The captain of the Cork team to play Galway in tomorrow's All-Ireland Camogie Final in Croke Park knows a thing or two about being under fire, writes Michael Kelly
Based in Collins Barracks in Cork, Gemma O'Connor (below) is a member of the Defence Forces and has served overseas, including in troublespots such as Liberia.
O'Connor has won an All-Star every year for the past four years, one of only two people to have achieved this distinction. "We are just delighted to be in an All-Ireland final again - you never tire of running out in Croke Park because each time you do, you're aware that it might be your last." Cork go in to the final as favourites, having seen off Tipperary in the semi-final. Galway have reached a senior camogie final for the first time in 10 years, having beaten current champions Wexford in their semi-final clash.
O'Connor calls her stint in Liberia "an eye-opener" and says the Defence Forces are great employers for people interested in sport. "You're working with people who are typically involved in sports and they have been very supportive of me in terms of training and looking out for me in the run-up to matches."
Interest in the game is increasing and camogie is now the fastest-growing female sport in Ireland. Up to 35,000 people attended last year's final in Croke Park. "It will never be as big as the men's game, and we will never sell out Croke Park or anything like that," says O'Connor, "but people are interested in it now. Kids want to play camogie in schools and when they grow up, and that's fantastic."
The Gala All Ireland Senior Championship final between Cork and Galway takes place tomorrow at 4pm in Croke Park. The Junior Championship final between Clare and Offaly is at noon. The senior game will be shown live on RTÉ Two.
www.camogie.ie