Preview- Kilkenny meet Tipperary in final round of Very Camogie League

VERY CAMOGIE LEAGUE DIVISION 1A- SATURDAY, MARCH 25TH

Kilkenny v Tipperary, Piltown GAA, 3pm

A local derby that would be keenly contested anyway was given added bite when the pair were drawn in the same championship group on Thursday.

Tipperary are unlikely to be thinking about that though, as they are on the brink of a first national final since losing the 2009 League decider to Wexford.

The indomitable Mary Ryan is the sole survivor from that squad and she made her first appearance of the season off the bench in the stroll against Clare last weekend. 

Denis Kelly’s crew have their fate is in their own hands, regardless of what happens between Cork and Galway.

They face the All-Ireland champions, who have been off-colour, with just a win over Dublin to talk of and confirmation that player of the year, Miriam Walsh has suffered a serious knee injury another blow.

While the Noresiders’ focus at this stage is on later in the year they are, mathematically, still in danger of being relegated.

They would need to ship a very heavy defeat and Dublin to be easy winners over Clare for that to transpire. 

Kilkenny team to face Tipperary- Aoife Norris (Piltown); Michelle Teehan (James Stephens), Grace Walsh (Tullaroan), Miriam Bambrick (Barrow Rangers); Steffi Fitzgerald (Young Irelands), Claire Phelan (Lisdowney), Tiffanie Fitzgerald (Young Irelands); Laura Murphy (O'Loughlin Gaels), Kellyann Doyle (Piltown); Julieann Malone (Mullinavat), Niamh Deely (James Stephens), Denise Gaule (Windgap); Asha McHardy (Dicksboro), Katie Power (Piltown), Sophie O'Dwyer (James Stephens).