Hurling hands: Linda Mellerick — 'I got a hurley across the mouth and spent about €16,000 on it' 

The former Cork star talks Michael Moynihan through a life in hurling 

3 September 2000; Linda Mellerick of Cork during the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final match between Tipperary and Cork at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Pat Murphy/Sportsfile

My hands are pretty good. I was lucky in terms of injuries — I did break one of my thumbs twice in my career but it’s held up pretty well so far. It doesn't give me any aches and pains in the winter: there’s no sign of arthritis yet anyway.

Which isn’t to say I didn’t pick up injuries. When I was playing junior, in particular, I seemed to get split all the time, but that stopped, really, when I started to play senior with the Glen.