Cronin relishing familiar challenge

FOURTEEN years on, but the memories still shine as clearly as ever.

The prospect of an All-Ireland camogie decider between Cork and Kilkenny has a novel ring to it yet for Cork manager Denise Cronin it is a matter of renewing acquaintances. Back in 1995, Cronin captained Cork in a cracking showdown with Kilkenny when they prevailed 4-8 to 2-10.

On Sunday she’ll patrol the sidelines for Cork, while the legendary Ann Downey dons the bainisteoir bib for Kilkenny in the first final clash between them since 1995.

“It’ll bring back some great memories alright,” laughs Cronin. “Back 14 years ago I was the captain and we won which was brilliant. This will be a very close game. Kilkenny have the talent and are the up- and-coming team. They showed great hunger against Galway, to beat them is no main feat.

“They’ve been tremendously strong in recent years. They’ve put in great work at U16 and minor. They won the minor there last month, and even now Denise Gall has been added to the starting team. Ann Downey wouldn’t put anyone out unless they know their stuff, and she did great damage against Galway. So I don’t think they’ve any fear of us and they’ve All-Ireland final experience.”

Cronin hailed the achievement of her players in reaching their eighth consecutive All-Ireland final, a statistic that is a testament to their astonishingly high standards of performance throughout this decade.

“It’s an amazing achievement to get to the final again. There has to be still hunger. Eight-in-a-row All-Ireland finals isn’t easy to get to. But Cork always manage to get to semi-finals and the next step then is to reach the final. They’ve done tremendous work over the last eight months. Our focus has always been to get to the All-Ireland final.

“We weren’t too worried about anything else. There are real leaders on the field for us that will drive us on and have a tremendous will to win.”

Cork have had to endure some tight battles to reach this stage. During their semi-final triumph against Wexford, their prospects were balanced precariously at half-time while earlier in the summer their games with both Kilkenny and Tipperary were close affairs. It wasn’t looking good for us in the Wexford match,” admits Cronin.

“But it was just a matter of talking to the girls at half-time and explaining what we weren’t doing right. It just comes down to getting them focused, they went out and took it on board for the second-half. The girls showed tremendous character and drive to pull through. There was big motivation there.

“The girls knew in 2007 that they didn’t live up to their potential going for the three-in-a- row. The new kids Wexford knocked them off the park. They weren’t ready for the physicality of the game and were well prepared this year to make amends. I think the tough group really prepared us for the semi-final. We had to dig deep in our two games against Kilkenny and Tipperary.

“It wasn’t looking good against Kilkenny, but we won out. Then Tipperary put us to the pin of our collars as well.”

Meanwhile, Cork attacker Síle Burns believes their 2007 All-Ireland final loss to Wexford was a key factor in motivating them in the recent semi-final clash with the Model County.

“The loss to Wexford was the main spur to push us on last year. We felt we hadn’t got our revenge, until this year’s semi-final. So it was very important for us psychologically then to win this. It was worrying in the first-half against Wexford.

“It was a strong wind that day in Nowlan Park. At half-time some harsh words were said but at that stage leaders step up, the likes of Briege Corkery and Una O’Donoghue really stepped up there in the second-half.”

Burns also reckons that their group victory over Kilkenny earlier in the summer will have no relevance on the outcome of next Sunday’s final.

“That group stage match was a long time ago. It’s insignificant now as a result.

“It was a fairly miserable day then and not a lot of hurling came into it.

“Psychologically I suppose it was important that we’d get on top of them and would beat them. But a final is a final and past form doesn’t matter.”