GO TOGETHER. THAT’S the message from the Camogie Association with the biggest day in their calendar year fast approaching.
On Sunday, there are new winners in store in each of the three All-Ireland finals in Croke Park with silverware up for grabs at senior, intermediate and junior level.
At the top table, Kilkenny will be hoping to avenge back-to-back decider defeats to Cork and claim a 14th O’Duffy Cup, while league champions Galway are seeking a first title since 2013.
The Tribe also feature in the intermediate final, 2017 Premier Junior champions Westmeath their opposition there. And the Premier Junior showpiece is an all-Munster battle between last year’s finalists, Kerry, and Limerick.
The Association first called on supporters to ‘Go Together’ as they aim to break an attendance of 25,000 in July, with anticipation now building ahead of the big day.
In 2016 — when the Cats were last crowned champions — a bumper crowd of 20,037 descended on GAA HQ, with the attendance up almost 25% on the year previous.
16,610 were there in 2015, while that 20,037 number was the fifth highest-ever attendance for an All-Ireland camogie final since 1932, and the highest attendance since 2009′s all-time high of 25,924 for a standalone final.
In 2017, it was marginally up to 20,438, while 21,467 [new third-highest ever] was the official attendance last year — but that’s well short of the back-to-back record-breaking ladies football final crowds of 46,286 and 50,141 in 2017 and 2018.
And key players who are lining out on Sunday hope that 25,000 target can be reached — and broken.
“It’d be fantastic to get to 25,000 and more if we can,” Galway captain Sarah Dervan said at Thursday’s captain’s day.
“I do think camogie this year has turned. Everyone keeps telling me that the All-Ireland semi-final [against Cork] was a fantastic game to watch. It’d be brilliant. I just hope everyone does get behind the camogie.
Hopefully clubs will all bring their underage. It’s important that they do, and they get to see the girls out there. It’s brilliant that the three games are now on RTÉ too. It’s all about promoting the game and girls seeing that.
Kilkenny co-captain Meighan Farrell echoed those sentiments: “It would be unreal just to get the support.
“We had an open training session there and you just see a lot of the girls coming in from your club to support. You’re like, ‘Jesus, fair play, they didn’t have to.’ It’s coming up, it’s slowly but surely coming.”
While camogie has often been in the headlines for the wrong reasons off the back of last year’s finals with players calling out for rule changes, the recent All-Ireland semi-finals at LIT Gaelic Grounds were a brilliant advertisement for the game.
It’s hoped that the same will apply on Sunday, with free-flowing showdowns on the cards and players allowed showcase their skills on the biggest stage.
And for 25,000-plus to witness that in the flesh, that would be incredible.
“It’d be massive,” Galway intermediate skipper Laura Walsh agrees when the 25,000 target is put to her. “It’d be brilliant for camogie.
We deserve it. There’s six great teams going out there and they deserve every bit of support they get.
“I think the game has come on so much. The speed of it, the physicality. Players are so strong now…it’s lovely to see the refs let the game go. Sometimes you feel like they’re scared we’ll get hurt out there but we’re well able for it.”
Kerry star Laura Collins concluded: “If we got 25,000 this year it’d be huge.
“You can see it on social media. I have neighbours who I didn’t think knew about camogie and they ask me now how we got on. Social media is really helping and showing how good players are, it’s really getting the message out there.”
All three games will be shown live on RTÉ too, another welcome step for all involved.
Sunday, 8 September 2019
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Championship Final
- Galway v Kilkenny, Croke Park, 4.15pm Referee: Ray Kelly (Kildare)
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final
- Galway v Westmeath, Croke Park, 2pm Referee: Andrew Larkin (Cork)
Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship Final
- Kerry v Limerick, Croke Park, 12noon Referee: Gavin Donegan (Dublin)
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If Farrell throws one or two of the newer lads in this week, it changes the whole outlook of this international window. Calls were he was too conservative the first 2 weeks, but after last weeks showing, if he adds say Izzy and Gus McCarthy, Cian prendergast (unsure if Baird is fit) to the squad this week, then that story changes.
