CAMOGIE NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO GROUP ONE

Down v Derry

Saturday, Castlewellan, 2pm

A MASSIVE 27 points separated these sides when they met in last year’s league, so all eyes will be on Derry to see if they have found a way to close that gap.

Manager Ciaran Cunningham believes they are in a much better position than they were last February, and he has tried to improve the bridge between the minor team and the senior team. Minor boss Paddy Downey is part of the senior set-up in an attempt to facilitate that.

Anthony Begley has also overseen a strength and conditioning programme that should give them a more physical edge. Down overpowered a number of teams last year with their strength, and it was particularly obvious in their All-Ireland Intermediate final win over a talented but youthful Antrim side.

The Saffrons obviously have learned lessons from that loss though as they edged past Down last week in Portglenone, 1-13 to 0-13.

The Mourne county paid for inefficiency in front of goal as they butchered a number of good goal chances and hit some bad wides.

Sorcha McCartan looked lively and Sara-Louise Graffin was, as usual, prominent. It was Graffin who opened the scoring in the second minute with a free, but it could have been even better as she turned Chloe Drain well before being pulled back.

Graffin finished with seven points, including five frees and a 45, while McCartan nailed four super points from play. Aoife Keown and Aimee McAleenan were their other scorers.

Down should bounce back here, while Derry should also be a lot more competitive than last season.

Verdict: Down

CAMOGIE NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE GROUP ONE

Wexford v Down

Saturday, Bellefield Enniscorthy, 2pm

WITH Offaly withdrawing from the league, this will be Down’s last group game and they will be looking for a big response after a heavy defeat to Armagh last weekend.

The Mourne county’s second string failed to score in the first half as a swirling, unpredictable wind made good play extremely difficult in Mayobridge.

Indeed, it was well into the second half when they got off the mark through a Katie McGilligan close-in free, and by that stage the Orchard county had 4-3 already on the board.

Manager Fionnuala Carr would have at least been pleased that the side worked a goal, even if there was a touch of fortune about Aoife McDowell’s strike as the An Riocht player pounced after Armagh net-minder Ciarrai Devlin dropped a catch.

This too is Wexford’s second string with their first team playing in Division Two.

Karen Barnes is the new manager of the side having previously worked with former boss Ray Quigley in recent times.

The Premier Junior outfit had no championship action last season as second teams were not allowed to field due to Covid-19 restrictions.

They were due to start with a fixture against Offaly last weekend but were left sitting idle after the Faithful county’s withdrawal from the league.

Verdict: Wexford

CAMOGIE NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR GROUP ONE

Wicklow v Tyrone

Saturday, AGB Pearses’s Park, 2pm

TYRONE are aiming to make it two wins from two after a tight victory over Antrim in Carrickmore last weekend.

The Red Hands started slowly but with the wind at their backs, they led 0-5 to 0-4 at the break with Cara Little (2), Reagan Fay, Gráinne Rafferty and Ciara McGready grabbing their scores.

Fay kept the scoreboard ticking over in the second half and 1-1 from Laura Barker ensured a one-point win.

Wicklow were destroyed by Cavan last weekend, and although Tyrone are not just as strong as the Breffni county, it should be a win for the Ulster side.

Verdict: Tyrone

CAMOGIE NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR GROUP ONE

Antrim v Cavan

Saturday, TBC, 2pm

CAVAN are certainly picking up where they left off as they hit 5-28 against Wicklow last weekend.

The Breffni county, of course, won the Nancy Murray Cup last year and came so close to shocking Armagh in the Premier Junior All-Ireland final a week later.

The led 4-16 to no score at the break with Wicklow only able to raise two white flags in the second half.

Antrim went down narrowly to Tyrone. That was despite a fine free-taking exhibition from Rianna McBride. The Ballycastle player finished with nine points.

Verdict: Cavan