarnock side. Skerries will be adapting to life in Senior 2, but should pose as strong contenders for the championship.
Senior 2 – Group 2
Good Counsel, Cuala, Ballinteer St. Johns and St. Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh make up the second group of Senior 2 teams for this year’s competition.
With only one win from four in last year’s competition, Cuala face relegated Ballinteer St. Johns in Round 1. The Dalkey side had lost their opening four games before beating Raheny in Round 5 to lift themselves off the bottom of the table. Ballinteer’s only recorded win last year was a walkover to Skerries as they now adapt to life in Senior 2.
A tasty clash between Good Counsel and St. Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh throws in at 1:30pm tomorrow afternoon. Both sides reached the last four in Senior 2 a year ago, and it will be interesting to see what way the competition pans out with these two in 2020.
**Please note all fixtures are correct at the time of this post and may be subject to change. Please check the official Dublin Camogie website for further details.