Battle on to tip Tipp from top

AS Croke Park underwent a facelift for the weekend festivities, the All-Ireland Camogie Championship was launched in brilliant sunshine yesterday, displaying all the attributes of a sport on the up.

Just as headquarters is being transformed into a concert venue, camogie is a sport that has re-invented itself over the past few years.

Last year’s centenary championship elevated the sport to unprecedented heights, with over 100,000 members and more clubs registered than ever.

The rising standards, that has gone hand-in-hand with the game becoming 15-a-side, has resulted in some exciting matches in recent years. However, certain things never change, like a championship being launched with Tipperary as defending champions.

However, Deirdre Hughes, the Tipp captain, is expecting some serious challenges in the summer ahead.

“Things haven’t been going that well for us in the league,” the talented Tipp forward said. “We had a few injuries and are only really getting down to the nitty-gritty of it now.

“Given that we are All-Ireland champions, I suppose we will be favourites but there is very little between the top three or four teams.”

That has been evident in recent seasons. Only the width of a crossbar saved Tipperary against Wexford last year and Galway defied the odds recently to capture the league title.

“The standard has got a lot higher in the last three or four years, the speed of the game is a lot better and 15-a-side has definitely helped,” Hughes adds. “The advantage rule, when it is played right, helps the game and there is a lot of coaching being done.”

Hughes believes there are a number of contenders ready to take Tipp’s crown. “Cork and Kilkenny are there. Galway, after winning the league title, have proven there are force to be reckoned with. They will be tough to beat.”

As for the defending champions? “We just have to re-discover our hunger and get going. We won’t know how we are set until the first game against Antrim, so we will just take it from there.”

Ailbhe Kelly, the Galway wing-back, says the league title has given the county something to build on.

“But we are not going to let the league final go to our heads. It’s a tough start against Cork and they’ll be out for revenge after the league final.”

Cork have been Galway’s bogey team in the championship in the past few years. However, it will be a much more confident Galway taking on the Leesiders, thanks mainly to the presence of Sharon Glynn, an iconic figure in western camogie, on the line.

“It’s probably unusual to see a woman manager at this level in camogie, but in fairness, Sharon’s been there, won an All-Ireland in ‘96 and numerous club All-Irelands. She’s been a great boost to us.

“Everyone has tremendous respect for Sharon. Anyone she asked into the panel came in straight away and she brought a couple of players back. It is great to have everyone available for selection.”

A sub-theme to the day was hurling fathers and camogie daughters. Tipperary great Len Gaynor joined his daughter Ciara at headquarters, while Wexford’s Ursula Jacob was joined by her hurling dad Mick. Antrim’s Niamh Cunningham was joined by her father Dad and former Kilkenny hurler Pa Dillion accompanied daughter Jillian.