Four counties remain in Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship

By Brian Barry

Saturday July 25

Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Finals

Galway vs Kilkenny, 4pm, RTE

The reigning All-Ireland champions were left licking their wounds after a harrowing opening day defeat at home to Cork. A late Ailish O'Reilly goal did little other than polish the 0-18 to 1-8 full-time score.

Cathal Murray's team were off the pace, all over the field that day, but they slowly found their groove with a hard-fought win away to Waterford before dominating Tipperary.

Niamh McPeake and Áine Keane both missed out on 2025 through injury, and their respective returns have undoubtedly bolstered the Tribe attack this summer.

They now head for Thurles, eager to take the next step in their quest to successfully defend the O'Duffy Cup for the first time.

While the seeded teams in Group 1 dominated the limelight in the early stages of the championship, Kilkenny quietly went about their business in Group 2, picking off five consecutive victories.

Sarah Barcoe and Aoife Prendergast terrorised defences throughout May and June, as they boasted an average winning margin of over 10 points per game in the group stages.

That momentum was telling for the Nore-siders in their 2-19 to 1-19 extra-time victory over Waterford two weeks ago, which ended a four-year black-and-amber absence from the semi-finals.

The League and All-Ireland champs are widely fancied, but the Cats will feel they have every chance here.

Cork vs Tipperary, 6pm, RTE

From the moment the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship got underway, Cork moved through the gears. Gone were the worries of a lacklustre league campaign and a first-round Munster Championship exit. The Rebels looked to have their old familiar swagger back.

Saoirse McCarthy, Amy O'Connor and Sorcha McCartan in attack will provide plenty of headaches for the Blue and Gold, while the return of Ashling Thompson from injury is another string to their bow.

Tipperary's semi-final hoodoo is something to behold. The Premier County have not reached the senior decider since 2006, yet have cropped up on the penultimate stage time and time again. Indeed, Saturday evening will be their eighth semi-final in the last nine seasons.

James Heffernan's charges will be hoping they can break the duck on their home field.

Several veterans on the squad know all about semi-final heartache. Perhaps the injection of youth may provide a welcome lack of baggage.

In that regard, look no further than Caoimhe Stakelum. The Thurles Sarsfields star has been a revelation in 2026. With the Leaving Cert out of the way, Stakelum has bolstered the Tipp attack. Her 1-4 contribution earned her the Glen Dimplex Player of the Match award in the quarter-final victory over Clare. She has ably assisted Eimear McGrath - who was her coach during the Ursuline's run to the 2026 All-Ireland Schools final - in attack and the two have shared the scoring burden.

These teams have met three times thus far in 2026, with one win apiece and one draw. Cork's body of work over recent weeks justifies their favourites tag, but expect a close contest.