Background in martial arts is aiding Saorise McCarthy's sharp rise for Cork ahead of last-four duel
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RTÉ News
11 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Amy O'Connor: 'Everyone talking about' Cork's three-peat
Cork's Amy O'Connor admits there is no escaping talk of three in a row ahead of Sunday's Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie final against Galway at Croke Park. The Rebels have been able to secure back-to-back titles seven times since the early 90s, but a 'threepeat' has proved elusive for the 30-time champions. It's over 50 years since Cork won the competition three times on the spin, so there is a chance on Sunday to write this group of players into the history books. Players are often shielded from talk of such achievements, but O'Connor said the experienced Cork players are happy to factor in the magnitude of this year's final. Speaking to RTÉ Sport, O'Connor said the three-in-a-row factor is dominating conversations within the Rebel County. She revealed: "Everyone you talk to is talking about it. For ourselves, you have to acknowledge it. It's an unbelievable position to be in but it's not something we're going to focus on too much. "It's another final. Every final you get to you want to win so we're not trying to go out and specifically focus on the three in a row, we're focusing on the final and trying to win that. "I think pressure is like an external factor. We won't put too much pressure on ourselves and we've had a good year so far. We won the league and we had a good Munster Championship and then we had a good group round as well. We then beat Waterford in the semi-final. "I think pressure will be external and we'll just focus on ourselves." A clash with Galway is familiar for Cork. The Tribeswomen emerged three-point winners in the 2021 decider, before the Rebels extracted revenge by the same margin last year. It has been the Munster side with the upper hand in meetings so far this campaign and O'Connor is expecting another close call. She explained: "There's not much between us. They know us very well and we know them very well. "We always end up playing each other a couple of times throughout each year and we played them in the league final. It'll be a 50-50 battle on the day. "I think we've key players in every line. We've great experience in the back with Libby Coppinger, Meabh Cahalane and Pam and then out around the middle you with the likes of Laura Hayes, Ashling Thompson, Hannah Looney and Saoirse McCarthy. "Our inside forward line have done very well and there's huge competition for places. Everyone will be contributing on the day and we're really looking forward to it." It has been a period of sorrow for hurling within the county after the men's side sensationally wilted in their final against Tipperary last month at Croke Park, when appearing to be on the cusp of victory. O'Connor had sympathy for her counterparts and is aiming to lift the mood within Cork. "Unfortunately it just didn't work out that way for the lads," she said of the loss to Tipp. "They put in so much effort throughout the year and obviously they didn't want to go out and perform the way they did in the second half. "They'll be back and hopefully we can go on and do it and give the county a bit of a lift."
Irish Examiner
14 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork's Laura Hayes: 'It's a much better winter when you're after winning the All-Ireland'
Laura Hayes could never have imagined the catalogue of success 2024 would bring. Whatever about Cork retaining their All-Ireland title, or even picking up a second All-Star, being named Player of the Year was nowhere on her radar. To such an extent that when the nominations came out, the St Catherine's star realised her travel itinerary would preclude her from attending the awards ceremony. 'I had flights booked to Thailand and Vietnam,' says Hayes. 'I was going in November, and then the nominations came out. 'I had a decision to make. My grandparents were going to go, and I thought that it would be a special thing. It was one of those things that could work out or not, so I actually booked a flight home for it. 'I came home for a weekend from Thailand and went back out again on the Monday. It was a complete risk, but it was well worth it, and the night itself was lovely to spend it with everyone.' Cork's Laura Hayes at the camogie All Star awards. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy. Rectifying a loss is often the most potent motivation, and Cork made use of those consecutive All-Ireland defeats in 2021 and '22. Now, with the Rebels chasing a hat-trick of O'Duffy Cups, Hayes mines powerful inspiration from the victories too. 'The year was really special and we always say it's a much better winter when you're after winning the All-Ireland. 