Six-shooting Cork eye title but Walsh focused on rivals Kerry

CORK are chasing their sixth consecutive Munster ladies football title when they take on old rivals Kerry in Bruff tonight (7pm) but Angela Walsh is unhappy that the winners will be forced to wait seven weeks to get back into action.

The All-Ireland quarter-final isn’t until August 22, which leaves the various provincial champions as sitting ducks for the battle-hardened teams coming through the qualifier system.

“It’s an awful long time” says the Inch Rovers defender. “I’ll be back (teaching) at school by the time we play the second round of our championships. It’s a huge thing to look at because you’ve literally the whole summer training.”

There is a positive aspect to the delay though, with an opportunity being presented for club championships to take place.

Inch are coming off the back of winning an All-Ireland intermediate final and losing two senior deciders in the last three amazing seasons. They will have to fight incredibly hard just to hold onto their Cork title but the PE teacher at St Augustine’s primary school in Dungarvan is pleased that the clubs are finally receiving some consideration.

“We had a structure a few years ago that was a round-robin and that was an absolute disaster because it gave the clubs no opportunity whatsoever.”

Walsh no longer plays camogie at inter-county level having finally given in to the demands of being a dual player last year. She has won two camogie All-Irelands to go with her four football successes. Last year was special as she led the Rebelettes to ultimate glory and was named Texaco Ladies Footballer of the Year.

But the eye remains firmly on the ball and after winning another league, where Mayo were blitzed in the final, it looks like Jim McEvoy’s charges are tuning up for a five-in-a-row. Walsh and her team-mates aren’t looking beyond Kerry though.

“We’re not tiring and the hunger is still there. A new year poses new challenges and we’re looking forward to those. The reason we’re playing is we’re enjoying it so much and when you’re successful it’s easier to keep players together.

“I’d say that’s a huge thing in many counties that aren’t so successful. If players coming up through the ranks see that there isn’t a chance of success then maybe they mightn’t stay around whereas in Cork people are vying for places.

“We got beaten (early in the league) by Dublin and Monaghan and that was the kickstart we needed.

“Kerry will be a challenge. It always is.

“They’re very tough and there’s a huge rivalry. We played them in the league semi-final and found them very hard to break down. I know championship is faster and everyone is fitter but it will be tough.”