Having been part of the panel for a similar occasion last year, it comes as no surprise to discover Cork captain Molly Lynch is fully behind the idea of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship semi-finals being played as a double header in Nowlan Park this Saturday.

 Before claiming the O’Duffy Cup for the first time in five years with an emphatic showpiece win over Waterford, the Leesiders defeated Galway in the last-four of the top-tier competition at the aforementioned Kilkenny venue on July 22, 2023.

 This game was preceded by the first semi-final between eventual runners-up Waterford and Tipperary. In addition to being broadcast live on RTE television, these games were played in front of a combined attendance of 7,257 spectators.

She has a significant battle on her hands with Amy Lee for the goalkeeper spot on the team – despite being the official skipper for the current campaign – but Lynch at the very least will have a major role to play behind the scenes ahead of Cork’s return to to Nowlan Park three days from now.

Serving as the curtain-raiser to the second semi-final between Galway and Tipperary, Ger Manley’s side will take on a rejuvenated Dublin for the right to compete in the All-Ireland senior camogie championship decider in Croke Park on August 11.

“It’s great for camogie and Nowlan Park was brilliant last year. I remember the atmosphere there. Loads will travel, which is great. Cork supporters are always very good to us. Hopefully they can keep the flags up for another couple of weeks, but there’s always a great atmosphere there and a great pitch,” Lynch remarked.

The Sarsfields netminder was speaking in Croke Park on Monday afternoon at the Camogie Association’s launch of the 2024 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Senior and Intermediate Championship Semi-Finals.

A day earlier, Lynch was also in the Jones’ Road venue to see a Cork team managed by her club-mate Pat Ryan falling agonisingly short to Clare in a gripping All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final.

 Like so many Rebels supporters, she was disappointed to see her county coming out on the wrong side of an epic battle, but nonetheless proud of the performances they delivered throughout the summer.

 “Pat is an incredible person and such a nice man. I was delighted for Pat for him to get to an All-Ireland final, but I’d say there could be an All-Ireland in that team yet. A disappointing day, but they tried their hearts out.

“They were incredible. An amazing match and just unlucky at the end. They’ve given Cork a great lift. Hopefully they’ll be back again next year.”

 Following Sunday’s hurling final – and the last-four exit the Cork ladies footballers suffered against Galway a day earlier – the remaining chance for All-Ireland glory within the Rebel County is on the camogie front.

The good news from that perspective is that there are two Cork sides that are within reach of a championship final.

On the same day that the senior outfit take on Dublin in Kilkenny, the county’s intermediate camogie squad will lock horns with Offaly in their own championship semi-final showdown at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

Given there is still a strong shot at national success for both teams, Lynch is hopeful that the Cork public will get fully behind their respective efforts in the top two grades of the camogie championships.

A heavy support would be extremely beneficial from her own side’s point of view as Manley’s senior charges will be facing a Dublin team that have been transformed since their comprehensive 4-22 to 0-5 defeat to Cork in an All-Ireland group game at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on June 22.

After claiming an expected victory against Down in Group 1 of the O’Duffy Cup, the Sky Blues pulled out all the stops to overcome Kilkenny in a quarter-final clash at Croke Park earlier this month.

 “Hopefully now people will get behind us as well. There was such a scramble for tickets at the weekend, but there’s an opportunity for people to go to a semi-final this weekend.

“Hopefully now they’ll take that opportunity and travel up,” Lynch added.