Younger players set out stall with Cork
CAMOGIE
By Daire Walsh
IT WASN’T as comprehensive as their last encounter with the Metropolitans, but All-Ireland Champions Cork ultimately emerged victorious from their National Camogie League Division One meeting with Dublin at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.
Team manager Paudie Murray was expecting a tough battle from the Leinster outfit following their previous wins over Derry and Clare, and considering how youthful his starting line-up was for the contest in Donnycarney, he was understandably pleased with the eventual outcome.
“I suppose coming up here today we knew it was going to be pretty tough. We’ve a lot of young girls probably started here today. Six or seven of the girls are under 20 years of age, so we knew it would be a good learner for them today,” Murray remarked afterwards.
“I suppose we got rattled earlier on, and I think a lot of credit has to go to them. They held their composure and the longer the game drove on, we looked like really being the only winners towards the end.”
With three consecutive triumphs to date in the league, the Leesiders are in pole position to top Group Two, which would offer them a place in the semi-final against the second-placed team in Group One.
Pleased
Murray has been pleased with the attitude of his squad in the wake of their magnificent triumph at Croke Park last September, and though he still sees room for improvement, he expects that the chance to train more frequently on grass surfaces will help to eliminate errors.
“I think what pleases me most is the attitude of the girls. Because sometimes after winning an All-Ireland, people might get carried away with themselves. I don’t think that’s the case at the moment, but then again the wheels might come off later on in the year.
“I don’t think we’re setting the world on fire with some of our play, but then again I think we’ve had more matches on grass surfaces than training at the moment.
“I think we’ve only had two sessions on the pitch. I would be hoping that probably six or seven weeks down the road, we would be making less mistakes than we made in the first three games.”
With 16 titles to their name, Cork currently lead the roll of honours for the National Camogie League. Yet, while a third league triumph in four seasons would be welcomed, Murray has identified the level of performance as a main priority.
“I suppose the priority really is to be competitive. I’m happy as long as we’re climbing the ladder performance-wise, and I think we can only look after our own performance. I think if we perform well, normally you will win most games. Performance really is the key with us,” Murray added.