Regrading leads to Ballincollig Croke Park glory shot

Ballincollig will play Camross in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Camogie Championship final at Croke Park. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon

Just a short few years ago, radical action was required as Ballincollig struggled to survive at senior camogie level.

They’ve come a long way since, breaking fresh ground as they count down to Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland intermediate camogie club championship final in Croke Park (2pm).

The Village is buzzing, in anticipation of their clash with Camross of Laois.

“There is good buy-in and good excitement, the shops are displaying the colours,” says Ballincollig manager Mike O’Brien.

“I believe it is the first time for any Ballincollig GAA team to be in an All-Ireland final, I don’t think there was even a Munster in the club before us at adult level, so it is a huge occasion. The men's side of the club has rowed in behind us as well.” 

Requesting to play at a lower level was a difficult choice.

“In 2022, we had a very poor championship and we asked to be regraded. Ourselves and Douglas asked to go down. That wasn’t an easy decision, but we were at a turning point where we felt we had older players who couldn’t carry the can any longer on their own and we had younger players coming through who weren’t ready to play senior.

“So, we went down to rebuild.

“We‘ve brought in Danny Morrissey from Na Piarsaigh and S&C Dave Galvin. Danny and Dave work together.” 

It was a challenging time for the club, but incredibly three of those more experienced players are still performing at the highest level.

“Linda Dorgan is our elder stateswoman at 42. She is a warrior really. We made her captain this year because she’s been a role model. She says very little, but her work-ethic at training is phenomenal.

“Leah Weste and Aoife Cotter are in their mid-thirties.

“Keeping them three injury-free this year has been a huge asset. They’ve all had babies in the last three or four years. Linda and Leah have two each, and Aoife has one. Ages two to seven. Not easy juggling all of that.” 

Player of the Match awards picked up by Linda and Leah in the last two games is testament to their input.

“We’ve two 16-year-olds on the panel. Leah Hannigan was captain of the Cork U16s and she has been very influential. Bláithín Cunniffe is the other U16. Two very talented players, both Cork minors 2026.” 

Mike, who is originally from Knockainey and joined the Ballincollig camogie set-up when his daughter Niamh started to play U14 in 2015, is of the opinion that sport must be enjoyed.

However, stepping out onto the big stadium can be daunting. The mid Cork club cannot afford to get caught up in the grand occasion, especially against a team that was well represented when Laois claimed All-Ireland Premier junior honours at GAA headquarters in August.

“It’s getting a balance between enjoying the occasion, but not letting that become the focus. We’ve a little bit of experience in Linda and Leah, who have won All-Irelands there.

“We’ve asked other players who’ve been there on what can go wrong on the day. It can be intimidating for all of us because it is so different to the way we prepare for other matches. I’ve never stood on the sideline either in Croke Park, so it is a first for a lot of us.

“We would have done a bit of analysis on Camross. We have pegged them as the best team we will play this year. Like any trip to Croke Park, it is going to be the team that handles the occasion better.

“Hopefully we do ourselves justice.”