‘We just take each year as it comes’

CIARA BYRNE knows there is no such thing as a foregone conclusion. She is not naïve enough to think that Tinahely will be handed the trophy for just showing up. She is aware that they will have a fierce battle on their hands but she also knows that they’re ready for it.

“We’d never think anything like that (that we have it won). There’ll always be another team around the corner waiting to knock you out. We wouldn’t get anywhere if we thought like that.”

As you may imagine, being captain of this wonderful group is far from a chore. There is no need for Byrne to spend her evenings trying to keep everything ticking but she also reveals that there is no real magic formula to their success.

“We all get on very well and train hard together. There’s nothing much to it. There’s no secret to it.

We have to put in the hard work like everyone else does.

“It is very easy - there’s never any problems with any of the girls. We all get on so well - we’re like a family. They’re very handy to work with.”

Victory on Saturday will see Tinahely land their fourth title-in-a-row. Jim Gavin’s Dublin recently achieved that feat as they underlined their utter dominance in the men’s ranks. Can Tinahely match that feat in Wicklow?

“We’d never talk about anything like that, we just take each year as it comes.

“It’d be brilliant but we just have to think of it as if it were any other match.”

While some of Tinahely’s stars will be hoping to add a second, third or fourth medal to their collection, for some of the starlets it will be a first time at this level. Byrne is confident that the youngsters will be able to handle the pressure.

“There’s a few of us that have played in these finals but there’s a lot of young girls and it’ll be new to them. I’d say they’ll be grand though, they’re a good bunch of girls and they work well with the rest of us. They’ll be grand.”

Byrne may feel that they’ll acquit themselves well but their opponents – St. Patrick’s – will be hoping that they wilt. Byrne will not be underestimating the Wicklow Town outfit and knows that they’ll be pushed all the way if they want victory.

“They’re a brilliant team. We’ve played them a good few times; well we’ve played them every year obviously. They’re always a strong team and they’re always a hard team when you come up against them.”

Victory on Saturday would mean raising the trophy and a winner’s speech from Byrne.

She may have unleashed the odd nervous titter during her pre-final chat but she hasn’t considered anything but what will happen on the pitch for the time being.

“I haven’t even thought about it yet! I’m just thinking of training and getting myself ready for the game - that’s the most important thing.

“There’s a great buzz around and we’re all training hard and hopefully it all goes to plan.”