'I thought football had been written off in Kilkenny but it's actually not'

“Last year, we weren't really training. We were only fulfilling our fixtures."

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP AIMS: Junior players Longford's Caoimhe McCormack and Kilkenny's Ellen Lawlor at the launch of the TG4 Leinster LGFA Championships at Durrow Castle in Laois. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Kilkenny’s aim in this year’s All-Ireland Junior Championship is simple: Lose by less. That’s not due to a lack of ambition but a sense of realism. It’s what’s achievable right now for a football team in camogie country, one which only rejoined the National League in 2023.

Last year, they lost all four of their league games, their three championship games and this year all seven of their league games. Their smallest margin of defeat was by 10 points to Derry in last year’s league. Results like that will make your targets modest.