The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry camogie on the rise as Championship looms large
AFTER a somewhat indifferent League campaign, the Kingdom’s camogie standard bearers bounced back to claim the Munster Junior Championship title at the expense of Cork in pretty dramatic circumstances in early May. Since then, they have upped the level of their training in preparation for the upcoming All-Ireland series, which pairs them in a group with Armagh, Clare and Roscommon, with two of these four teams qualifying for a semi-final spot.
The campaign begins in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh this Saturday (2pm) and the mood in the camp was particularly upbeat in Causeway last Friday evening when team manager, Stephen Goggin, and team captain, Aoife Behan, spoke to The Kerryman about the various aspects that has seen them transform their fortunes after a somewhat disappointing season in 2016.
Goggin pointed to a different approach in terms of their preparation this season.
“We felt last year the girls had been going through the motions, they would miss a night, they would come another night. So we sat down with them at the start of the year and we said if we were getting involved, myself and Gary (O’Brien), that we needed a full commitment. We were going back training in November, we were getting into the gym, basically we were going professional about it. We were going training three nights a week, we needed a full turn out, and in fairness to the girls they’ve really done that,” Goggin said.
The National League promised so much at the outset, but required a re-evaluation at the end.
“We were very disappointed after the League. We just sat down after it and we knew we had to change things around. In the Munster Championship they really started to get things together. It was wonderful for the girls. You could see after it that they were delighted. We won by probably not playing our best hurling (in the final) but we worked very hard that day. The semi-final down in Waterford they were absolutely fantastic. I felt Waterford were a good team, and we really opened them up. Against Cork, we didn’t seem to get into our rhythm at all. It was more of a dogfight against Cork. Some days you are going to have that. That day we prevailed and it was great to beat Cork as well,” he said, adding that games against quality opposition have been benificial to the Championship preparations.
“We have played a few challenge games since (Munster final). We played the Tipperary Intermediate team in Killeedy a few weeks back, and that’s how far we have come, they actually rang us for a challenge game. That was an excellent game leading up to Armagh. We played all right that night, and we felt if we could keep up with them we should be able to keep up with Armagh, because Tipperary are a serious camogie county.”
It’s going to be tough against Armagh this weekend, but with two home games to follow the prospect of qualifying for the knock-out stages are encouraging with a full squad now available. “Next Saturday will probably be our toughest game. I think Armagh will be one of the favourites for this Junior All Ireland. If you can beat Armagh I think you will go a long way towards winning an All-Ireland. We are basically looking for a performance against Armagh to see where we are at.
“The two home games, we are really driving on for those games, because if you can get over those two games you are in an All-Ireland semi-final.
“We are going up there with confidence. We went up there last year and they only beat us by three points. We are a more prepared team this year. We are fitter, more physical, so on the day anything is possible. Away games are hard to win. Home games are the ones you would be hoping to get the points. “Everybody is available, a few players went away last year. All of those girls are back. Three of the girls were involved in the Leaving (Certificate), they have finished now, and they are back out there, so we have twenty-four, twenty-five committed girls. That’s what we have and we will move forward with that.” Aoife Behan started her career at a very young age with Crotta, and having experienced success with Cillard in the Feile her career has subsequently flourished with the honour of captaining the Kingdom being a pretty special accolade. “Definitely didn’t expect it,” Behan says of being given the captaincy. “It’s good to be captain. We are really tight, we all know each other really well, so it’s nice.”
Now in her third year playing at this grade the improvement, and the level of preparation, has been gradual but significant.
“Last year we did our best, we just didn’t get the results (but) this year has been better overall. We put in an awful lot more work, started off training in November. Anthony (Fealy) joined us this year with strength and conditioning. We started in the gym, we needed that, and I feel the gym work will bring us on a lot because you need that if you are going up against teams like Armagh, who are physically strong. He has been doing running with us, putting us through our paces, so hopefully that will stand to us.”
Collecting silverware and beating Cork in the process was a huge morale boost, after the disappointing end to the League campaign.
“We started off well in the League, we then lost to Roscommon, we kind of didn’t perform on the day, so that was a disappointing end to the League. We won Munster then, so that gave us back our confidence. It was such a tight game, and any day you beat Cork you will be happy. The Waterford game as well down in Walsh Park, a great team performance that day. It was good to get a win after losing to Roscommon. When we won Munster we took a week break, and when you know what it’s like to win, you get that winning feeling, it’s easier to train so it helped,” Behan says.
“(Progress from the group) will be our aim, to get first or second in the group, to get to the semi-finals. Armagh are in Division Two this year, we are in Division Three. If we don’t win at least we are not out of it. The main thing really is the performance. We know they are a good team, it was a great battle last year. It’s good that we have both Roscommon and Clare at home.”
It’s early days but one always must have ambition and expectation, and while there is a long road to travel the prize of playing in Croke Park is one which will make all of the hard work during the winter nights worthwhile.
“We will give it everything this year,” the team captain insists. “A few will be missing next year, so hopefully it will be worth it. Croke Park, I haven’t been there before, so it’s what’s making us train so hard. Yeah, it would be nice.”