Saoirse McCarthy: We never take getting to an All-Ireland final for granted

When it comes to stars in camogie they don’t come much better than Cork’s Saoirse McCarthy.

The Courcey Rovers player has been a mainstay of the senior side now for a number of years and the sight of her at full pace bearing down on goal is one that defenders fear.

It was no surprise to see Saoirse pick up the Player of the Game award in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final against Dublin.

Now they face Galway in the final on Sunday at Croke Park, throw-in 5.15pm, something that she doesn’t take for granted.

“We set out every year to try and get back to the All-Ireland final. I think this is our fourth one in a row, but we never take it for granted,” said Saoirse.

“We strive to get there every year and then we can enjoy the couple of weeks beforehand, the build-up and get ready for the match.”

Cork won last year but suffered defeats the previous two seasons, so will be looking to make it two in a row on Sunday as well as two in four years.

Saoirse said that it’s a combination of the two that drives them on and that you remember the pain of defeat as well as the win.

“I'd say it's definitely a bit of both, the hurt from a couple of years ago isn't completely vanished yet, and we want to retain our title that we earned last year.

“I suppose every year we look at it differently, as every year is different. A new group of people can be there. So in a one way, you start from scratch but you’re also carrying what you've learned in the past.

“I think this group now won't be the same next year. So every year you want to go, you want to win it and this year is no different.

People talk about back-to-backs or, you know losing and winning but we're not thinking about that. 

"We're literally taking it game by game and the next game is Galway and that's all that matters.”

Last season the competition for places in the squad was intense but this year it has gone up again.

A few players have joined the squad this season and all are helping to drive up the intensity and Saoirse said it’s driving then on in training to either make the team or a place on the bench.

“100% you're fighting every night in training for your place. When you're training, it's like championship, genuinely we play A v B sometimes at training and you couldn't tell which one was which.

“Tonight was one of those nights, players were on fire, everyone is fighting for a position the whole time.

“No one is safe and I think that adds to us as a squad. We're all so close and we know that while we're competitive with each other, we also mind each other and it's a good environment to be in.”

SHOWDOWN

Looking at Galway Saoirse knows and expects another close battle with one of their arch-rivals over the last number of seasons.

Last year Cork defeated the Tribeswomen in the semi-final before going on to beat Waterford in the final. It had been a number of years since Cork defeated Galway and it gave then a huge confidence boost.

But now it’s the other way around and she is well aware Galway will be coming into this game hell-bent on revenge for that defeat.

“We'll do our tactics on Galway and we'll look at them the same way as we do every time we play.

“Obviously there's a lot of history there. They're one of the top dogs the last couple of years and they're a brilliant team and I have no doubt that the game down the Pairc (which Cork won well in group stages) is going to mean absolutely nothing on Sunday.

“They're going to be a different team altogether and we'll just have to rise to the occasion. They know how to win matches and we know, so it should be a good game."