Louise O’ Mahoney, Laois chats to Camogie.ie on Saturday, September 15th
1.Your predictions on the games: Senior, Intermediate and Premier Junior.
Meath will win the Premier Junior as they are unbeaten in the Championship and have raised their game this year as evidenced by them contesting the Division Two League final against Derry who are playing today in the Intermediate All-Ireland. On what I have seen to date I think Wexford will win Senior and Derry for the Intermediate.
2.What will be the key battles on the day?
Who-ever is marking Jane Dolan will have their hands full so I think that will be the biggest battle of the day.
3.Croke Park on All-Ireland Finals day; What is it like as a player and what does it mean to you?
It would be a dream come throught to play there and obviously all teams will be looking to have happy memories of the game.
4.The outstanding player of 2012.
Sarah Anne Fitzgerald from Laois in the Premier Junior Championship.
5.Advice for the young players on All-Ireland Finals day
Remember the day – you are one of a select few who have had the opportunity to play there on an All-Ireland Final day. Keep listening to what your trainers have to say.
Suzie Carroll, Kildare on Friday September 14th
1.Your predictions on the games: Senior, Intermediate and Premier Junior.
Down for the Premier Junior- they have the experience of playing in Croke Park and are constantly improving every time we play them. I’ll pick Derry fir the Senior and Wexford for the Senior.
2.What will be the key battles on the day?
The battle will be between Jane Dolan and whoever the Down team chose to mark her. It will be vital to Down to keep her from scoring and feeding ball into the forwards. (pictured Jane Dolan and Fionnuala Carr of Down)
3.Croke Park on All-Ireland Finals day; What is it like as a player and what does it mean to you?
It is a huge motivation for every player to have the opportunity to play there and in the last few years the fact that players in the Intermediate and Premier Junior grades have been given the opportunity it makes the Championship so much more intense because everybody is striving to get to Croke Park on All-Ireland final day.
4.The outstanding player of 2012.
Claire Coffey of Meath
5.Advice for the young players on All-Ireland Finals day?
It’s a huge day in your life but try treat it as just a normal match
Fiona Lafferty of Clare on Thursday September 13th
1.Your predictions on the games: Senior, Intermediate and Premier Junior
Cork will sneak it by two points in the end but it will be a battle until the final whistle.
2.What will be the key battles on the day?
Midfield- Jenny O’ Leary has to be kept quiet on the day as well as Orla Cotter which will mean scoring midfield Kate Kelly will have to play a more defensive role along with Michelle O’ Leary.
3.Croke Park on All-Ireland Finals day; What is it like as a player and what does it mean to you?
It is the biggest day on the Camogie calendar and every player wants to be there.
4.The outstanding player of 2012
Marie McGrath the Clare corner back- she never gets the recognition she deserves.
5.Advice for the young players on All-Ireland Finals day
Have a good look round at the start and get it out of the way- then focus and play your own game.
Elaine Dermody of Offaly chats to Camogie.ie on Wednesday September 12th
1.Your predictions on the games: Senior, Intermediate and Premier Junior
Wexford for 3 in a row, Derry they seem to be on a good run having won the Division Two League so they have a taste for winning now and Down as it’s their second year in Croke Park, they won’t want to leave it behind again.
2.What will be the key battles on the day?
The centre backs on both teams are equally as strong as the centre forwards on both teams. Anna Geary will be up against Mary Leacy and Gemma O’Connor will be tasked with keeping Una Leacy from making her mark on the scoring sheet.
I think whichever team wins their centre back/centre forward battle will prevail on the day.
3.Croke Park on All-Ireland Finals day; What is it like as a player and what does it mean to you?
It is the reason you start training back in the cold of winter and it is where every player wants to be in September.
4.The outstanding player of 2012
Orla Cotter due to her dominance in the air
5.Advice for young players on All-Ireland Finals day?
The day goes by so quick so make sure you take it all in and don’t let people tell you to ignore what’s going on around you and treat it like another match- embrace it all because at the end of the day it’s not just another match it’s an All-Ireland Final in Croke Park; so take the positives from that and let the nervous energy that it creates drive you on and push you that extra bit.
Louise O’ Hara of Dublin chats to Camogie on Tuesday September 11th ahead of the Finals
Cork- They appear to have the hunger this year and I think that will be the only thing that will separate the teams.
Catherine O’ Loughlin and the particular forward that Cork will play there. Catherine is such a dominant player which will make it difficult for the agile Cork forwards, all of whom seem to be able to score with ease but with Catherine marking them it will be a whole different story. Midfield is also going to be very challenging for both teams with the wealth of experience and skill that Kate Kelly and Michelle O’ Leary have for Wexford against Orla Cotter and Jenny O’ Leary of Cork. I believe that Gemma O’Connor’s natural position is midfield and it could be a good tactical move to play her there.
From a practical point of view Croke Park is a very big pitch with a lot of space and boasts the best surface in the country so there is no doubt that the game will be very fast- paced. In terms of the experience of playing in the venue, having played there against Kilkenny last year as a double header with a Dublin hurling game it was amazing. Having your home fans cheering you on is just an electric feeling.
Get your nerves out of the way in your warm up – look around and see the crowd and take it in and deal with your nerves then. The minute the sliotar is thrown in you just have to forget about nerves.
1. Predictions on the games: Senior, Intermediate and Premier Junior
