Tipperary hold the aces

CAMOGIE: All-Ireland champions Tipperary are hoping to make it to Croke Park for a sixth consecutive All-Ireland final but first they must overcome Wexford in tomorrow's semi-final while Galway meet Cork in the other semi-final, both matches at Nowlan Park.

For the first time the two games will be televised live.

Wexford, who have not appeared in a senior All-Ireland final since 1994, are the most improved side this year and met Tipperary in this year's league final, won by the latter.

Wexford have excellent players in half back Áine Codd and centre back and captain Mary Leacy but the champions can call on 11 player from their first senior victory, in 1999.

Determined to revive Wexford, manager Aidan Breen brought in physical trainer Michael Murphy jnr this year.

Tipperary have dropped midfielder Paula Bulfin in favour of Philly Fogarty, who missed most of the league as she was out of the country. Their half-back line of Sinéad Nealon, Ciara Gaynor and Therese Brophy is always threatening, with Gaynor in particular often the instigator of attacks.

Eimear McDonnell, the 2003 Texaco award winner, and Deirdre Hughes are the only present-day players to make the team of the century.

Wexford have a great full-forward in Michelle Hearne and if she gets a good supply of the ball she will produce scores.

The second semi-final will be a repeat of the 2002 and 2003 semi-finals, both of which Cork won.

Galway will be underdogs but there is an air of excitement in Galway, not least because the minors won the All-Ireland this month, and while they are not expected to overcome the 2002 All-Ireland champions the final score should be different from that in last year's semi-final.

Both sides have had retirements; Cork full back Denise Cronin hung up her boots, as did forward Fióna O'Driscoll. They have brought in goalkeeper Aoife Murray, who replaces Ger Casey.

Galway forward Sharon Glynn has retired, as has goalkeeper Louise Curry, her place taken by Susan Earner who was on last year's winning junior team. Forward Therese Maher is unlikely to start due to a finger injury.

GALWAY: S Earner; M Carr, S Cahalan, L Flynn; L Lally, A Kelly, S Keane; A Lynskey, C Glennon; O Kilkenny, B Hanny, Á Hilary; L Kavanagh, AM Hayes, C Kelly.

CORK: A Murray; J O'Callaghan, R Holland, S Dunlea; P O'Connor, M O'Connor, R Buckley; G O'Connor, V Harris; R Moloney, E Dillon, J O'Leary; E Burke, E Watson, C Desmond.

TIPPERARY: J Delaney; S Kelly, Ú O'Dwyer, J Kirwan; S Nealon, C Gaynor, T Brophy; A McDermott, P Fogarty; N Kennedy, E Hayden, C Grogan; E McDonnell, D Hughes, J Horan.

WEXFORD: M Darcy; A Moran, C O'Loughlin, C O'Connor; R Breen, M Leacy, Á Codd; C Murphy, K Kelly; O Hernon, A O'Connor, M O'Leary; Ú Leacy, M Hearne, L Holohan.

FIXTURES

TOMORROW: Senior championship semi-finals: Cork v Galway, Nowlan Park, 1.0, E Browne (Tipperary); Wexford v Tipperary, Nowlan Park, 2.25, Ú Kearney (Armagh).

SUNDAY: Intermediate championship first round: Derry v Antrim, Ballerin, Garvagh, 3.0. Leinster under-18 championship: Offaly v Kildare, Kinnitty, 2.0.