By Eanna O’Reilly

THE Galway senior camogie team get their championship campaign underway on Saturday with a trip to Parnell Park to face Dublin (2 pm).

The Tribeswomen will play five group matches this summer and have another trip away to Wexford on June 1. Two home fixtures follow against Down (June 8), and Clare (June 22), before a trip to Cork to face the All-Ireland champions on June 29.

Five matches in six weeks will be a challenging schedule for a Galway side who haven’t played a competitive game since their league final defeat to Tipperary in April. Cathal Murray’s charges will hope to hit the ground running against a Dublin side which won the division 1B league final against Wexford earlier this season.

A last minute goal from Grace O’Shea snatched the victory for Dublin as they emerged winners on a 2-10 to 2-8 scoreline. Bill McCormack’s side have a number of quality players in their ranks, including team captain Aisling Maher (St. Vincent’s), Aisling O’Neill (Castleknock), Kerrie Finnegan (Faughs) and Orla Gray (Na Fianna).

Galway’s league campaign ended on a disappointing note with a one point defeat to Tipperary at Croke Park, ending their hopes of a third league title in a row. A cruciate ligament injury to defender Siobhán Gardiner was also a blow, while Siobhán McGrath is another loss to the panel since the end of the league.

The Tribeswomen will aim to build momentum in this year’s championship, starting with their trip to Parnell Park this weekend. One player who will have a major impact on Galway’s hopes this season is team captain Róisín Black.

The 25-year-old defender from the Oranmore-Maree club is looking forward to the onset of this year’s championship on Saturday. Having been a key player in recent years, and winning her first All-Star award last year, Black was delighted to be awarded the captaincy at the beginning of the season. It’s something the Galway full back certainly doesn’t take for granted.

Pictured: New Galway senior camogie captain Roisín Black who is looking forward to the championship season ahead, starting away to Dublin at Parnell Park on Saturday.