Niamh is ready to Rock’

Niamh Rockett knows all about overcoming odds, having been diagnosed with arthritis in her knee and told she could be in a wheelchair by 30 while only 16, and displaced a kneecap at 20. There have been countless surgeries. Yet here she is, closing in on that macabre deadline and still indulging in her greatest passion. it is 12 years since she helped Waterford win the all-ireland premier junior title and they have continued to progress in the meantime, garnering intermediate honours in 2015. Last year, they led Cork entering the final quarter of the senior semi-final. Of course, those last yards to the summit are always the hardest but Rockett isn’t the type of person to be cowed. The split season has been a godsend, with a longer break before returning to inter-county training.

Work

With the split-season meaning she had more time to rest and then get her prehab work done earlier than hitherto, Rockett even managed some pre-season training this year, much to the mirth of the player herself, not to mention her teammates. “i’m always taking the mick, that i’ve three months done with the team and it’s still cold, i’m still wearing leggings. Usually when i’ve three months done, i’m well in the shorts. “Some days are worse than others, if i’ve done too much or with the ground changing but touch wood, i haven’t had any major setbacks apart from one freak bang. “i’ve only got one of them this year and it did swell up really badly but i know what to do when that happens. “i’d be stubborn enough and my leg would need to be hanging off not to go training.”

FOCUS: Niamh Rockett