We must find that bit extra: Burke

THE difference between winning and losing can often be indefinable, but on other occasions it can be quite clear, as in the case of last weekend's Guinness decider when Galway simply couldn't match holders Cork for experience.

In terms of how Tipperary have been dominating the Foras na Gaeilge All-Ireland senior camogie championship in recent years and Cork have been playing catch-up, it seems to be simply a matter of the Tipp girls having the more powerful combination.

Whatever the reason, new Cork captain Elaine Burke accepts that Tipp have had the edge in the last two finals and that Cork must close the gap if they are to regain the O'Duffy Cup in Croke Park on Sunday.

Cork are back in the final with a squad which includes dual players Briege Corkery, Angela Walsh, Mary O'Connor and Rena Buckley, who are members of the Ladies Football side which contests the county's first All-Ireland two weeks later.

Elaine Burke, a trainee solicitor and a member of the Valley Rovers club, agrees that they would have wished for a better build-up to the final than a runaway win over Limerick in Nowlan Park.

"Tipp got a bit of a fright from Wexford; it wasn't the ideal preparation for us,'' she commented.

Interestingly, Tipperary won their semi-final by five points, whereas Cork had defeated the same opposition by three times that margin earlier on in the campaign. However, Elaine cautions against "reading too much" into the two results.

"The day we went down to Wexford, what was at the back of our minds was that if we won we would qualify for the semi-final. If we lost we would have to wait for the other permutations. We were going to do our level best to win and that's what they did. Definitely, Wexford did much better against Tipp. I suppose it has something to do with the rivalry between the counties, the sight of the jersey!

"Last year we did not perform in the final. We would have hoped to play much better. Any team needs a bit of luck to be successful, but you have to be putting the effort in as well if you're to make your own luck.

"I think the team is a bit more focused, this year. Hopefully it is.''

She recalled the 2002 final, in which Cork beat Tipperary (to prevent them from winning four in-a-row). The team was captained by Una O'Donoghue, a good friend from their university days, and Fiona O'Driscoll got three goals.

"We have a new set-up this year, a new manager and three new selectors - and Fiona is the trainer. The panel have great respect for her. Her methods are tried and tested. She has the medals to show for what she has achieved and when she speaks, we listen!''

Elaine accepts that the dual involvement of the four players has been hard on them individually at times - recalling that early in the summer there were occasions when Angela Walsh played two games a day. On the other hand, the co-operation between the respective managements has eased the burden of training on the girls.

Another of the footballers, Briege Corkery, was one of the stars against Mayo last Saturday.

"Briege is a superb athlete. She didn't start the game against Galway but came on for the last five minutes and made the difference. She played at centre-back with Cloughduv in the club championship and it was her first time in the position. She played at right half back against Limerick the last day and did well.''

Cork have a lot of ground to make up if they are to triumph this time. They may have defeated Tipperary in the League, but the result was reversed in the Munster final. Another reminder of the challenge they face.

"I think we are near. We lacked something last year. I just hope we have it this time!''