Lismore and Liatroim Fontenoys do battle to see who plays at Croke Park

Lismore and Liatroim Fontenoys Camogie Clubs will attempt to play for the second time in a week on Sunday afternoon to see who will play Ballyhale Shamrocks in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Final at Croke Park on March 2.

Originally fixed for last Sunday in Kinnegad, the game was called off on Friday last due to an unplayable pitch. The game was re-fixed for the same venue earlier this week but has since been transferred to the Crettyard Club grounds in Laois. The game has a 2pm start.

The Down side are no strangers to competing in the All-Ireland series, having claimed back to back junior titles in 2004 and 2005.

Lismore too are no strangers to competing at such a level. This Sunday’s game will be their third time reaching an All-Ireland semi final, and they will be hoping to make it third time lucky, after they lost their two previous semi final clashes.

The Down side played their last competitive game back in October when they won the Ulster Final, beating Tyrone side Eglish in the final.

Lismore’s last competitive game was more recently winning the Munster Final a few weeks later, coming out on top against Clare side Newmarket-on-Fergus after a replay in Latten Cullen.

Heading into the game this Sunday, the Co Down side will have their homework done on Lismore and have picked out who they fell are Lismore’s most dangerous players to their hopes of a March 2^nd game in Croke Park.

Liatroim Fontenoys have shown throughout the Championship to date that they have a never-say-die attitude which has seen them through in both the county and provincial finals.

The side’s team is built around a solid defence, Catriona McCrickard, Ciara McGovern, Elaine McCrickard, Grainne O’Higgins as well as team captain Lisa McAliskey who is likely to start at centre back with Emma McCormick and Kelly O’Higgins in the middle of the field are full of energy and drive.

In attack the Ulster Champions have a blend of youth and experience.  Dearbhla Magee is both a great athlete and striker of the ball and will have to be carefully watched by the Lismore defence.  Others that have impressed for the Northern side in the championship to date include Aimee McAleenan, Shileen McDonald and possibly their jewel in the crown Karen McMullan who causes lots of trouble to opposition defences with hit roaming style of play and accurate shooting one in control of the ball.

Like Liatroim, Lismore have a number of inter-county players in their team. Aisling O’Brien between the posts is on top of her game all year, playing a vital roll getting her side to this stage of the competition with a string of top quality saves in a number of her side’s biggest games.

In defence, Marie Russell and Shona Curran are inter county players while at the other end of the field Nicola Morrissey, Ruth Geoghegan, Johanna Houlihan and Laura Buckley were also involved with the Waterford Intermediate team in 2013 and will be a test the Fontenoys defence.

Others that have impressed along the way for Lismore include Shauna and Sandra Prendergast, Aoife Hannon, Sinead Bennett, Caitriona McGlone and Sarah Coughlan.

Since winning their respective provincial finals, both sides have prepared by getting some challenge games.

The Ulster side have played the Ulster Senior Club Champions Eoghan Rua and also played college sides Jordanstown and Queens.

Lismore for their part have played a number of challenge games against opposition from Cork and will be well prepared for this game.

Both sides have the strength and fitness to cope with the heavy conditions. Both teams are skilful outfits, but it is the team that will show the most determination and desire that will claim a spot in the All-Ireland Final as conditions will possibly mean that good hurling will not necessarily win the game.  

Lismore Panel; Rachel Knowles, Aisling O’Brien, Shona Curran, Shauna Kiernan, Shauna Prendergast, Jennifer Kingston, Aoife Hannon, Aoife Houlihan, Nicola Morrissey, Marie Russell, Sarah Russell, Sandra Prendergast, Niamh Molumphy, Sinead Bennett, Sinead Walsh, Sarah Geoghegan, Laura Buckley Johanna Houlihan, Sarah Coughlan Ruth Geoghegan, Caithriona  McGlone, Shauna  Fennessy, Ber O’Keeffe,

Liatroim Fontenoys Panel: Caitriona McCrickard, Noleen O’Higgins, Ciara McGovern, Deirdre McCabe, Grainne O’Higgins, Lisa McAliskey, Elaine McCrickard, Kelly O’Higgins, Emma McCormick, Dearbhla Magee, Aimee McAleenan, Grainne Kelly, Shileen McDonald, Karen McMullan, Sinead O’Prey, Laura Doyle, Janine Kelly, Caitlin McCartan, Michelle McAleenan, Cara McMullan, Aislinn Brown, Christine Brown, Annette McCormick, Elaine Kelly, Lauren Cassidy, Orla McCormick, Roisin Cunningham.