PREVIEW: The All-Ireland Camogie Finals

All roads lead to the hallowed ground of Croke Park this weekend as the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Camogie Finals get underway on Sunday, September 14th. The triple-header in Croke Park is set to be a feast of camogie for all ages. Kilkenny are going for the double at two grades, the intermediate and senior, and a battle of epic proportions lies in wait in the junior championship as Down go head-to-head with Laois. Turning our eyes to the senior championship, it is an encounter that sees history repeat itself, as Cork take on Kilkenny at 4.00pm. Cork, who have won 24 senior titles to Kilkenny’s 12, are looking to complete a double themselves, in camogie and football. The sides last met in the All-Ireland final in 2009, where Cork took the title on a score line of 0-15 to 0-7. Interestingly, in a true case of history repeating itself in terms of fixtures, Cork also won the double that year, defeating Dublin in the football final – an exact replica of this year’s All-Ireland line-ups. Indeed, Cork have won eight of the last nine football finals (only losing out in 2010 to Tyrone), and have also secured back-to-back double-doubles, 2009 being the most recent of which. 2006 was the first historic one of these, when they defeated Tipperary in camogie and Armagh in football. Cork dual stars, Briege Corkery, Angela Walsh and Rena Buckley are hoping they will have enough to pocket two winners’ medals in the coming weeks. Kilkenny meanwhile will be looking to break a 20-year drought, their last senior All-Ireland camogie title coming in 1994, when they defeated Wexford 2-11 to 0-8. They also featured in the 1995 final, but were defeated on that occasion by Cork. Kilkenny have remained in the running for many years, 1999, 2001, 2009 and just last year, 2013, but were defeated on all occasions by Tipperary (twice), Cork and Galway. Both sides have shown their tenacity, skill and determination on their road to Croker with Kilkenny overcoming Galway in the semi-final, while Cork were brought to a replay against Wexford. Kilkenny have a 100% record for the championship and notched a total of 16-78 in their five games to date this year. Cork, meanwhile, lost out to Wexford in the group stages, the very ones they couldn’t shake in the semi-final, with that game brought to a replay which Cork won 1-15 to 0-8. Preparation wise, this replay may not stand too well for Cork, who go into the All-Ireland just 15 days after the replay. Kilkenny, meanwhile, have had an extra six days rest. Kilkenny will be carrying the hunger from last year’s loss to Galway and are on top form this year, as reigning National League champions. The side’s last met in the All-Ireland semi-finals 2013, where Kilkenny came out on top with a one-point margin and this weekend’s game is set to be an absolute cracker as the two vie for supremacy once more. Meanwhile, Kilkenny are also contesting the All-Ireland intermediate final, against last year’s runners-up, Limerick. Since the intermediate competition started in 2006 (replacing the Senior B competition), each side has won one title each, Limerick in 2007 (after a replay against Cork) and Kilkenny the following year in 2008. Limerick were back in Croke Park just last year, but had to bow out to a determined Galway side, losing out by just two points. However, the green and whites see 2014 as their year, coming off the back of minor and junior All-Ireland glory already this year. In fact, if Limerick win on Sunday, some of their players will have a full set of minor, junior and intermediate medals – all in one year. Kilkenny meanwhile are looking to hook the double at both levels. They’ve proved themselves already this year, overcoming Leinster champions Kildare who, interestingly, had only suffered one other defeat this year – in the first round against Limerick. Kilkenny won well that day in August, defeating Kildare 1-16 to 0-7, while it was a much tighter affair for Limerick, who just scraped a one-point win over Waterford. Both sides topped their respective groups with four wins from four, and it’s set to be a tough and interesting affair this Sunday. The intermediate game gets underway at 2pm. Meanwhile, the first game of the day sees Down and Laois battle for the Junior All-Ireland championship. Both are coming into Croke Park after tough semi-final games. Down overcame Roscommon in Leixlip, while Laois had a tough task against Dublin in Athy. It wasn’t easy for both sides in the championship this year with Laois losing to Dublin in the first group game of the year back in June, their only loss of the group games. When Laois and Down met each other on July 13th, Laois sealed victory by just one-point (3-12 to 1-17) after a thrilling and action-packed game. This was the only game Down lost in the group stages.  Wins over Westmeath, Roscommon and Armagh pushed the two sides to semi-finals where a determined Laois team took the game to Dublin and came out winners 3-12 to 3-4. All-in-all, this Sunday is set to be an absolute treat of camogie. With thousands expected to flock to Croke Park for the Liberty Insurance finals, there is no doubt that a fantastic display of skill, determination and pure heart will be on show for all to see. Regardless of who you are supporting on the day, nothing beats All-Ireland final day in Croke Park. The colour, the passion, the emotion, the skill. So don your county colours, wave your flags and get yourself to Croke Park this Sunday - you certainly won't regret it!