'We have a target on our back' - Cork primed for Déise battle in semi-finals
But neither the hurlers' second-half implosion to gift Tipp the title, nor talk or a potential three-in-a-row for the reigning camogie champions is going to let Saoirse McCarthy lose focus ahead of Saturday's vital semi-final against Waterford.
A Nowlan Park double-header sees the champions take on the Déise in the later game, which follows the meeting of Galway and Tipperary in the other semi-final.
Cork come into the game off the back of a flawless group phase, where they finished top of the table in the five-team round-robin, while they also proved victorious in the league earlier in the year.
They have contested the last four All-Ireland finals, winning both the 2023 and 2024 deciders, and are just one game away from making it back to Croke Park.
"You can't be preparing for something that you're not in yet, so definitely won't be looking past Waterford this weekend," said McCarthy, speaking to RTÉ Sport ahead of the weekend fixture.
"Semi-finals are there to be won and obviously we want to do that, but it's one game at a time."
Saturday's opponents finished second in their respective group behind Galway in what was a competitive collective, as Waterford got the better of Dublin and Kilkenny, before overcoming a tough Clare unit in the quarter-finals.
And McCarthy is expecting a tough battle against their neighbours, with the reward of a place in the final adding to the expected intensity.
"It's going to be some challenge," said McCarthy. "They're a great side and I think they're having a great year, so we definitely won't be looking past them.
"We know Waterford very well. We've played them multiple times most years.
"They're a brilliant side, they're very pacey and they like to run the ball. They have the likes of Beth Carton, Lorraine Bray, and Niamh Rockett is flying this year.
"We're under no illusions. They're going to come out of the traps. We know we have a target on our back and they're going to want to hunt us down.
"I think they're going to bring a lot of physicality and pace to the game.
"Hopefully, now we can stand up to that.
"Obviously, they're going to be sharp after playing the quarter-final and we haven't had a game in four weeks, so that will be something we'll have to manage as well.
"They're having a great year and Mike (Boland) has done a really good job with them as well. I think we're just excited to go out and play and see what they're going to produce too."
Cork have been idle for four weeks since winning the group and claiming an automatic place in the last-four, while Waterford have only had three weeks to fill since their quarter-final win over Clare.
But McCarthy said that the intensity and quality of training combined with the ever-increasing competition for places has kept the team sharp ahead of Saturday's trip to the Kilkenny venue.
She said: "I think it is a bit long, but obviously you have to play off the quarter-finals in that time as well and still give the other teams a chance to have a break.
"It's understandable at the same time. I think we managed it well. We were the same last year.
"We know what we need to do now as well to prepare ourselves correctly.
"The competition within our own squad is immense for places. The standard of training has been really good and hopefully we'll be ready now for Saturday."
And while McCarthy can look forward to remaining competitive and eyeing further glory this summer, she admitted the ache of watching her male counterparts losing out at Croker Park last Sunday.
"We were all behind the hurlers and I'm gutted for them," she said.
"They had a great year, and they don't become a bad team overnight, so hopefully they can lift themselves up and be proud of what they achieved this year.
"We're just trying to finish out our year now on a high and do our job."
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Captain Gavin White was magnificent too, putting Donegal on the back foot literally from the throw-in and finishing with 0-3, and was roughly on a par with the Clifford brothers, though that triumvirate was backed by a star cast, not least Joe O'Connor who capped another fine display by firing in the game's only goal late on. Kerry's Joe O'Connor celebrates scoring a goal (Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) Donegal boss Jim McGuinness said recently how the 2014 final loss to Kerry pained him on a daily basis until he came back to the job almost two years ago. Given how so many of his players failed to perform to a reasonable standard, this one will ache for some time yet. KERRY: Shane RYAN; Paul MURPHY, Jason FOLEY, Dylan CASEY; Brian Ó BEAGLAOICH, Mike BREEN, Gavin WHITE (0-3); Seán O'BRIEN (0-2), Mark O'SHEA; Joe O'CONNOR (1-0), Seán O'SHEA (0-6, 0-1f, 2tpf), Graham O'SULLIVAN; David CLIFFORD (0-9, 3tp), Paudie CLIFFORD (0-3), Dylan GEANEY (0-3). Subs: Diarmuid O'Connor for O'Brien (50), Killian Spillane for Geaney (54), Evan Looney for Ó Beaglaoich (63), Tadhg Morley for Breen (65), Micheál Burns for O'Sullivan (69). DONEGAL: Shaun PATTON; Caolán McCOLGAN, Peadar MOGAN, Brendan McCOLE; Eoghan Ban GALLAGHER, Finnbarr ROARTY, Ryan McHUGH; Caolán McGONAGLE (0-1), Michael LANGAN; Ciarán Moore, Ciarán THOMPSON, Shane O'DONNELL (0-2); Conor O'DONNELL (0-4), Michael MURPHY (0-8, 0-6f), Oisín GALLEN (0-3). Subs: Dara Ó Baoill (0-1) for Thompson (23), Hugh McFadden for McColgan (HT), Jason McGee for McHugh (41), Paddy McBrearty for Conor O'Donnell (50), Jamie Brennan for Gallagher (59). REFEREE: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).
