All about the collective and making each other look better, insists Cork's O'Connor

As one of their front six, the St Vincent’s ace says there is a lot more to it than splitting the posts.

Wed, 07 Aug, 2024 - 07:22

Therese O’Callaghan

It’s 12 months since Amy O’Connor scored a sensational 3-7 in the All-Ireland senior camogie final. The victorious captain savoured that experience and she will cherish those delightful memories forever.

Move on to this year and there is another interesting stat that catches the eye - Cork have registered a stunning 17-110 and conceded a mere 4-38 over six championship games.

Fairly impressive by any standard.

Constantly performing. Constantly raising the bar.

As one of their front six, the St Vincent’s ace says there is a lot more to it than splitting the posts.

“Obviously it’s great to score but we’re not measured on scores, which is probably mad to say. We are measured on how much we can bring other people into the game. How many turnovers, and your positioning on puck outs.

“Our motto is to try and make everyone else look better than yourself. It’s all about who’s in the best position. We’re trying to set the tone from up top.

It’s something we’ve been building on for years. We’ve no better man than Liam Cronin (coach) to do that.

“We’ve a lovely forward line to play in and I love playing there. I love playing alongside the likes of Orlaith Cahalane, she is a type of player that makes you look better.

“Sometimes on the telly if my mam is watching a match back, she mistakes me for Orlaith and Orlaith for me, which is a nice compliment.”

The Rebels put their title on the line on Sunday and while they are on a serious run, no one is getting carried away. Squad depth keeps them on their toes with many vying for places.

“The team is so talented and the girls that are coming in are equally talented. Clodagh Finn came on in the semi-final and got two points. Sorcha McCartan came on and got a rocket of a goal.

“The competition is great, you need it because there is nothing between ourselves and Galway. To be fair we know them like the back of our hands, they know us very well. They’ve a lot of players that have been around a long time and equally we do. I think it will be a great game and an open game. Two teams that will go after it and both will back themselves against each other.”

A brand new season brings a new captain and the handing over of the armband to Sarsfields’ Molly Lynch. Amy insists it changes nothing.

“This is a completely new year. It is so cliché but you have to forget about the past and focus on the next game. Focus on ourselves more than anything else.

“To be honest, it’s no different not being captain. I was never the loudest in the dressing room or on the pitch. I’m trying to do the exact same thing I did last year, there is no real difference.

"You’ve leaders all over our dressing room and we’ve had them for years so there was nothing to it last year really, only thankfully I got the opportunity to go up and collect the cup at the end of the year.

“On a personal level, it was great but I don’t care once we get over the line. It was nice, lovely, the stuff of dreams really. As a child I probably played that match myself a million times and it just came to fruition on the day.

“It’s funny but I was so caught up in the match I didn’t actually know I scored a hat-trick until someone said it to me after. My boyfriend Danny claims I definitely knew, but I didn’t at the time,” she laughs.

Staying with the 2023 final and the unfortunate ACL injury picked up by her marker Vikki Falconer. It was a real downer on Waterford so early in the game.

“As soon as the word came that it was her cruciate, I did add her on Instagram and I gave her a text to say I was thinking of her. She came back to me and thanked me. It was an awful position for her to be in so I did wish her the best of luck.

“I heard she was back this year which was brilliant. I know she had a little bit of a setback but I’m sure she’ll be back again better than ever. You look at girls that have come back. Hopefully, she will do that and best of luck to her.”