The misty rain that flowed down for the All Ireland intermediate camogie semi-final on Saturday in Semple Stadium didn't stop the ladies from displaying a dash of colour. At different ends along the sideline were long time Kilkenny camogie servant Anne Downey, holder of twelve All Ireland medals with Kilkenny and current manager of Kilkenny intermediate camogie side and Galway long serving official Ann Kearney each edging their team on.

Splash of pink and blue in the rain

The misty rain that flowed down for the All Ireland intermediate camogie semi-final on Saturday in Semple Stadium didn't stop the ladies from displaying a dash of colour. At different ends along the sideline were long time Kilkenny camogie servant Anne Downey, holder of twelve All Ireland medals with Kilkenny and current manager of Kilkenny intermediate camogie side and Galway long serving official Ann Kearney each edging their team on. However both ladies were wearing almost identical pink caps and just to add to the colour National Camogie President Liz Howard was wearing a pink coat and holding a pink umbrella. Not to be out done Galway Camogie manager Stephan Glennon was wearing sprightly blue runners. As they say, pink for a girl, blue for a boy.

Galway girls draw with Kilkenny

Early in the year they played out a draw at 3-8 apiece and on Saturday in the curtain raiser to the All Ireland Under 21 semi final nothing could separate Galway and Kilkenny intermediate camogie sides. The sides will have to meet again on Saturday week at a venue to be arranged, but Galway will feel that this is a game they left behind them. In the opening half Galway led by 1-8 to 1-2, the goal coming from Tara Rutledge. Galway still led by 1-11 to 1-7 at the three quarter stage but Kilkenny finished the stronger and came back to level and only for some superb defensive work in the closing stages, Kilkenny might have stole a winner but the game ended all square at 1-11 each.

Hurling World set for shelves

A new hurling magazine "Hurling World" is set for the shelves in September and is published and edited by Frank Burke. An All-Ireland senior medallist with Galway in 1980, Frank published the best-selling All-Ireland Glory pictorial histories of the All-Ireland senior hurling and football championships. He has also produced and directed DVDs on the history of hurling in a number of counties including Kilkenny, Cork, Tipperary, Galway and Wexford. Hurling World will be published in the first week of each month, retails at €5 and is available for an annual subscription for €50.

Fundraising drive

As camogie does not have any worthwhile income from gates, a huge fundraising drive has been launched by Galway Camogie Board to finance the teams involvement in the All Ireland senior camogie final. Costs of the weekend are the same as the senior hurlers or footballers and the wheels were put in motion immediately after Galway qualified for the final on Sunday evening. With a real chance of success, let's hope the financial support will come in the bid to bring the O'Duffy Cup to Galway for the first time since 1996.

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