Kilkenny's camogie champions begin league campaign

For the first time since last August’s All-Ireland triumph, the Kilkenny camogie side will be back in competitive action as they make the trip to Ennis for their Division One League opener on Sunday afternoon.

After much criticism in recent months, the league has changed to a five game schedule with the Cats facing into fixtures with Galway, Cork, Tipperary and Dublin after the Banner opener in the coming weeks.

The Cats are stationed in the much stronger Division 1 A section of the Very Ireland Camogie League while Division 1B is made up of Offaly, Waterford, Antrim, Down, Wexford and Limerick.

The five game series will offer Kilkenny significant tests before they open up the defence of their Leinster and All-Ireland titles later in the summer.

As well as going to Clare on Sunday, Brian Dowling’s team will also face an away trip to Dublin with the rest of the games taking place in the Marble City.

Of Kilkenny’s three home games, the All-Ireland champions will get the comfort of the use of UPMC Nowlan Park for at least one of them with Saturday week’s clash with Galway forming part of a double header which features the Very Division 2B clash between the same counties.

The Cats last tasted league success two years ago and are second in the overall roll of honour behind Cork, While adding a 16th league title would be most welcome, Kilkenny boss Brian Dowling will be sure to try out new players as he has done throughout his previous three years in charge.

This weekend will be an especially busy one for Dowling as he is also involved with the St Kieran’s College management team for their All-Ireland quarter-final on Saturday before facing an early 12 noon start in Ennis on Sunday - the camogie clash will form part of a double header alongside the Allianz National Football League Division Two game between Clare and Kildare.