Libby Coppinger warns rivals that Cork ‘building every game' as they continue pursuit of All-Ireland camogie title
LIBBY COPPINGER reckons Cork have yet to put in a perfect performance this year — but they are getting close.
The Very League champions have hammered
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A trip to
next
up for the Rebel camogie stars — and full-back Coppinger believes they are starting to click in their bid for a three-in-a-row triumph.
The two-time All-Star said: 'Nothing's been perfect yet but we're kind of building every game and trying to get through it and get to that semi-final spot and then reassess after that.
'But we still have Wexford coming, so all eyes are on that. You're not looking further ahead.
'There's been a few injuries and stuff along the way for different players throughout our panel. But thankfully, we do have good depth there and everyone's kind of fighting for that
jersey
, which creates good competition.
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'We're really just trying to go after our own performances in games and you hope that the result will take care of itself then.
'You're trying to raise your standards all the time. You might win by a few scores or whatever but it might not have been the prettiest.
'So you're always trying to
review
the game and learn from it. And we've been doing that throughout the year.'
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She plays further up the field for the county's
football
team but she knows her job description when there is a hurl in her hand.
Coppinger added: 'I think as a whole in camogie, the skill is gone phenomenal, and there's some excellent hurlers out there.
GAA legend TJ Reid's wife Niamh and daughter wear shorts in support of camogie stars
'As a back, you're going out to mark your player and there's obviously times where there's sweepers and everything involved.
'But you just have to try win your battle with the forward. So that hasn't changed. Just make sure they don't score!
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'I think maybe there's a bit more licence to do a bit of
'We talk about the forwards being the first line of the defence so the same way, we're the first line of attack.
'You're trying to give the ball to the player in the best position out the field. So hurling-wise, everyone's kind of gone up a level. Possession has become such a big part of the game now, whereas before, both sides might just try and get the ball down the field and clear their lines. So, there are more of those runs inside.
'You're trying to track them everywhere. So you have to be concentrating the whole game, make sure you're not ball-watching.
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'You might not touch the ball as much and to be honest, it's nearly easier to be concentrating on the game when you're on the ball the whole time. So that mental part of it is always there.'
MEDAL GEAR SOLID
While winning another
Championship
is now the team's No 1 goal, securing a first Division 1A medal back in April was a priority too.
Only the Mackey twins, Pamela and Katrina, and Ashling Thompson had been involved the last time Cork had won it, a dozen years ago.
Coppinger said: 'We were disappointed after our showing when we played
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'So it was good to win it. I think we got a lot from the league, players-wise, building, people getting game-time and everything like that.
'We'd been going for the league the last few years so it was
nice
to actually get over the line this year. We're happy out to have the medal.'
Coppinger, first called up in 2016, is back to her usual authoritative self — having missed the Leesiders' run to a second straight All-Ireland last year with a serious hamstring tear.
And while it did make her think about the mileage she has built up over the years playing both codes for Cork, she could not bring herself to lighten her load just yet.
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The defender added: 'I probably did think about playing the two more than ever before. I guess it was about getting the body back to the standard it was at but I felt this year, I kind of just had to give it a go.
'There's no point in throwing in the towel before you even try.
'Unfortunately, it's just getting that bit harder. I know it ended my season last year, and you just want to park it but it still carries over, unfortunately, to the following year more than you'd like it to.
'But I'm happy to go another year. The decision is closer than I'd like it to be but we're going to keep going for as long as we can anyway.'
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1
Jennifer Daly of Clare is tackled by Libby Coppinger of Cork during the Munster Senior Camogie Championship semi-final
Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
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