Aoife: We're expecting another battle on Saturday

St Finbarr’s senior camogie side will head to FBD Semple Stadium next Saturday as they take on De La Salle from Waterford in the AIB Munster senior championship final.

It’s unfamiliar turf for this side as they have never been in a Munster final before and all are looking forward to the occasion.

One of the players they will look to in defence is Aoife O’Neill.

The teak tough defender has been in superb form all season for her club and despite a few injury setbacks along the way is fighting fit and can’t wait for Saturday.

She played a major part for the ’Barr’s in their win over Newcastle West in the semi-final, where it took not alone extra-time, but another 10 minutes beyond that of extra extra-time to see her side reach the decider.

“We hoped to get to the Munster final anyway and keep going and we were so happy to get over the like against Newcastle West,” said Aoife, “it was a real battle the last day and they are an unbelievable side, they’re so physical.

“As you saw it was to the wire between extra-time and then extra extra-time to get over them. So we’re looking forward now to the final next Saturday.”

As Aoife said, it was a battle from start to finish, before the ’Barr’s won by three points, but it’s a game that will stand to them. “To be fair, I feel like we learned a lot about ourselves as well in that match, like how we play, and what we were doing wrong and also the things we were doing good.

“So I suppose you know we can build on that. Looking back at it there were times that maybe they looked like they were going to run away with it.

“But I suppose we showed magnificent spirit to take it extra time and then go on and win it.

“I don’t think they scored in extra extra time and we scored three points to win.

“There was a lot of talk between ourselves and we were saying like we really have to dig deep and go to the well for each other. I actually think that it was one of the matches that we really all pulled together and give it a massive push and thank God it paid off.”

Last year the ’Barr’s won the county title for the first time since 2006 and considered anything after that a bonus. But this year there is much more of a focus on the Munster championship amongst the squad and management.

“To be fair, I feel like when we won last year it was unbelievable that we got over the line to win the county and we kind of didn’t know what to expect going into Munster.

“None of has had been there,, so I feel this year there was a way bigger push. We were saying, ‘not a hope are we going to get kicked out in the first round or second round’. We want to go as far as we can and hopefully can go all the way on Saturday.”

In De La Salle they are playing a side packed with stars and Aoife is well aware of the threat they bring in attack at Thurles. “We’re delighted it’s at Thurles, that’s actually massive for us. For camogie to have it there on a great pitch. They have great players in fairness. But I’d back every single one of our backs and forwards to match them. So hopefully it will be a great game and we come out on the right side of the result,” concluded Aoife.