Meabh Cahalane preparing for another Croke Park battle

By Cian O'Connell

"There is huge competition in the panel," Meabh Cahalane explains when asked to identify some of the chief reasons for Cork's consistency in camogie.

Another Glen Dimplex All-Ireland decider against Galway beckons at Croke Park. The depth is key according to Cahalane. "That just means every training session has huge intensity," she adds.

"You want to earn your spot on the team, night in, night out. It means you've to be performing in training. It leads to us being such a strong squad, that you can trust anyone to do a job for you."

Delegation matters. "The management leave it as a real player led set-up," Cahalane says. "We know ourselves what it takes to get to an All-Ireland final, to get over the line. It is going to take a huge performance on Sunday to get over the line, and we're under no illusions.

"Hopefully we've prepared well, and can put ourselves in a position that with a couple of minutes to go to be within a grasp of getting over the line and getting that cup in our hands."

Tradition counts and it is vital that the next crop of players to represent Cork are taught about the values. "We've had great coaches in Cork camogie, but once you cross that white line it is up to you as a player to do your job and do what is asked of you," Cahalane remarks.

"So, the previous generation of players probably passed that on to us. Hopefully, we're passing that leadership role on to the younger players, the likes of Saoirse McCarthy, Laura Hayes, and Sorcha McCartan have grown into leaders in the set-up.

"Then, you've the likes of Orla Cahalane, Meabh Murphy, and Aoife Healy, who're huge players for us, too."

The fact that emerging talent are contributing to the Cork provides a further source of encouragement. "With Cork camogie, we're lucky enough, that it has been a conveyor belt for good camogie players over the last number of years with underage success being a huge factor in that," Cahalane says.

"We will need everyone and more, as we saw the last day, the impact from the bench, we will need that again on Sunday. Hopefully, everyone can do their job, to help us get over the line.

"It was one of our goals at the start of the year, to get back to Croke Park, to get back to another All-Ireland final.

"Thankfully, the year has gone well so far for us, and we've put ourselves in a position to be in Croke Park."

Undoubtedly, there is a commitment involved in playing at the highest level, but there is fun and joy, too. "That is the main reason you play camogie, it is the main reason as a young girl that you start out playing," Cahalane replies.

"You enjoy it so much. You'll stay playing camogie, stay at it, as long as you enjoy it. For the last couple of years with Cork, we've been fortunate that it has been hugely enjoyable.

"There is a great group of players, we're all really good friends. We love spending time together, whether that is on the field training or off the field meeting up.

"We're lucky in that sense, there is such a mix of experienced girls, who've been there for many years, and younger players, who've come into the squad."

Friendships have been forged. "There is a great bond," Cahalane adds. "I think you can see that on the field, we're all best friends. We do the best for one another, that enjoyment piece is definitely there for us.

"That leads into where we're willing to put our backs to the wall for each other. Hopefully, on Sunday, because it is going to be a huge battle, we will need everyone to be willing to battle for one another. Having that bond and friendship helps."