Little separates Cork and Tipperary as they vie for camogie crown

IT WAS in the All-Ireland final two years ago that Tipperary really announced their full-fledged presence on the senior camogie scene.

The previous year, a very young side had shocked Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, after the Cats had disposed of red-hot favourites Cork in the semi-final. Tipperary, although recognised as having talented players graduating from minor and junior ranks, were expected to be mere fodder for legend-laden Kilkenny in that final.

But they took the honours, albeit by the slimmest of margins, 0-12 to 1-8. That was 1999 and a year later, Tipp were back, up against Cork.

Tipperary were underdogs, but once again they came out on top. This time, however, the manner of their victory left no one in any doubt there was a new kid on the camogie block, and she wasn't about to disappear.

Last year, Tipp and Cork met again, in the semi-final. Tipp went through after a replay, then completed the coveted three-in-a-row with another final win over Kilkenny.

So, in Croke Park tomorrow, and for the third time in three years, Cork take a tilt at Tipperary. Now though, the wheel has turned, and the force is with the champions, a fact acknowledged by Eithne Duggan, captain of the Cork side in '98, and full-back for Sunday's eagerly-awaited clash.

"They'd been coming for a few years, the signs were there, a lot of minor titles won," Duggan said.

Former Tipperary hurling star Michael Cleary managed Tipperary through those successful years. A late convert to camogie, he has marvelled at the skill of his players and those of Cork, and could not choose between them this weekend.

"Before I got involved with Tipperary, I had no idea how good these girls were. It's a pure form of hurling, distilled hurling, huge emphasis on skill. I've brought friends of mine to training sessions, and they're amazed; very few senior club players would have the touch of these girls," Cleary said.

"Going into this game, you have two right good teams, nothing between them; we had the rub of the green last year, and Cork probably underestimated us the year before, though they probably won't admit that," he said.

Duggan would not put it down to over-confidence.

"I don't think so, I think we just hit an off-day. They got a very good start too, a couple of goals in the first ten minutes that I remember only too well (both scored by Deirdre Hughes, Duggan's direct opponent). That set us back a lot, and we were playing catch-up for the rest of the game," Duggan said.

This Sunday, it will be a highly-motivated team in red and white taking to the new sod in Croker. They have the talent. The return of Linda Mellerick will add to a forward line that scored 4-12 in an annihilation of Galway in the semi-final, augmenting the likes of Emer Dillon, Jennifer O'Leary, and Fiona O'Driscoll, while the all-O'Connor half-back line of Paula, Mary and Gemma (none related) is exceptionally strong.

Facing them however, a Tipperary fifteen that have a couple of All-Irelands under their belt. They are extremely solid down the middle defensively, with the magnificent Una O'Dwyer at full-back and the commanding figure of Ciara Gaynor at centre. Angie McDermott is the Andy Comerford-like driving force at midfield and there is Philly Fogarty and Noelle Kennedy on the wings, Emer McDonnell and the mercurial youngster Claire Grogan in the corners, and Emily Hayden and goal-scorer supreme Deirdre Hughes up the middle.

It is a big ask for Cork, and Cleary calls it correctly a bounce of the ball, a lucky refereeing call, this one really could go either way.

One thing is for certain, however, there will not be a better exhibition of hurling in the country this weekend.

It is a shame though, that it clashes with the All-Ireland Under-21 final and Cork county senior hurling final.

Something could have been done, but the lip service to camogie continues within the GAA.

TIPPERARY: J. Delaney; P. Bulfin, U. O'Dwyer, C. Madden; S. Nealon, C. Gaynor, T. Brophy; S. Kelly, A. McDermott; P. Fogarty, N. Kennedy, J. Ryan; E. McDonnell, D. Hughes, C. Grogan.

CORK: G. Casey; J. O'Callaghan, E. Duggan, S. Dunlea; P. O'Connor, M. O'Connor, G. O'Connor; V. Harris, E. Burke; L. Mellerick, E. Dillon, J. O'Leary; U. O'Donoghue, C. Harrington, F. O'Driscoll.