Sportstalk’s Ger Kinane previews this weekend’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate and Junior Camogie semi-finals.

Intermediate

Tipperary v Down

This game in Kinnegad at 1.15 and expect people to get back to be in Semple Stadium to prepare for the senior game. I don’t think it’s ideal. It’s very unfair. It’s also unfair on Tipp supporters; you are splitting the support again. I fancy Tipperary in this game. I’ve been very impressed with their Intermediate team so far this year. They have a lovely mix of experience and youth.

Down are here on merit. It was a very tough group they came out of. They needed a late comeback in the final group game against Laois.

I fancy Tipp. I wouldn’t have fancied them at the start of the year because I think it’s very hard for any county to have two teams competing at the top level. Tipp to beat Down in a close encounter.

Cork v Galway

Cork players have to travel to Nenagh and then Thurles but it’s not too bad. I fancy Cork in this one. In their last game Galway didn’t just get the score they wanted but were defeated by Kilkenny. I was very surprised seeing as Kilkenny were gone out of it and there was so much to play for.

They are going into this game after a loss to Kilkenny. I just fancy Cork. They were beaten by Meath in the All-Ireland Intermediate Final last year and were beaten by Kilkenny the year before. So they are back again this year in a semi-final.

I fancy Cork to get over Galway and get back to an Intermediate Final.

Junior

Kerry v Roscommon

Roscommon finished second in their group; they beat Armagh in the final game which was a crucial game for the sides to finish second.

Kerry topped their group. It was an interesting group the way results went. There was no team that won all their games. It’s Kerry’s first team and they will be strong and will be looking to win a Junior All-Ireland this year as a reward for all the work they have done down there for Kerry camogie.

Similarly a lot of work being down in Roscommon to develop camogie. To win a Junior All-Ireland would be the pinnacle of Roscommon camogie.

I think Kerry are a little bit ahead of Roscommon at the moment. Kerry are better prepared, they had three close games and I fancy them.

Dublin v Offaly

Dublin lost the All-Ireland Junior Final last year to Westmeath and looking to go one step further but in their way in the semi-final is Offaly.

It would be great progression for Offaly if they got to an All-Ireland Final. I wasn’t expecting them to get to an All-Ireland semi-final. There’s a very good club scene in Offaly camogie. They are up against a strong Dublin team who would have the bulk of the team that lost to Westmeath last year.

I pick Dublin to beat Offaly on Saturday and get back to an All-Ireland Final.