The countdown is officially on to this year’s AIB All-Ireland Camogie Club Championships and this Sunday afternoon will see two cracking games of camogie played out on the hallowed grounds of Croke Park.
In the senior final, Mullagh (Galway) will take on Oulart the Ballagh (Wexford) in a hugely-anticipated clash between the two sides.
Speaking to Her.ie ahead of the big day, Oulart the Ballagh’s Karen Atkinson stated that her team are preparing well and focusing ahead of Sunday.
“There’s been a busy lead in to it. The semi-final was put back for us by a week due to the weather so we had just three weeks to prepare but we’re delighted to be here,” she said.
“We’ve had a good few practice matches under our belt, a good few training sessions, so it’s all about sharpness and quickness at this stage.
“A lot of our girls have played in Croke Park before, but playing there with your club is completely different. Girls are going to be very nervous as it’s a massive occasion for you, your club, your family and the community,” she continued.
“There’s not much you can do mentally to prepare, except work your own mental routine – you know what you do before any big match, what you do the day of a game and the important thing is to stick to that and focus on what you know.
“We’re really looking forward to it now, the support at home is gearing up and it’s become a big occasion for everyone. For me, I can’t wait for the warm-up to be over as that’s when you get your nerves out, get your first touch. The first five minutes of the match will be crucial to help us settle.
“We will hopefully go out there and play our game. We’re strong in all areas really – every player is there because they are worth their place and there’s great competitiveness for place which is brilliant.
“We know that Galway is very strong for camogie so we’re not going to take them for granted either, but please God we’ll have a cup coming home with us at the end of it.
Mullagh’s Collete Glennon also spoke ahead of the game, coming off the back of a superb win over Milford, who were hoping for three-in-a-row, in the semi-final.
“It’s great to have it coming up,” she began. “We were not favourites in the semi-final at all, Milford had won the last few All-Ireland finals so we were complete underdogs going in.”
“We had nothing to lose and that’s the way we looked at it,” she reflected. “We went out and hurled and thankfully we got over the line and hopefully, we will do the same this Sunday.
“We’ve a great management system and there’s a lot of experience there too and we all know it’s another 60 minutes so it’s worth just focusing on those 60 minutes and nothing else.
“The support we have is fantastic at home, but we can’t lose sight of what’s ahead of us, we have to stay focused as we don’t want to have any regrets coming out of it,” she continued.
“We’re expecting a huge contest in every area of the pitch. We’re hoping that with hard work and determination that we can match them player for player and if we can do that, it should be a great match.
Meanwhile, in the intermediate final, Lismore (Waterford) will take on Piltown (Kilkenny) in what is set to be a tough and closely-contested affair. Speaking to Her.ie, Lismore’s Shona Curran and Piltown’s Laura Norris were both looking forward to the game.
“We’re really excited now for the match it’s a great achievement for the club,” Laura said. “We haven’t got past the Intermediate county final since 2003 so everyone’s really excited.
“All the local people are getting behind us and banners and posters are up, the primary schools are all involved and everyone is really looking forward to it,” she continued.
“I was in Croke Park during the summer with the Kilkenny Intermediates so it’s great to have had one big day behind you and there are a few of us on the team with that experience such as Katie Powers and Karen Duggan and a few of the girls from seven-a-side as well so hopefully that’ll stand to us.
“I’m looking forward to the throw-in and the first five minutes where we will hopefully get all the nerves out by then. We’re going to try and not let the occasion get to us, not build it up too much in our heads,” she said.
“The place and the venue can be overwhelming but hopefully it won’t get to us. At the end of the day, it’s 15 girls against 15, we’re strong all over the field and we work as a team – our first line of defence is the full forward line and the girls are great for remembering that so hopefully we will do it on the day.”
Shona Curran of Lismore – who are reigning Intermediate champions following a tense replay last year – was also looking forward to the occasion.
“Right now, it’s all about getting the small things in order. Everyone is raring to go and hopefully we’ll have a full panel on the day to pick from. We’re just looking forward to it now.
“Since last year, it’s been a long year but it’s flown too. We’ve had three younger girls come up from under 16 and two new additions as well so that’s freshened things up. We lost a few girls to retirement and that, so there is a new look to the team but it’s great, it’s kept us on our toes.
“It’s not easy to get on the team so when you do get there, you fight hard to keep your place which is fantastic – it’s lent itself to our success this year too.
“Hopefully we can draw on the experiences of last year. The Croke Park element is a major thing, I think that no matter how many times you play there you will never get used to it – even just walking out there – it’s just incredible.
“We will hope to bring it home on the day but Piltown are there as well and it’s all down to the day, those 60 minutes really. Whoever plays the best camogie wins. We’re just hoping that experience and nerves will help us from last year.
“We are two very evenly matched teams looking at it on paper – but they have some very big name players like Katie Powers who would walk on any team in the country, but its 15 against 15 to start with and that’s what we’re about.
“We’ll try to get ourselves right, get our own game plan right and hopefully that will be stronger on the day then Piltown,” she concluded.
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