“We treat every training session as if it’s our last and we’ve been going full pelt” – Kerry captain Jackie Horgan ready for Dubs showdown

Kerry face Dublin this Sunday in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship Final in Croke Park. Throw-in is set for 12noon with the Kingdom set to play their first match ever in Croke Park. We caught up with Kerry captain Jackie Horgan ahead of the much anticipated encounter.

 

Q. So, Jackie, coming into your match against Dublin, how have preparations been going?

"Preparations have been going great so far. This is Kerry Camogie's first time reaching Croke Park so it’s a massive day for us as a county. We’ve been putting in three weeks of hard training, pushing each-other on and we treat every training session as if it’s our last and we’ve been going full pelt at each other, so it’s been great."

 

Q. Has your mindset changed at all coming into what promises to be a thrilling encounter against a strong Dublin side?

"I suppose it hasn’t changed for us anyway, we’re just focusing on trying to not let the occasion get the better of us. Seeing as it’s our first day out in Croke Park it’s going to be a massive occasion for everyone involved. For us, it will all be about settling the nerves early on and just enjoying the day as much as we can."

 

Q. How does your team plan on managing your emotions coming into your first time playing in Croke Park?

"We’ll be coming up the day before, so I suppose that day, we’ll be focusing on trying to relax, be ourselves and have a bit of fun. On matchday then we’ll be completely focused and tune in on getting into the game and not to panic when we see the big stage and the field. It’s important to enjoy the day as a whole because it could be our first and last day time playing there."

 

Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Championships Finals

Sunday September 9^th

Croke Park

 

Senior Final

Cork v Kilkenny

Throw-in: 4.15pm

Referee: Eamon Cassidy (Derry)

 

Intermediate Final

Cork v Down

Throw-in: 2pm

Referee: John Dermody (Westmeath)

 

Premier Junior Final

Dublin v Kerry

Throw-in: 12noon

Referee: Alan Doheny (Laois)