Cats ace Fennelly aiming to avenge 2013 defeat and add to medal haul

Leann Fennelly has been asked the question before, but still doesn’t have an answer.

Finding out exactly how many All-Ireland medals her famous family actually possesses is something she will one day get around to.

In fairness, it would be a waste of time adding them all up just now because there could be a significant increase by the time this month is out.

On Sunday, she will captain the Kilkenny seniors in the All-Ireland camogie final against Cork. Before it, her cousin, Mags, will captain the intermediate team in their quest for a first title since 2008. After all of that, they will turn their attentions to the senior hurling final replay between Kilkenny and Tipperary as Michael and Colin Fennelly are family too. The Cats duo are Mags’ brothers.

All of them are the children of Kilkenny greats who have bulging trophy cupboards themselves so you can see why Leann never bothered getting her abacus out.

“Between all the uncles and everything, well, I actually wouldn’t be able to give you an exact figure for medals — but a good lot! I have three minor and an U-16. It’s not so bad, we were delighted to win each of them. The senior medal now would obviously be great.”

Mags is saying the same on the intermediate front and the remarkable possibility exists that Kilkenny could win back-to-back All-Ireland finals on Sunday afternoon.

Of course, the very opposite could just as easily occur and they could both leave empty-handed, a little like the feeling the Fennelly brothers experienced last weekend when the MacCarthy Cup was whipped from their grasp by resurgent Tipperary.

“It was a huge occasion for them,” said Leann. “I know they’ve both been around a few years but it was still an All-Ireland final against Tipp. There was definitely a few nerves.

“I’ve been delighted for Michael, he’s had his injuries but he’s been a great addition to the team again. He’s so big and strong. I’d say Brian Cody is delighted to have him back fully fit. He did make a difference in the Limerick game and played his part the last day so hopefully they can do the business again in the replay.”

As kids, the Fennelly cousins often trooped to Croke Park en masse to watch their fathers. Leann is a daughter of Liam, the All-Ireland winning captain of 1992.

“There’s no real pressure there or anything,” she maintained. “I suppose it’s just nice whenever anyone hears the name and recognises it. It’s always the first question you get, ‘which one is your father then?’

“We were just talking about it recently, the memories of us all going up to Croke Park. We’d park in the local school and it would be tea and sandwiches in the car. They were great days. I don’t know how old I was, probably seven or eight. I’d love to go back to having tea and sandwiches before games!”

These days, her pre-match intake is far more scientific, full of proteins and slow releasing energy foods. There is a huge title on the line and the memory of coming up just short in last year’s decider against Galway, losing by two, fuels her ambition.

“We just didn’t perform as well as we would have hoped to,” she said. “So we were disappointed. Personally, and as a team, we didn’t perform. Galway were really ready for us. They had their tactics and it worked for them on the day. It was a low-scoring game but hopefully we can rectify that this year.

“But, look, we know what Cork can do. Number one, they have a great bunch of players. Especially the dual players who seem like they are around forever but are actually only 26 or 27. They’ve won a lot and I suppose that’s made it easier for them to keep coming back, year in, year out.

“A lot of our team would have been playing together a long time also, since we were U-14 really. There’s a good bunch of us who have known each other for a good few years so it would be great to achieve this together now.”