Editorial: Rebels ready to roar on the double at Croker

Trains are booked and buses are heading from all parts of the city and county to Dublin this Sunday, August 11.

The Rebel army are on the march to Croke Park as the senior and intermediate camogie sides bid for All-Ireland glory. The intermediate game throws in at 3pm and the senior one at 5.15pm.

The excitement has been building across Leeside over the last few weeks since both qualified for their respective finals, with clubs hosting meet and greet sessions as young, and not so young, fans got the opportunity to meet their heroes.

The flags and signs are out and the level of support for both teams has grown by the day.

Have no doubt it will be a sea of red at Croker as supporters are travelling in their thousands to hopefully see two Cork captains lift cups.

These players are role models for young people around Cork, whether they play camogie or not. Their dedication is second to none and Cork is one of only 2-3 counties that is capable of winning both cups in the one year.

We Rebels are hoping to make it a treble double, having previously won the double in 2006 and 2018.

2006 was the inaugural year of the Intermediate championship, having replaced the Senior B competition.

And that side will be hoping to bring the cup home as it was donated by Jack McGrath from Crosshaven, a member of the Carrigaline GAA Club.

Cork also won the double in 2018, but in 2022 were on the losing side in both competitions so some involved tomorrow will be well aware of the joy of winning and the agony of losing.

Huge credit is due to intermediate manager Donie Daly, his selectors, backroom team and of course the players, as it’s not easy to reach both finals in the one season.

He knows all about winning as he guided Cork to All-Ireland U16 success last year and will be hoping for more glory tomorrow.

Likewise senior manager Ger Manley was there last year as one of the selectors when the Cork senior side put two years of heartbreak behind them to see Amy O’Connor lift the O’Duffy Cup.

So the intermediate side will be hoping to lick the Cats and the senior side the Tribeswomen and give the Rebel county a massive boost after their loss to Clare in the men’s hurling decider.

It’s far from easy to win one and even tougher to win both, but with the Rebel roar from supporters all around Croker we all hope it will be a double celebration on Sunday and a rousing return to Leeside on Monday night!