Cahalan planning to fulfil her dreams

CAMOGIE - All-Ireland SHC Final:CAMOGIE DOMINATES the sporting landscape this weekend. They certainly know how best to utilise their schedule and supposedly president Liz Howard can even control the weather.

Here is the breakdown. Cork are the all-conquering, yet currently wounded, queens of Croke Park come mid-September. They may be nursing the hurt caused by Wexford's dramatic yet refreshing victory in 2007 and have lost nine players to pastures new but they have somehow found a way back.

Galway arrive down the N6 in an attempt to repeat the Wexford trick. They are marginal favourites.

You see, Cork are not the Cork we have grown accustomed to over the past six All-Ireland finals due to a fairly significant exodus; the most notable departures being free-taker Jenny O'Leary (somewhere in Australia) and Anna Geary (Luxembourg).

It's obviously a concern when so many take flight but old reliables like the peerless Briege Corkery, Mary O'Connor and captain Catriona Foley remain in situ. They were forced to delve into their reserves to make it back to a decider against the only side that has had their number these past few months.

"It's a different team really so you can't compare last year with this year," Foley told us in the Hogan Stand dressing room last Monday, while adding that the pain of last year's defeat still resonates.

"Wexford were a team who had never played in an All-Ireland final at Croke Park. It's the same situation with this Galway team as only one or two of them have played in an All-Ireland final at Croke Park before. It didn't affect Wexford last year it won't affect Galway this year. We have to meet them with our determination and willingness to win."

This young UCC student ticked all the public relations boxes. The sponsors were mentioned and respect was shown to the opposition without sacrificing that natural Cork confidence.

They learnt from the late goal and defeat to Galway in Páirc Uí Rinn earlier in the campaign but it was the renewal of acquaintances with Wexford that bred enough belief to carry them back to September. "Beating Wexford in the championship was a turning point. It set us on our way really to banish ghosts that had been there last year. It was a good feeling."

Sinead Cahalan is the Galway captain. Jessica Gill of Athenry is the young prodigy that needs particular watching while Veronica Curtin is the veteran, at 28, who was around when they contested the 1996 All-Ireland.

Curtin is also married to Damien Coleman, who makes up the management team with former Galway goalkeeper Liam Donoghue and Ann Broderick.

Only 22, Cahalan proved an equally adept spokeswoman as her opposite number, dealing with the past and what they intend to achieve come Sunday.

"I have great memories of '96 when we won the All-Ireland. I remember our club team, Mullagh, went up to the game. We ran out on to the pitch afterwards.

"I remember watching them lifting the cup and I remember the homecoming on the Monday. I remember just being in the middle of the crowd and thinking that some day this is going to happen."

Galway got their walk out in Croke Park last Sunday after the hurling final so the vision of what happened to their minors and, of course, Waterford is etched in the collective memory. It should help ensure the nuances of a final, in such an arena, don't spoil a year of endeavour.

"We learned valuable lessons from the Waterford hurlers. It is a huge occasion. We are aware that Cork have been in every All-Ireland since 2002 so they have huge experience.

"We might be lacking experience but we have everything else. There is such drive in the team and hopefully we are going to be able to combat that inexperience. We have talked about it. We've done everything that we can to avoid letting the occasion get to us."

Tomorrow, Croke Park. Throw-in - 4pm Live on RTÉ 2;

Junior final:Clare v Offaly, noon live on TG4