We’ll come out of this window with more minutes in Osborne who is growing week on week (he’d be in this week if he wasn’t injured), Sam prendergast got decent minutes, Izzy, gus McCarthy has been catapulted up there and might upset the status quo, clarkson has shone. Frawley was back to his best last week and Crowley has done decent enough and Casey done well. By and large, we’re not in bad shape.
@JamesK: Agreed. Can see Izzy and Gus McCarthy, Cian Prendergast in the 23, hopefully with Izzy starting.
Ive said this before whats with the munster leinster fans hate for each other i just dont get it cant we all just get along i dont care i support all 4 even do im from cork when they play each other i dont mind who wins its all good for ireland
Need a game, had a game. Who the leave out, Ringrose, Henshaw or Aki? dunno what I’d do. Probs Henshaw on the bench. Hard call tho
@Thesaltyurchin: I don’t expect surprises in the XV but I hope he takes the opportunity to freshen the bench a bit.
@Thesaltyurchin: Potential team?
Keenan
Hansen
Henshaw
Aki
Lowe
Prendergast/Crowley
AGP
Porter
Kelleher
Bealham
McCarthy
Beirne
Izzy
JVDF
Doris
BENCH
McCarthy/Herring
Healy
Clarkson
Ryan
C Prendergast
Casey
Frawley
Crowley/Prendergast
@Thesaltyurchin:
1 Porter.
2 kelleher.
3 furlong.
4 joe mc.
5 beirne.
6 baird if available izzy if not.
7 jvdf.
8 Doris.
9 jgp.
10 crowley.
11 lowe.
12 henshaw.
13 ringrose.
14 Hanson.
15 keenan.
16 herring.
17 healy.
18 O’Toole.
19 Ryan.
20 izzy if he starts then prendergast.
21 casey.
22 frawley or prendergast.
23 aki.
@Thesaltyurchin: Aki & Ringrose for me. If Osbourne is OK, he’s on the bench. If not, Henshaw.
@Con Cussed: Would be happy with most of that really. I do like Ringrose at 13 tho. Agree with Paul below in 12/13, Aki’s Fiji performance enough perhaps. I think 10 will be interesting, don’t think he’ll start SP and not sure I’d bench him ahead of say Frawley or Osbourne. But Crowley IS versatile so no probs moving him around, I think Con’s right with the either or approach. Probs Murray comes back in on bench, versatility, etc. I’d want a defensive option from a backup 9. Would also like to see Baird back, but yea Izzy in, otherwise PoM on the bench (i’ve never been a huge fan, but my head says he’ll be in). AF may fancy a bit of bulk with the scrum, wouldn’t be surprised to see Henderson/Ryan in with Bierne at 6. Herring on the bench.
@Thesaltyurchin: Maybe Prendergast 22 and Frawley 23 if Osbourne is out. Frawley offers more flexibility than Henshaw. I think Farrell wants to get as much rugby into SP as possible. Don’t be surprised if he starts CC next month – Leo’s decision of course!! I hope he goes with Beirne and McCarthy at Lock, Izzy at 6 with Ryan & POM on the bench. There’s a good balance to it. Australia won’t be as much of a threat at scrum time as NZ or Argentina.
@Paul Ennis: Very interested to see what Cullen does here. After the drop goal Frawley maybe got more of a look in but the Byrnes aren’t chopped liver either, RB knows how to run a game, he may not be as abrasive as Crowley or as calculated as Sam but he’s still in the game, an injury here or there like. If the lads in Ulster do something we might need a minibus for our options. Need to consider that in these arrangements Henshaw falls out of contention completely!
@Thesaltyurchin: As regards 10, I’d like to see Sam Pendergast released by Ireland and start for Leinster v Ulster on Friday night. Crowley to start at outhalf with Frawley on bench for IRL.
@Paul Ennis: Are we getting an update on Osborne/Stockdale today from Irish rugby? From the news on Saturday it didn’t look good for either, which is really disappointing as they both played really well.
