Inside Track with John McIntyre

THE temptation to slip away immediately after the final whistle in Thurles last Saturday evening was avoided. I may have nothing to do with the Athenry camogie team bar reporting on their journey to All-Ireland glory, but it was hard to avoid getting caught up in their magnificent triumph.

Your instinct was to hang around and show respect for what Dervla Higgins and company had just achieved. Their fighting spirit alone was extraordinary and the scenes of joy on the Semple Stadium surface were richly deserved. Athenry were prepared to work like dogs to be crowned All-Ireland champions.

In her victory speech, Higgins said many of the usual things that a winning captain does, but she also paid a warm tribute to their late teammate Kate Moran, who died tragically on the camogie fields in April of 2022. She was their hidden inspiration.

Midway through the second-half, however, Athenry’s goose looked cooked. They had gone from being four points up to falling four behind and St Finbarr’s had wrestled........

© Connacht Tribune