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When Doireann O’Sullivan joined the Cork soccer panel in 2012, she found herself immersed in a high-performing team that knew nothing but success.
That year, the Rebels claimed the seventh Irish title in eight years. Four years later, her sister Ciara captained the team six in a row, Doireann scored three points and Dublin was outnumbered.
However, that red domain has quickly turned blue.
Dublin will renew its relations with the Leesiders on Sunday, and it is Mick Bohan’s team that is looking to lift the Brendan Martin Cup for the fourth time in a row.
O’Sullivan acknowledges that the capital team possesses “incredible footballers” and off the field, a healthy bond and respect has been built between the two groups.
“I think what separates Dublin from the rest of us is their athletic ability,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“They are extremely fast and in shape all over the field. They have taken strength and conditioning to a new level. If you meet a girl from Dublin, you know it all. Every county has excellent footballers, but Dublin has taken the pace and strength to a new level. ”
If Cork is to prevail on Sunday, lessons will have to be learned from the recent losses to Dublin (Ireland final 2018 and semi-final 2019). Above all, stay focused from the throw-in.
“We got a little panicky,” says the Mourneabbey player, reflecting on the 2-11-0-11 loss last year.
“Dublin scored a goal and we pressed the panic button very early. It is important, especially in the first 10 minutes, to do the simple things well.
“At the first water break, if we’re level or a point or two below, we’ll be happy with that.”
One player who will be very familiar to some of the Cork players is Noelle Healy.
As part of Dubliner’s qualifications as an anesthetist, Healy spent 12 months working at Cork University Hospital.
To keep up with football, he traded to Mourneabbey after making contact with Ciara O’Sullivan, a key part of his club All-Ireland’s win in 2019, kicking two points in a low-scoring final.
“The dedication and commitment he gave to Mourneabbey was incredible. We all have great respect for him. He didn’t need to commit so much, he was always going to start our team with his talent, but we all really get it. He likes him and has great respect for him. she.
“She was a big part of why we crossed the line in 2019.”
There’s an intriguing subplot that his former teammate and Cork cornerback Eimear Meaney could keep an eye on the potent attacker.
“That could take on a life of its own.”
The semi-final victory over Galway was overshadowed by the drama over changing venues and serve times.
On second thought, O’Sullivan thinks it turned out to be a very valuable exercise given that forward Emer Kiely and forward Erica O’Shea had never started a game at Croke Park before.
Another aspect was playing in the empty stadium before the decider.
“Just to hear the calls from the players and management on the field. I couldn’t believe on the last day how easy it is to communicate and get messages across.”
The debacle surrounding the semi-final once again shed light on the problems that women’s football has faced, but winds of change are blowing.
Inter-county players from both the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Gaelic Female Players Association (WGPA) have voted to merge into a single representative body of 4,000 members and a first Annual General Meeting to be held in the second quarter of 2021.
O’Sullivan insists it is a “big step forward” and in a county the size of Cork, the importance cannot be understated.
A recent WGPA report found that 93% of inter-county soccer players or pitchers received no travel expenses and a key point of discussion with the WGPA was how a merger of the players’ bodies would address this issue.
“We have three girls who travel from Beara and two from Dublin three nights a week. That was a big topic, if we were all under the same umbrella, they would treat us as one. I don’t think anyone should pay out of pocket in representation of your county. ”
Over time, it could lead to a merger of the associations themselves and O’Sullivan could see more opportunities for double heads with the men.
In January, the Cork ladies played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the first time when they opened their league defense against Westmeath on the same day that the Cork men faced Offaly.
The men’s and women’s finals will take place on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, and it could be a while before we see an ‘Ireland double final’.
The LGFA has said that it is “not feasible at this time” given that the junior, intermediate and senior women’s finals are held, under non-Covid conditions, on the same day, but would O’Sullivan have any objections in the female end? part of a curtain raises in case of a double head?
“Of course not. I know attendance this year is not a problem. The idea of playing in front of a packed Croke Park, I think is a female footballer’s dream. When I started in 2012, there were maybe 20,000 in the games (All-Ireland final). We’ve doubled that now (56,114 attended the 2019 final) and Croke Park has the potential to double that again.
“I think it would be a dream.”
A championship, regardless of an all-Ireland final, seemed implausible at times earlier this year and O’Sullivan was grateful to have his sister Ciara for company, using the elementary school field for kicks, accompanied by rabbits and sheep. .
You are now just one game away from becoming the second member of your household to lead the rebels to ultimate glory.
“I grew up watching people like Juliet Murphy, Briege Corkery and Angela Walsh captaining teams from Cork. I would love to follow in Ciara’s footsteps.
“When you look around you and see the caliber of the players on our team, it is an honor to represent the girls and our management team.”
Follow the all-Ireland senior soccer final between Dublin and Cork with our live blog on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app (starting at 3:00 PM Sunday) or listen to the commentary live on RTÉ Radio 1. The highlights of Sunday’s game (9:30 p.m. RTÉ2)
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