‘Scatty as hell’ camogie powerhouse helps to bag well-deserved victory

"Scatty as hell" was how the family of Cork camogie powerhouse Briege Corkery described her last night after she left her handbag behind her in the train station having doled out autographs and hugs.

And so the woman who was instrumental in bringing the O’Duffy Cup back to Cork after a five-year wait showed she did after all have a flaw, even if her hurling is perfect.

Her scattiness extended to her even once missing the train to an All Ireland camogie final, and yes, she was playing on the day, said Briege’s sister Siobhán Twomey who was in Kent Station last night to welcome the victors home.

There also was five-year-old godson Michael who didn’t see her play on the day because his two uncles, Dónal and Micheál, were playing in the Mid-Cork Junior A Football Final between Aghinagh and Kilmurry.

Siobhán said loyalties were divided and so while she travelled to Croke Park, some of the family stayed behind to support the hurling uncles — who were on the losing Aghinagh side.

“The brothers could do with her on the team with them,” Siobhán said.

There weren’t that many in Kent Station but those who were managed a rousing welcome, pipes, drums and whistles and oceans of good cheer.

Then it was onto the team bus, destination South Mall, where a couple of hundred waited to welcome home their heroes to the tunes of We Are the Champions and Simply the Best.

Monsignor Kevin O’Callaghan, who was deputising for Bishop John Buckley, reckoned team manager Paudie Murray must have inspired the girls at half time with the Irish version of Obama’s chant “Is féidir linn”.

“Many of us pass through and never achieve anything,” he said “but what you did yesterday was one of the greatest achievements ever over the years,” Msgn Callaghan said.