Cork captain Molly Lynch ready for another All-Ireland challenge as Cork aim for two in a row

The Cork Senior Camogie team brace for another All-Ireland final – their fourth in four years, and now have a chance to make it two in a row with the prospect of the double, as the Intermediates will play Kilkenny prior to it.

It’s a repeat of the 2021 senior final – with Cork playing Galway, a game they lost by three points the last time, but Cork captain Molly Lynch and the rest of the team are focussed on their own game.

“We’ve huge respect for Galway, they've really made us bring our game to the next level,” she says. “So we'll be putting our head down, we’ve a massive challenge on our hands.

“I suppose we're still looking to get one up on them, every time you go out, you want to beat them. But massive respect for them, they’re a great outfit, we'd be under pressure now and we have to rise to the occasion.

“We focus on ourselves and we have our own targets we try and reach every day. We have performed very well, so we are really happy but like we have to bring it to the next level again.” 

Being a second choice goalkeeper is always tough – given you’ve got to be at your best in the case of an emergency, but Lynch is proud to be there in reserve for Amy Lee, who was outstanding in their dominant semi-final victory over Dublin.

“We're like sisters at this stage, we've trained together so long,” Molly explains. “But then no, you have to be so proud of her. It’s a tough position, but if anything happens to her you have to step up to the mark too.

She's been brilliant all year, so you couldn't fault her.

“We’ve done a lot of sports psychology with our sports psychologist Michelle O'Connor. You're clued in for the whole match, you're watching every puckout. You’re keeping an eye on it and you've done it in training, too, so you know it's in the bank.

“[You’re] watching the whole time and just paying attention, that’s key to it. You can't really sit back and watch the match, you’re paying really close attention to what's going on.” 

While last year’s Senior Camogie title was Cork’s first since 2018, Lynch had to cut her celebrations short to compete in the All-Ireland Camogie Poc Fada Championship, which she won for a third year in a row.

“I had to make the decision a couple of weeks out, there was no guarantee we were going to get to all Ireland final. I suppose that is their All-Ireland final.

“It's so important, like my two medals are identical. The only difference is the Cork one is engraved with Corcaigh on the back, so it's really important to go up to that and give it a shot, but an amazing competition.

“So it cut the celebrations short, I got a couple of hours sleep and went up,” she remarks. “I think a few of them were a bit shocked and I wasn't there the following morning, but I’m so glad I did, it was a really great day.

PRIDE

Captaining your county to an All-Ireland title is what every player dreams of – and Lynch has the chance to do that this weekend against Galway.

It's such an honour. They're an amazing group of players.

“I suppose I grew up looking up to the likes of Ashling Thompson and Laura Tracy, so it's an honour to be playing with them.

“They're an amazing bunch of players, I said it before, it's like having thirty sisters and so we have a great spirit, it’s a really great group.