Libby up there with the best of Cork dual stars

Cork has been lucky to have had many top-class dual camogie and ladies’ football stars.

Names like Rena Buckley, Briege Corkery, Angela Walsh, and Mary O’Connor would immediately spring to mind, for all they did on and off the field to promote both codes.

Compared to the men, one could argue that they never get the recognition their exploits deserve.

In recent years, others, like Hannah Looney and Meabh Cahalane, were also outstanding for both codes, with the latter now opting to play camogie only. Aoife Healy is another playing both codes and even though still young, she is already showing what a vital player she will be to both camps.

Over the last number of years, fixture clashes made it difficult for dual stars and it’s easy to see why some have opted for either camogie or ladies’ football.

Thankfully, at least in the league, anyway, that seems to have been sorted and there was only one weekend where both sides were in action this season.

A dual star who doesn’t get mentioned too often, or at least doesn’t get the headlines like others is Libby Coppinger.

Yet ask any Cork manager over the last number of years and they will tell you Libby’s value to both teams.

When the greats of both games are talked about in future years, Libby deserves to be up there with the best of them.

The camogie full-back has been a key player since she burst onto the senior scene in 2016 when she came on as a sub in the All-Ireland final.

Since then, Libby has become one of the first names any manager writes on his team sheet, game after game.

A model of consistency, she never complains and just gets on with it and never lets her side down.

In Cork’s league campaign this year, her direct opponents scored 2-7, with four of those points from frees. One of the goals was a deflection off the forward, who knew little or nothing about it. For any full-back, that is a stat they would be happy with.

On the football side, she plays in attack and, last season, hit 5-12 for Cork, again a stat any forward would take.

Libby currently has three senior camogie All-Ireland medals, as well as Munster championship titles in both codes.

Her dedication to both was shown last June. In the afternoon, the Rebels played Down in an important camogie game in Cork, which they won.

But instead of staying around to celebrate, Libby, along with Healy, got straight into a car and drove to Galway, as the footballers were playing in the All-Ireland round-robin stages.

Libby came on in the second half to play her part for the Rebels. Healy didn’t feature that day.

She has been recognised with All-Star awards in 2022 and 2023 in camogie.

Players like the St Colum’s star are few and far between, ones who aren’t bothered by the limelight, but who never let you down.

Libby is a true Cork star and deserves more recognition for her dedication to both camps over the last eight years or so.