Huge test facing Kilmaley

Clare senior camogie champions Kilmaley will travel to Kilkenny on Sunday to take on Rower-Inistioge in the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-final.
At the end of last year, the Kilkenny club became the first side from that county to win the Leinster title when they beat Shinrone from Offaly in the decider played at their winners’ home grounds. The winners produced a great final quarter to record a seven-point victory.
In the Kilkenny intermediate final they scored a 3-10 to 0-8 victory over Tullaroan, making up for the disappointment of county final defeats in 2009 and 2010.
Kilmaley also made history back in November when they became the first Clare club to be crowned Munster intermediate champions. In that final, they had an easy 4-10 to 0-3 win over St Anne’s from Waterford.
Four years ago, Kilmaley contested the All-Ireland series in the junior championship but were beaten by Four Roads from Roscommon
“This is a huge day for the club,” Kilmaley manager Gerry Kennedy agreed at the weekend. “From what we know, Rower-Inistioge have a strong team, which includes the Kilkenny senior goalie, who plays outfield with the club,” he added.
Kilmaley won’t be able to call on the services of Ashling Darcy, who has been ruled out due to a hip injury. “She is a big loss but Emer Considine has recovered from injury and will be available,” explained the Kilmaley boss.
“After the Munster final win, we gave the girls a few weeks off. We got back to training before Christmas and we have played four challenge games ahead of Sunday’s fixture,” Kennedy added.
Sinéad O’Halloran and Shónagh Enright have been commuting from England in preparation for Sunday’s game, which will throw-in at 1.30pm.
They played Milford from Cork and the Limerick and Clare squads before playing a Clare minor squad last Sunday in Newmarket.
Helen McMahon is currently at home from Australia and is available to the Clare champions, which is a huge boost to their chances
Eimear and Ailish Considine, Denise Lynch, Katie Cahill, winner of the player-of-the-match award in the Munster final, Shónagh Enright, Niamh O’Dea, Emma O’Driscoll and team captain Clare McMahon fill key positions in the Clare champions’ line-up. Emma Lyons, winner of the player-of-the-match award in the Kilkenny final, Emma Kavanagh, Lizzie (team captain), Eimear and Ciara Lyng, Tara Kennedy, Kelly Hamilton and Catriona Ryan are key members of the Kilkenny and ­Leinster champions line-up, who are expected to make matters very difficult for Kilmaley.