I think Henshaw and Aki have been playing well together and Saturday was the best seen from both of them in a while. Actually, so many players excelled on Saturday, in spite of some mistakes.
Frawley on the bench instead of Ringrose only due to versatility of Frawley. Frawley also redeemed himself on Saturday. Very exciting for Irish rugby.
@D Farrell: Similarly, if Izzy isn’t starting v the Aussies then he should be playing for Ulster.
@Thesaltyurchin: And as a Westmeath man (I know I know – provincial rivalries are bad enough without introducing county one’s too) I would be gutted to see Robbie miss out. Aki just offers that ball carrying threat. Against NZ his head was elsewhere and the knock ons were out of character. Robbie offers a big boot but there are so many big boots in the team now, it is no longer a USP.
@Con Cussed: It is strange there has been no update
@D Farrell: Would like Casey back for Munster too. I reckon AF has Murray on bench. Most of the Connacht lads are staying which makes me wonder is CPrendergast in the mix. Ulster could use Hendi, would imagine Timony will be back.
I’d be happy to see Crowley play with Aki and Henshaw. Ringrose on a 5:3 bench.
Give Izzy another go at 6. Baird and Ryan on the bench.
@Nicholas Farrar: PO’M, Henderson, Healy, Murray – fit, they would have been constant in a Farrell 23. How many of them will make the 23 for this weekend?
@Michael Corkery: Hopefully, none of them will start with the exception of Healy as he’s still playing well and we don’t have a workable replacement yet. The rest need a rest.
Izzy and Ryan instead of POM and Henderson (neither played exceptionally well in the series). AGP starting and Casey on the bench. Might even see Sam start with Crowley on the bench, but both playing irrespective of which starts. Aki and Henshaw starting with Frawley on the bench for cover 12-15. With potential injuries to Stockdale and Osborne (both of whom played excellently), then Lowe and Keenan starting. Kelleher and Gus on the bench, Herring might be unfortunate to miss out.
It’s a great headache for AF. The young lads really had a good time on the weekend and I hope many of them will be in the match 23.
@Con Cussed: I agree but the important person is Farrell. Age is just a number and Aki seems to still be in tip top shape, Healy is not a dynamic player like he once was but at least he can hold his side of the scrum up. I expect those 2 to be in 23 for Oz but the others I mentioned, maybe not. Let’s see.
@Michael Corkery: Murray takes a bit of abuse these days, but when he came on he covered the wing well and when the chips are down defending the line at the death he can put in the big tackles.
@Michael Corkery: Indeed, it nothing else it’s quite exciting selection time. May also be the possible 23 for the 6Ns.
@Nicholas Farrar: Agree that Murray had a good game on the wing.
@Nicholas Farrar: agree with you and that’s the edge he probably has on Casey in that he can fill in other positions in emergency. He has to balance that with giving Casey game time as most probable long term successor to JGP
Start Casey and Prendergast with JGP and Crowley on the bench. Last chance to test these guys against a tier 1 given our focus on 6N and our summer tour is tier 2
Porter,kelleher,bealham,
Ryan, mc carthy,
Beirne, vdf, Doris
Jgp, crowley
Lowe, aki, ringrose, Hanson
Keenan
Put your mortgage on it
What’s going on with Calvin Nash
The big tests were NZ and Arg. I’m sure that Farrell and co looked at the Fiji and Aus games as where they’d try a couple of new things in.
I’d have thought that this game was ear-marked for Frawley to start at 10. Given he played more than expected last weekend, and got the rough treatment, perhaps this is not going to happen anymore.
I hope that he does get the start, not as any slight on Crowley, who our first choice, but because we need to see him leading a week for Ireland ahead of the 6 Nations if he’s to be called upon. We already know Crowley can do it and against much better opposition than Australia.
I’d love to see more of Prendergast too, but again he played more than expected last week. So I expect Crowley will start, which probably wasn’t Farrell’s plan for this series