Devane and Tipp ready for Wexford challenge

CAMOGIE: Glen Dimplex All Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Round 2 Preview

By Thomas Conway

WEXFORD v TIPPERARY

Bellefield, Enniscorthy

Saturday 24th June

Throw-in @ 4.00pm

Referee: John Dermody (Westmeath)

At the outset it seemed predictable, but Group 2 of this All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship was blown wide open at Nowlan Park last Saturday week. Somehow, against all the odds, Wexford staged a heroic come-back to reign in the All-Ireland champions Kilkenny and force a draw. It was a result that nobody saw coming, most likely not even Wexford themselves.

When Tipp confront the Slaneysiders in Enniscorthy this Saturday, they’ll do so armed with the knowledge that a win would guarantee them safe passage to the knockout stages - with a game in hand. Such an eventuality would suit manager Denis Kelly marvellously.

But think about the inverse. Should Tipp lose, or even draw, it would create a situation whereby the Premier would have to travel to Kilkenny in search of a result against the reigning All-Ireland champions. And Kilkenny are dangerous right now, more dangerous than previously. Why? Because that draw against Wexford will have stung them, stung them badly, and the All-Ireland champs will be intent on atoning for their mistakes over the coming weeks. They play Dublin this weekend. Pity the Liffeysiders.

Tipp were far too focused on Dublin to pay much attention to what was unfolding in Nowlan Park last Saturday week, but events on Nore-side still raised eyebrows amongst the Tipp players. Veteran attacker Cáit Devane delivered another Player of the Match performance against the Dubs, and although she never underestimated Wexford in the first place, the 30 year-old admits that the result was one which few saw coming.

“It was probably a little bit surprising,” she admitted.

“I think most people would have expected Kilkenny to win, given that they had home advantage and all that. But I have to say, if we have learned anything from the past year two about this camogie championship, it’s that you can’t take any game for granted - and Tipperary have found that out the hard way over the past few seasons.

“I didn’t actually see the game but anything I’ve heard or read suggests that Wexford were full value for their draw. I think they were ten points down at one stage, and any team that reels in a lead like that against the reigning All-Ireland champions are a serious side. So, we know how good they are, we know the threat they pose, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Wexford will, presumably, have drawn huge confidence from their exploits down in Nowlan Park. They’re a balanced outfit, a team with a concrete gameplan which they adhere to in all circumstances. In Ciara O’Connor they have as good a forward as any in the game at this moment in time. The St. Martin’s attacker produced a string of second-half heroics against Kilkenny to salvage a point for her side, and she is likely to cause Tipp similar problems when the sides meet in Bellefield this weekend.

But Tipp will enter this fixture high on confidence. Devane believes that Tipp’s consistency over the course of both the National League and the Munster Championship has given them an additional edge in terms of collective confidence and team spirit.

The mood amongst the players is optimistic and ambitious. Devane also thinks that winning the Munster Championship represented a watershed moment for Denis Kelly’s side. Prior to that they had been starved of success for a prolonged period of time.

“Look, we have put together a string of consistent performances - both in the league and in the Munster Championship. And I think winning Munster was huge for us,” he added.

“It had been thirteen years since Tipp had last won a Munster title, and that’s a long period of time without success in our province. But championship is a different kettle of fish, the All-Ireland series is a different kettle of fish, it really is.

“And we know that Wexford away is going to be a really, really stiff challenge - especially off the back of their result against Kilkenny. So, we really have to give them the respect that they deserve. It’s going to be a massive, massive task, but one that we’re preparing really well for, I have to say. Put it this way, we’re certainly not taking Wexford lightly.”

Is Devane enjoying being in the middle of it all? Yes, she certainly is. The Clonoulty-Rossmore clubwoman has been around for long enough to know that momentum is a precious commodity in inter-county camogie. Tipp are playing a fluent, attractive brand of dynamic camogie, and Devane is a central node in their system. Confidence levels are high and competition for places has skyrocketed, but the bond between the players has perhaps never been stronger.

“It is enjoyable, playing the type of camogie that we’re playing, and I think that you can sense that in the players,” she revealed.

“There’s a really nice buzz in and around the camp. A couple of the older girls are feeding off the energy of the younger ones, and the competition for places is just really, really intense. We’re working really hard for each other, but we’re actually enjoying the process at the same thing, which is what you want in any team.

“The players are getting on well with one another - the communication between us, even in the middle of an intense game, in the cauldron of battle, is still nice and relaxed, nice and composed. And I think that tells its own story in terms of how well the team is operating. So definitely it’s very enjoyable, to be in the middle of it all, it really is.”