The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘Just a sense of relief’ says Clan captain Liz
MORE than any player, Clanmaurice full-back and captain Liz Houlihan would have been incredibly relieved when Jessica Fitzell produced her late moment of magic in the drawn game to ensure that the Kerry and Munster champions would get a second chance at finally getting their hands on the Phil McBride cup.
Houlihan was the player who was very harshly deemed to have fouled Erin Core in the first minute of stoppage time, enabling Pamela Greville to fire over a free that looked for all the world as if it might have been a match winner. That was until Fitzell saved the day, and ensured that it was all smiles in the camp when they met up the night after and set about preparing for the replay.
“We were very upbeat,” said Houlihan afterwards.
“We met Monday night, a gang of us for a recovery session, so we were very upbeat, very happy to have a second chance at it today. We planned again to meet again on Wednesday, hurled a bit, then Friday night again, a meeting, small warm up, and yeah we just prepped again like we’d always prep for a final.”
All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Brendan Cummins came along on the Friday night to help them slay any remaining mental demons, something the players clearly appreciated.
“We were delighted to get Brendan out and give us a few words, great words now of wisdom from Brendan. It really set us up, I suppose. It got into a few of our heads, so it was great to have him out and give us a few words.”
And as for her feelings after the final whistle, with the cup still in her hand as she spoke?
“Just a sense of relief. You’re still focused, it takes time to wind down. Once you’re on top you need to keep that momentum going, hooking, blocking, putting pressure on the puck-outs. No, you never stop until the final whistle because you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The standard practice at this juncture is to ask what it’s like to win with your club, as opposed to a county team. That works a little differently here, where it’s one and the same – only the colours of the jerseys change. Houlihan feels that this makes the group all the more closely-knit, since this is effectively a year-round commitment.
“It’s amazing. They’re amazing. I can’t emphasise how brilliant this bunch of girls is. The commitment they give all through the year, and the last few years. Think of the family events and everything you have to leave, to go and put camogie first, and every one of them did that.
“The reward was this year, an amazing year for Kerry Camogie. We’re hoping it will boost camogie within Kerry and grow the game, to show young girls what can be achieved. We have Ballyduff starting out this year, they had a preregistration there last weekend.
“It is definitely growing in the county, and you can see there today all the supporters, all the young ones around, it’s great for them. It’s great for them to see you know there is hope in lifting a trophy like that for your club. It’s brilliant.”
And her thoughts on 2020? “Well I say every year I’m going to retire, but ah sure, the bug comes back. If there’s nothing else to do in the few evenings a week, you’re better off playing camogie.”