Tipperary can challenge for All-Ireland Camogie title predicts Cáit Devane

Michael Bolton

Former Tipperary camogie player Cait Devane is confident the county will be challenging for the All-Ireland this season.

Last season saw Tipperary defeated in the All-Ireland semi-finals against eventual winners Galway, as the Premier County's wait for a first All-Ireland since 2004 goes on.

A young team who have achieved success at underage levels, Devane is confident they are not far off Cork and Galway, and says the chasing pack are getting closer.

"On paper and on the field, they definitely have teams to be challenging for All-Ireland's every year, but just don't seem to be able to get over the final hurdle every year.

"When you have a group of players that are trying to do what hasn't been done in so long, that is a very hard thing. That possibly does stand in your way.

"You look back at the last couple of semi-finals we have lost, a puck of the ball has literally been the difference between the teams. I don't think this group of players are that far away from an All-Ireland final appearance.

"Sometimes the harder you try at something, and the more effort you put into it, it seems to be the hardest thing to do.

"The Kilkenny, Galway's and Cork's have driven the standards, the rest of us have been chasing for the past couple of years and trying to get the O'Duffy Cup.

"We are closing the gap on them. At the start of the year, there are five or six different counties that definitely have the resources on their hands to beat anybody on a given day."

Having retired from inter-county camogie after a career that began in 2009, life is now different for Devane.

From being the main player for Tipperary on the biggest days to watching in the stands with her family, it is a transition that Devane has had to get used to.

"It definitely has been a transition, I am not going to lie. It wasn't a decision I took lightly.

"I would have loved to have stayed playing forever, unfortunately that's not possible. I am enjoying being on the other side of the white line and supporting the girls.

"My family would have been up and down the country supporting me, and now I am with them supporting Tipp, that is kind of strange.

"I am happy with my decision, I have no regrets. Would I have liked to have won more on the field? 100 per cent, show me a sports person who wouldn't have."

While the standard of the game continues to grow, attendances have not increased to the level as hoped, with the All-Ireland finals only recording an attendance of 28,795.

Working as a teacher, the Tipperary woman knows the impact social media and access have, and is calling for more games on television to grow the sport.

"There has been great progress made, but we do need better attendances at games, and we do need to see Camogie on the telly more.

"You have loads of different streaming services that are thankfully making games in league's and championships more accessable at home.

"I am a secondary school teacher. Kids live on their phones. We all live on our phones on social media. Getting more games on our national screens is going to be very important."