“We’re used to playing each other now and both teams have come to know each other inside out” – Kilkenny captain Shelly Farrell ready for another battle against their great adversaries

Q. So, Shelly, coming into your match against Cork, how have preparations been going?

"Preparations have been going extremely well so far. There’s been a great edge to training since the Semi-Final. The girls have been training extremely hard and pushing each other for places which is exactly what we want. We’ll be getting our heads down and just driving on for the next few weeks and we’re extremely looking forward to the big day on Sunday."

 

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

"Not really. We try to look at every match the same. It helps stop the nerves and pressure building up on players which is great. We follow a similar routine in the lead-up to matches so we’re just going to take it one step at a time."

 

Q. Throughout the season and over the last number of years there has been several key battles between yourselves and Cork. You’re tied at one win apiece for the season. How does your team plan on managing all the emotions that come along with that?

"Yeah, we’re looking at it as a new game each time. Every All-Ireland Final that we’ve played against Cork has been different so we’re just going to treat it like it’s another Championship match. I know that can be difficult as the game itself has the added pressure and hype because it is an All-Ireland Final, but we’re used to playing each other now and both teams have come to know each other inside out. We know that we need to manage our emotions and hopefully we’ll come out with the right result on the day."