Cats show their
Diarmuid Sheehan reflects on last Sunday’s All Ireland camogie final defeat for the Rebels at the hands of a rejuvenated Kilkenny
STANDING in the Croke Park as the senior teams fist emerged from the tunnel before the All Ireland Final there was a sense that Cork were going to be up against it.
Kilkenny may have come into the game without the national crown in over two decades, but for some reason there was an air that this would be there year. It didn’t matter that Cork were the holders, nor that they were going for three in-a-row.
On this day, after seeing the intermediates just lose by the minimum there seemed to be something at play.
Roll on the national anthem, meeting the president, a bunch of pasty skinned drummers dressed in leather and tartan whacking their big drums as if attempting to find the breaking point for all ears in the vicinity and a quick trot around the park after the Artane Boys Band and still that sinking still feeling lingered – a feeling that wasn’t helped by the way the Cats came out of their box. The handshakes didn’t even go Cork’s way.
Cork were on the back foot right from the off as Kilkenny looked up for this one. Kilkenny hassled and harried and hit the first two points and all those pre game premonitions seemed to be coming to pass. Cork struggled to keep their opponents out at the back but credit to them they held the line well.
A brace of points from Orla Cotter looked to settle the nerves and all in red looked to be easing into the game. Cork even led by four to three by minute twelve, but again the cats showed they came to play and play hard.
Kilkenny stepped things up a gear as Cork struggled in the middle third to get their hands on the ball. Kilkenny again pushed clear to lead by three as the first third of this one came to an end.
If Briege Corkery and Rena Buckley were going to get their hands on All Ireland number seventeen they were going to have to work for it, of that there was little doubt in the opening 20 minutes.
The game stuttered along in the opening 30 as a strong breeze and some attention seeking injuries did their best to