AIB Ulster Club Senior Camogie Championship semi-final

Loughgiel (Antrim) v Slaughtneil (Derry) (Sunday, at Dunsilly.

Throw-in 1pm

Loughgiel face familiar foes on Sunday when they take on old rivals Slaughtneil in the Ulster semi-final at Dunsilly at 1pm. The Shamrocks and the Emmett’s have crossed paths many times over the years with the Derry champions leading the race between the two sides, though it was the Shamrocks who came out on top last season when the sides met in the Ulster final in Newry. Before that the Emmet’s won six in a row, a few of them really close it has to be said, but the Shamrocks could not get a break in many of the games. Loughgiel were good in many of those meetings but the Derry champions were always that bit better.

Going into Sunday the question is will the Shamrocks two brightest stars be fit to compete in the game. Rosin McCormick has been going through a rough time with injuries for more than a year now. She did not start last week in the Antrim senior final against Ballycastle but made an instant impression when introduced as a sub with ten minutes to play, scoring a brilliant individual goal to swing the game back in the Shamrocks favour after Ballycastle had clawed their way back from six down to close within a point. Caitrin Dobbin, ended up top scorer in the match with 2-2, despite going off injured for a good part of the game.

Just seven days since that game there must be serious doubts about the fitness of the Shamrocks brightest stars and for the Antrim champions to overcome Sunday’s opponents it is vital that at least one of them is fit to play. If they are fit to compete I have no doubt they can retain their Ulster title, but without them the Shamrocks will be really up against it.

These two clubs have been the dominant forces in Ulster Camogie for almost a decade now, and this will be their ninth final meeting in a row, and add to that two replays and you can see they are very familiar with each other.

One worrying aspect about Loughgiel’s run this season it that Sunday’s game with the third week in a row they have faced a tough game. Last week they were pushed hard by Ballycastle for long periods and the previous week they had another hard game against Cushendall in the Antrim semi-final. Considering the length of time the round robin section of the championship took to play it doesn’t really make sense that a team is left in this position, facing their toughest opponents on the back of two really hard games.

Earlier in the week the plan was to play the game in Fr Healy Park, Loughgiel but with conditions like they are at this time of the year that was never really a sensible option. Dunsilly is now the venue, which will mean they are playing on a much better surface which will suit both team much better.

Let’s hope the recent upturn in the weather continues for another few days and we get a chance to see these two great teams at their best on Sunday.