Motivation and experience will be key

Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Finals
Truagh-Clonlara v Kilkishen/Bodyke @ Fr. McNamara Park, Saturday 12pm (Noel Quinn, Gort)

NOT many of the few souls that were scattered around the fencing in Fr. McNamara Park last September for the Senior B decider between the pair could have predicted a rematch at this lofty stage but it isn’t really that much of a surprise.
After all, up to last year, Truagh-Clonlara were knocking on their door of a breakthrough to the McMahon Cup final, with a trio of semi-final battles with Newmarket all being edged by the Blues despite back-to-back bouts of extra-time in 2018 and ’19.
However, it was Kilkishen/Bodyke who would take out Newmarket on Truagh’s behalf and it’s refreshening that a newcomer will line up in this year’s knock-out stages.
There was little between the sides in last year’s Senior B final as Truagh-Clonlara trailed for over 45 minutes before springing to life late on capped off by an Aine O’Loughlin clinching goal to snatch the Glenomra Shield by 1-15 to 0-14.
Twelve months on and clearly both have improved significantly but in terms of experience, Truagh-Clonlara will still be expected to have the slight edge, having been down this road so many times before.
Verdict: Truagh-Clonlara

Scariff-Ogonnelloe v Inagh-Kilnamona @ Clooney, Saturday 12.30pm (Fintan McNamara, Killanena)
A heavyweight clash of the last two champions would have been a worthy final showdown but for some reason, Scariff-Ogonnelloe and Inagh-Kilnamona always seemed destined to clash in the semi-finals. Indeed, this is their fourth penultimate stage encounter in five seasons, with Inagh-Kilnamona having the edge in 2017 and ’18 on their way to senior crowns while Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s revenge mission in 2019 would be the pivotal result in the East Clare side making historic strides to win both county and Munster senior honours for the very first time.
They didn’t lock horns last year as Scariff-Ogonnelloe were pipped by Newmarket at the same stage whereas Inagh-Kilnamona had to pass a stern evaluation against neighbours Kilmaley before reclaiming the McMahon Cup for the fourth time in five seasons.
Scariff-Ogonnelloe hold a perfect record so far whereas the holders were agonisingly edged out by Truagh-Clonlara in their group decider a fortnight ago. However, being the first championship meeting since that inclement night in Gurteen at the semi-final two years ago, Inagh-Kilnamona shouldn’t lack motivation to avenge that painful reverse.
Verdict: Inagh-Kilnamona

With no relegation this year, the Senior B Championship comes down to which sides are motivated to develop. Newcomers Feakle/Killanena have shown the most progress of the quartet and therefore will be favourites to advance to the Glenomra Shield Final when they face Kilmaley in Kilkishen on Saturday at 1pm whereas outside of bragging rights, it’s difficult to assess whether Newmarket or Sixmilebridge will be ginning for victory in Inagh at 2pm.
There’s also derby action in the intermediate semi-finals as championship favourites Clooney-Quin take on Clarecastle/Ballyea for what should be a close battle in Sixmilebridge at 12pm while in Ogonnelloe, the East Clare showdown between Whitegate and Tulla provides a great opportunity to reach a final, something which Whitegate should relish.
Broadford and Ruan/Crusheen are fancied to prevail in the Junior A Championship Semi-Finals that both take place on Saturday at 3pm against Kilkishen/Bodkye and Inagh-Kilnamona’s second strings respectively.
Finally, the last four of the inaugural Junior C Championship sees Broadford and Clarecastle/Ballyea’s second teams clash in Shannon at 1.30pm before flagship side Cratloe take on Whitegate in Scariff at 3pm.