McIntyre relishes more big occasions

By Daire Walsh

Following a memorable outing at the venue just a few short weeks ago, Clodagh McIntyre is excited to be back at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles this Saturday for a shot at silverware in the colours of Tipperary.

Played as part of a double header with a provincial hurling round-robin game between the same two counties, McIntyre and Tipperary recorded an impressive 1-18 to 2-9 win at the expense of Cork at the quarter-final stage of the Munster senior camogie championship on April 19th.

The Premier County’s hurlers will return to Thurles this Saturday for a crunch Munster showdown against Clare, but before that encounter gets underway, McIntyre and her camogie colleagues will take on Waterford at 4.45pm for the right to be crowned senior provincial winners for 2026.

“We don’t find ourselves in Munster finals too often, so we’re really looking forward to it,” said the Lorrha native.

“It’s a double-header with Tipp and Clare, so we’re hoping to get a big Tipp support behind us. Hopefully that can create a nice atmosphere in Semple Stadium.

“We had a double-header with Tipp and Cork. It just had such a fantastic feel about it. The sun was shining and you’re in one of the nicest stadiums in Ireland. We were thrilled to get the win that day.

“We also had a double-header before Limerick and Cork down in Pairc Ui Chaoimh against Limerick [in a Munster semi-final]. Probably didn’t have much Tipp support that day, but still very enjoyable and we’re looking forward to this Saturday.”

McIntyre was speaking in Croke Park on Monday at the launch of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships for 2026.

In their first game of this year’s All-Ireland senior campaign, the Premier are set to kick-start their Group 1 journey with an away trip to Waterford on the weekend of June 6/7 in a rematch of the Munster final.

This will be followed by mouthwatering showdowns against Cork (June 14th) and Galway (June 28th) in what promises to be a compelling summer of action for James Heffernan’s side.

While Tipperary will be eager to lay down a marker against Waterford in that All-Ireland championship opener, focus for now is on their impending Munster showdown with the Deise this Saturday.

Having faced them on so many occasions in the recent past, McIntyre knows exactly what to expect from Waterford in Thurles this Saturday.

“We’ve had some very close encounters with Waterford,” McIntyre recalls.

“I’d say over the last particularly two or three years and every time we meet them, it’s a very intense and close battle. We know that it’s definitely not going to be easy and we need to show up ready for battle.

“They probably have a stronger record more recently over the last few years, but we know that if we can perform well, get that high energy and spirit. Get the heads up, make the right decisions on the ball, there’s no reason why we can’t come out on top.”