By Cian O'Connell

“There is a brilliant atmosphere in the camp and around the county in general,” Keeley Corbett Barry says ahead of Waterford’s first appearance in an All-Ireland Senior Camogie decider since 1945.

In recent years signs of progress had been evident; progress was being made. Now a decider against Cork at Croke Park beckons for Waterford.

“We were knocking around the quarter-finals for a few years, then we finally got past that step last year,” Corbett Barry reflects.

“To be in a semi-final it was just a huge lift for us, it instilled a lot of belief and confidence within the team. That really has showed this year, we have qualified for the All-Ireland. We are ready for it now.”

Corbett Barry highlights the efforts of underage teams in Waterford, while the importance of constantly developing is another key factor. “We are just a very hard working bunch,” she says. “We always regroup every year, we keep trying to build.

“Looking at the underage set-up there is a lot of work being done there. Our minors playing in an All-Ireland Final this year was massive for us. We have players constantly making our panel stronger every year which is great.”

This is unfamiliar territory for the Waterford panel, but there is a real sense of excitement. “We are going to embrace the hype, there is a massive atmosphere around the county with a lot of support coming from people,” Corbett Barry says.

“It is brilliant, but at the end of the day too it is another game. We have to go out to perform on the day, to work hard and hopefully we will get over the line.”

The victory over Tipperary in the penultimate round illustrated Waterford’s ability. “You are thinking about the days when you are training in pre-season on the dirty winter days,” she adds.

“It all comes down to just how much you want to represent your county, how much an honour it is to get to play on days like last Saturday week.

“It was an All-Ireland semi-final, a lot of teams wish they could be in that position. We really embraced it, we went it to give it our all, we will do the same next Sunday when we play Cork in the final.”

A blend of emerging and established players have blended together nicely for Waterford. “There is a lot of experience within the team,” Corbett Barry remarks.

“You then have younger girls coming into the panel throwing their hand up, competing for a spot. It is brilliant to see. I think one thing about us is we are a very tight group, we are the best of friends.

“That bond is something we love having. Winning these games means that bit extra when you are playing with girls, who are basically your family at this stage. It is a brilliant atmosphere, what we have in our camp at the minute.

“You are playing with your best friends, when we are out there we are doing it for each other. We are going to die on our feet for each other.”

Spirit and skill has brought Waterford into an All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final once again.