St Finbarr's captain Stephanie Punch: Croke Park experience will stand to us

The scars of battle were evident as St Finbarr’s captain Stephanie Punch spoke to the media after their clash with Athenry at Croke Park.

The Galway side staged a superb last five or six minutes to see the game end as a draw and the sides will have to meet again in early January in the AIB All-Ireland senior club camogie championship.

Late on the Barrs looked like they had done enough to see their first ever All-Ireland camogie title heading to Togher. A late goal from Anna Jordan started the comeback, with Kayla Madden’s point securing the draw to see them meet again on the weekend of January 4-5.

With an icepack strapped to her leg Stephanie said she felt they left a few chances behind them but also credited Athenry for their comeback.

“It was a bit hectic there towards the end, I think we are well aware that we left a couple of chances behind us,” said Stephanie.

“They came back at us and they came back hard. 

I'm just so proud of the team, you know, I think we defended like dogs there at the end as well.

“We could very well be here and talking about us coming in having lost by a point. There was a lot of momentum with them, kind of in the end. But as Brian (O’Sullivan, St Finbarr’s manager) said we have another crack at it in early January. So we'll drive on for the next couple of weeks.”

Despite conceding the last scores there were plenty of positives for the Barrs to take from the game, which Stephanie agreed with.

“I think it took us a few minutes to kind of settle into it, but once we did the nerves were gone and the girls really drove on.

“I thought it was a fantastic display of camogie from both teams. But we’ll take heart from the fact that we were probably on top there for the majority of the game.

“I don't think we’ve done anything easy this year. Extra extra time against Newcastle West and then again against Loughgiel Shamrocks, and our legs are kind of used to going the distance.

“We kind of did laugh and joke about you know there being no extra time today and we didn't think we would need it. As I said we're just happy to have another go at it now in January.”

HEART

Asked if she would have preferred extra time to finish it, Stephanie she wasn’t too sure.

“They had all the momentum there at the end. So, I'm not too sure, to be honest. It would have been great to kind of have it done on the day.

“But look, you know, I think they would have taken huge heart from finishing out with 1-3. But I think it's fair enough that we both have another crack at it in January.

“We've a lot of girls that are experienced here in Croke Park, but we have a lot of people, including myself, that wouldn't be used to these big stadiums and there is always going to be an element of nerves when you're not used to it.

I think we've gotten over kind of that now and we're just looking forward to the next game. 

"We are disappointed in how we finished the game but we will prepare over the next few weeks and be ready to go again.”