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www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SUMMER 2020 | 13 JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP their five games in Division 3 of the Lidl National League, drawing three of those. They had yet to play Fermanagh, the 2019 Division 4 champions who had won one and lost four of their five games. Wicklow and Fermanagh both had the advantage of operating in a division higher than Carlow, who were unbeaten in Division 4 and with ten points from 12. Carlow, under new manager Mark Keating, have been making steady progress, and this group could have a surprise or two in store. In Group 2, there's 2018 winners Limerick, back in the Junior ranks following last year's relegation from intermediate, and Ulster pair Antrim and Derry. Antrim and Derry had both failed to register a single point between them in Division 4 of the 2020 Lidl National League before play was halted. Limerick were above them in the table – on four points – and the sole game won by the Shannonsiders was a thumping victory over Derry. That doesn't bode well for the Oak Leaf County, who had been leaking heavily at the back. Antrim were conceding big scores too, and both teams will need to tighten up considerably before the Championship gets underway. 2019 was quite a good year for Antrim. They contested the Lidl National League Division 4 Final, won the Ulster Championship, and booked a slot in the All-Ireland semi-finals. Louth eased to victory on that occasion, before winning the title, but Antrim will have learned much from the experience. On all-known form to date in 2020, Limerick and Antrim will both fancy their chances of getting out of this group, to join the two Group 1 qualifiers. But Derry were Finalists in this competition in 2017, and Championship is a whole new ball game. The Antrim-Derry clash will have the very obvious spice of provincial rivalry, while Limerick will be keen to recreate the magic of their 2018 All-Ireland Junior Championship win.