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18 | AUTUMN 2020 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie TG4 INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP "From our experience of losing in 2017 to Tipperary, event though it was horrible to go through, I think the experience that we gained from that really helped to go that extra mile in 2018," said PE teacher Hunter, who made her inter county debut in 2007. "We turned up on the day and the nerves weren't like what they were like the year before. We were used to it, we knew the rigmarole of what had to be done. It wasn't new anymore. "I think it really, really did help us, even though it was the worst feeling to go through on the field. It definitely spurred us on to push forward and get the win in the end. It has to help them in some way, even just the hurt of the whole thing. "Meath have always had such a good squad. Being honest, I thought they'd have won it last year. I really did think they'd have enough especially after having the experience of playing us in the final and having gone through all of that. "Surely they go into this championship as favourites because they have a really strong team and they have the experience of being there on finals day." While Tipperary yo-yoed from Intermediate to Senior, to Intermediate and back to Senior again in the space of four seasons, Tyrone managed to maintain their place in the top tier last season. A stunning win over Donegal in the All-Ireland Series was the shock of the championship, before Cork bettered them in the All-Ireland quarter final. Maintaining that slot as a Senior team in year one is vital for teams with notions of continuing to progress at this level, but with Westmeath – a team with extensive experience as a Senior outfit – now among the contenders at Intermediate, it promises to be a real minefield. "Without a doubt that year in senior helped us. You learn so much from playing teams like Kerry and Donegal in the championship – both on the ball and off the ball," said Lambert. "Our aim was to get back out of Intermediate straight away. We were devastated after losing the relegation battle against Waterford in 2018. "We took that hurt from 2018, being relegated back down after all our hard work in 2017. We had one aim: to get back to Croke Park, and once we got there we were confident we could do the business. "It's the hurt that motivates you. We were determined, we felt we were a Senior team and we wanted to be up there competing against the best in the country. "We knew from playing in the Lidl league that we could compete with them, and that we knew we deserved to be there. That drove us on even more." Tyrone's success in 2018 came under the management of Gerry Moane, and he continues to be in charge of the Ulster outfit as they prepare for the competition. According to Hunter, having that steady and familiar hand is vital for success. "It is a massive step up to Senior, 100 per cent. But I think we showed ourselves well last year. Because we had the same management in place, they have put those measures there for us. "Everything is so well organised, we all know where we are in the squad. Everybody has their place, we are all really close as a team. Meath have that too, they know their jobs. "I think it must be so tough for them. The disappointment will have made them tougher, they'll want it more than anybody. Especially having to wait this long with the break for Covid, they'd have been all fired up to get back at it for the summer, but this break like everyone will have made them even hungrier." In 2018 Murray's Meath was a fresh- faced outfit and their inexperience of the big day probably cost them a little. That day their forward line had an average age of 22.5, and although that average actually dropped to 22 a year later, Lambert reckons they are a toughened outfit that's ready to step up. "We played them in a challenge game this year before the league started and they were absolutely hopping off the ground," she said "They are very physical, they're strong and fit. They have all the elements you need to be a senior team. If they make that step up they'd fit in quite well and compete. They are very young and very eager. "They are such an impressive side: they have some great young players like Emma Duggan and Vikki Wall, Shauna Ennis in the backs is a great player, Stacey Grimes was travelling last year and only came on in the last few minutes. She is a huge addition this year. Their forward line really put it up to us last year and there was always a threat there. "They have a great mixture throughout the team and it will be a massive opportunity for Meath to show what they can do again this year. I have no doubt they'll be well up there at the end of the season." HUNTER ON GROUP 4 Looking at the groups, that Group 4 is a real group of death. Sligo, Kildare, Laois and Clare. That's a real tough group. Sligo have been very unfortunate. Tipp beat them last year in the semi final. We beat them in the semi final in 2018 after extra time and in 2017, and they had lost at that stage the previous year too. I'm sure there is a lot of hurt for them there too. LAMBERT ON THE CONTENDERS Last year we played Clare in the quarter final and they really put it up to us – I think they will be real contenders in Intermediate this year. When they put their minds to it they really gave us a fierce battle. They are ones to watch out for this year, if they have everyone available and playing. They are an extremely talented outfit. Westmeath played well in the league this year, they are building again. They have been a regular in Division 1 league football and have been senior for a good few years, and having that behind them will be significant this year. They'll be a real threat to make an immediate return to senior. You have the likes of Kildare, who have been very impressive. Down are always capable of causing a surprise too. This year everyone is back playing, there is no one away travelling so who knows who'll improve since last year. With everyone at their strongest who knows who'll win it. Intermediate is full of dangers, this year more than ever.