Pictures: Cork fans get ready to roar on camogie sides

As anticipation builds ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland camogie finals, a number of club events have taken place across Cork wishing the ladies’ teams the best of luck in their upcoming matches.

Playing this Sunday, in the first match of the day featuring a Cork team at Croke Park against Kilkenny, the ladies’ intermediate team is buzzing with excitement to “set the tone” of the day.

With meet-and-greets, video send-offs, and plenty of photo opportunities — supporters, friends, and family members flocked to their local GAA grounds to take part in this week’s build-up festivities, including communities at Aghabullogue, Sarsfields, St Finbarr’s, and Brian Dillons.

Speaking to The Echo, Sarsfields GAA Club member and half-forward, Lucy Allen said: “We’re really excited.

“I think especially as it’s come into the final week, the excitement is really building, you can feel it at training, going down, everyone’s looking forward to it. It’s brilliant to see the young kids asking for autographs and pictures, we get a real kick out of that.

“Having the seniors and intermediates there is really special, we’re looking forward to having a big crowd and looking forward to being a part of that day as well.

“The seniors are a huge inspiration for us, knowing that they’ll be playing afterwards and that we can play ahead of them and on the same pitch, it’s great.”

With trains and buses booked out around the county, a flurry of red and white is expected in the stands at Croke Park, to sing, cheer and support our finest players.

Intermediate team captain and centre forward Lauren Homan of Brian Dillons GAA club said: “We’re obviously really looking forward to it. You just have to enjoy it, enjoy the build-up, enjoy the excitement, enjoy signing the kids’ jerseys, because that all comes with it.

“The preparations are done, it’s just time to focus now.

“We are confident, we believe in ourselves and we’re backing ourselves. We’re backing the seniors all the way too and we hope they’re backing us as well. We’re buzzing, so hopefully we can just set the tone for them by winning the first game, and that will drive them on even more to get it over the line.”

Further backing this sentiment, corner-back and local Aghabullogue GAA club member Aoife Barrett said: “I’m actually feeling great. I know a lot of people are nervous, which is fair enough, it’s a final in Croke Park, anyone would be, but I’m more looking forward to it.

“I feel like we do have a great chance of coming through, just as much as anyone else would have, so I’m just really excited for us.

“I think we’re properly prepared for it,” she added.