'Pure grit and heart': Kate Wall hoping for happier return to Croke Park with Cork's St Finbarr's

Michael Bolton

Five months ago, it was heartbreak for Kate Wall and her Cork teammates as they lost the All-Ireland Camogie final to Galway.

In what would have been their third title in a row, it was a narrow defeat for the Rebels.

On Sunday, it will be Tribeswomen once again standing in the way of glory, as St Finbarr's take on Athenry.

With Wall one of the players who has overcome the defeat with her performances, she says the rivalry will not be a factor going into Sunday.

"It might be in the back of some people's minds, but I suppose you wouldn't get caught up with that.

"That was months ago, and we're in the club campaign now, and you kind of have to put your full focus and energy into the club. There was a lot of hurt after that final, as there would be for anyone.

"So, you know, that was parked and then it was just on into the club campaign, and we're really, really lucky that we were able to be in such a fantastic club and get back into a really high standard.

"There was very little drop off. It’s a really, really professional side, and we were able to get straight back into training and focus on the Cork club championship. Look, it's Galway, but I suppose they're Athenry, we’re St Finbarrs. It's different teams. But we're no strangers to each other in Cork Park anyway, that's for sure. "

The story of St Finbarr's season is never knowing when they are beaten.

In the Munster semi-final, late points against Newcastle West took the game from extra-time to extra, extra time, before prevailing.

In the provincial final, they came from behind to get past De La Salle. Remarkably, extra, extra time was required again against Loughgiel Shamrocks to book their place in the All-Ireland final.

"It really did stand to us mentally, probably not physically. To go through that with people, you know, like God, you can't buy that. It's brilliant, it's such grit, it's heart.

"There's no skill involved in winning those kinds of games - it's pure work rate and heart.

"You don’t ever feel beaten, the game is so long. Even though we had a slow start against De La Salle, it only takes a few minutes to turn a game around.

"If we just keep doing what we're good at, we keep doing the simple things, it will turn around for us, and we will get our purple patch."

In a family where sport is such a big part of their lives, the two weekends will be a special time for the Walls.

With Kate in the All-Ireland final on Sunday, her twin brother Philip is the captain of the Kilbrittain junior hurlers.

While Kilbrittain's semi-final is the following weekend, the family were forced to make a decision as to whose game they should attend in the camogie semi-finals.

"I should lie and say that one went to each, but Philip got them all.

"I was the nice twin, and I let them. It happened for our graduation as well. I'm a nurse, and Philip's a teacher, and we had the graduation the same day, so I got mom that day, and he got dad. We're used to being split."