Tipp aim to complete Big 3 scalps
Tipperary’s senior camogie team return to National League action after a weekend off when they make the trip to Kilkenny to take on the home side in a crucial round 4 clash.
With four teams tied at the top of the table, the race is on to make the final which Tipperary haven’t won since 2004, and haven’t competed in a final since 2009 when they were defeated by Wexford so ending one of those waits would be another welcome box ticked.
With Tipperary having beaten both Galway and Cork so far in this league campaign, it would be welcome trio of successes if they were to take down Kilkenny on their home turf. The sides drew in Nowlan Park in the championship last summer and should Tipperary get the win, they would be in a strong position to qualify for a final as their last game is away to a Clare side that are winless in their three games so far, losing all three games by an average of eleven points.
However, Tipperary will firstly have to take care of Kilkenny first, a team under new management in Peter Cleere and despite being without Denise Gaule, Miriam Walsh, Claire Phelan, and Grace Walsh, remain hugely competitive.
This is a game Tipperary need to be targeting for a win with Kilkenny without so many leaders and off the back of beating Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn with a late scoring burst, the experience of winning a close game at the end will stand to them.
The return from injury in the second half of that game for captain Karen Kennedy was a huge boost and she will be expected to see more game time, while Clodagh Quirke will also be available after missing the last game due to bridesmaids duties for Cait Devane.
The unavailability of Devane posed potential problems at the start of the campaign as she has provided a lot of the scores in recent years but that overreliance on her was a problem and without her others have had to step up and Eimear McGrath has taken that on, particularly from play as she was also adept from placed balls.
Clodagh McIntyre’s relocation from the forwards to wing back has also been a positive experiment so far and is expected to be fit after limping off late against Cork with a dead-leg.