WATCH: Unsuspecting photographer gets a whack on the head during camogie launch

The Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues are here with a bang.

Quite literally. On the weekend of February 18, 26 counties will take to fields all over the country for the return of the little ball and the excitement is palpable. It couldn't not be with these fixtures. Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 2 Saturday February 18th Group 1

• Cork v Dublin
• Kilkenny v Tipperary

Group 2

• Clare v Galway
• Limerick v Meath

Sunday February 19th Group 1

• Waterford v Wexford

Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 2 Saturday February 18th Group 2

• Kildare v Westmeath

Sunday February 19th Group 1

• Carlow v Derry
• Kilkenny v Down
• Wexford v Laois

Group 2

• Antrim v Armagh
• Cork v Galway

Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 3 Saturday February 18th

• Dublin v Roscommon

Sunday February 19th

• Kerry v Tyrone

All three divisions, represented by over 700 players and 22 counties, are preparing to battle it out in the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues. Reigning champions Kilkenny will set out on their campaign to achieve back-to-back titles at home to Tipperary with 26 teams in action across all three divisions on the opening weekend of the 2017 Leagues.

Last year’s runner-up Galway begin their campaign with an away trip to neighbours, Clare. All-Ireland runners-up Cork host a Dublin side under the new management of former All-Ireland winning Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity.

Limerick host Division 1 newcomers Meath, whilst Wexford make the short trip to Waterford to begin their campaign. This year’s Division 1 champions will also lift a newly commissioned Division 1 trophy.

At the launch though, one poor photographer felt the full force of the launch. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/829762742932357122 This is the first year that the Camogie Leagues have had a title sponsor with Littlewoods Ireland, Ireland’s leading online department store, announcing their three-year deal with the Camogie Association in December 2016. At the launch, Littlewoods Ireland announced details of their ‘Style of Play’ campaign which will highlight the skill and style showcased by the players on the pitch, throughout the League. Match highlights from selected feature games will be showcased by both Littlewoods Ireland and the Camogie Association’s digital channels along with a new ‘Style of Play Award’ for the best score in each feature match running right the way through the Division One League campaign. This will be supported by a #StyleOfPlay video series, which will look into the lives of Kilkenny’s Shelly Farrell, Offaly’s Siobhán Flannery, Dublin’s Sarah O’Donovan and Littlewoods Ireland ambassador and four-time All-Ireland winner Anna Geary.