'Everything that came after it was just lovely with family and friends. But there comes a point where you're ready to look forward. 'It made me more excited to go back and hungry for more. The winning feeling is something you can't replace. If you could bottle it, you'd be a millionaire.' This Cork group make a conscious effort to hone in on those motives. They conduct an exercise where players speak about their 'whys' with the panel. The fear of losing doesn't leave you, but that winning feeling will always be mentioned. Hayes has noted an evolution in how inter-county camogie players are seen over her eight years in the squad. The growth in interest among young girls and boys is clear. Speaking at a supporter meet-and-greet event, Hayes and her teammates are thoroughly engaged and well aware of their potential impact on the next generation. If the group were to sit in a circle and reflect on their 'hows' – the pathways which led them to the top – the inspiration given by local role models would feature highly. For Hayes, it was seven-time All-Ireland-winning clubmate Orla Cotter. 'It's embarrassing now because I play with her, and I played with her for one year with Cork as well, but when I was growing up, I wouldn't be able to say 'boo' to her. And I wouldn't be shy. 'But it was just great. You'd have seen her around the club, you'd have seen her training, and when it's that close to you, you just think it's so reachable. I'd definitely be conscious of that now for younger people as well. Laura Hayes, centre, celebrates with the O'Duffy Cup. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile. 'I took up her free-taking style there a few years ago. I had to take the frees with our club, and then she came home. I was very embarrassed because I was still using her style. 'With those things, I was down in a camp in Charleville, and the boys' group were taking penalties. You could see them emulating Darragh McCarthy's penalty style. I was just like, 'Jesus, they really do watch everything and take everything in, boys and girls.' 'It's the same here. They'd be looking at Amy O'Connor's free-taking style. That shows what impact it's having.' Her first All-Ireland in 2018, after coming onto the panel as a minor, was a 'blur'. These days, Hayes knows what to expect as they face into an All-Ireland final rematch with fierce rivals Galway. Not that she'll get too much time off ahead of that decider. Hayes runs a coffee trailer at home in Conna, which celebrated one year open last week. 'These few weeks are manic. Everyone's coming out and wanting to know what's going on and congratulating and wishing me luck. 'That's probably the best thing about being part of a small community around these weeks. You really feel the strength of that and that everyone's behind you, which is really nice.' It's a bumper month for turnover, so? 'It's a high-revenue month,' she laughs. 'And then I have a week after to spend it all! 'It's a lot of hard work – probably more than I bargained for – but, oh my God, it completely pays off in the people you meet.'
The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Laura Hayes' 2024 awards bash gamble paid off as Cork ace eyes up more glory in latest All-Ireland tilt vs Galway
She identified the primary motivating factor for their opposition as well as themselves REBEL RETURN Laura Hayes' 2024 awards bash gamble paid off as Cork ace eyes up more glory in latest All-Ireland tilt vs Galway LAURA HAYES' gamble paid off when she flew home from Thailand to be crowned 2024 Camogie Player of the Year. The Cork ace was shortlisted for the gong after the Rebels stormed to back-to-back All-Ireland titles last August. But Hayes booked a trip to Asia when the ceremony was due to take place at Croke Park on November 15. Up against team-mate Saoirse McCarthy and Galway's Aoife Donoghue, she took a risk and booked a ticket — before being rewarded with the ultimate prize. The St Catherine's star said: 'I never expected it. I had flights booked to Thailand and Vietnam, so I was going in November. 'I was nominated for Player of the Year and I was away for them. "I had a decision to make but my grandparents and stuff were going to go and I thought it would be a special thing. 'It was one of those things that could work out or not, so I actually booked a flight home for it. It was a risk but it was well worth it.' Hayes, her travels over for now, has been a key cog in Cork's run to Sunday's clash with Galway — in a repeat of last year's showpiece. No team since Wexford in 2012 has won three camogie titles in a row. And the Tribes will be driven by last year's loss but Hayes knows winning can be just as powerful when it comes to motivation. She said: 'The winning feeling is something you can't replace. But I also think that feeling of losing doesn't leave you either. TJ Reid and wife Niamh de Brun's gorgeous pregnancy reveal 'You can use both as motivating factors once you use them the right way.'
