Defending a title is a whole different beast compared to chasing one, and Galway midfielder Aisling Maher knows it better than most heading into Sunday’s All-Ireland camogie final against Cork.
Galway arrive at the biggest day in the camogie calendar as the team everyone wants to beat. That target on their back is something the squad has had to consciously manage throughout the season, and Maher is under no illusions about what that means when the final whistle blows on Sunday.
“It changes things,” Maher said. “When you’re the team that won it last year, every side that lines up against you is that bit more motivated. You bring out the best in people whether you like it or not.”
Cork will be the ones doing the chasing this time around, and that role as the hungry challenger can be a powerful thing. They have been building steadily through the championship and come into the final with serious momentum and a point to prove. For a county with Cork’s camogie history, getting their hands back on the O’Duffy Cup is never just a nice idea, it’s an expectation.
But Galway are not simply rolling over. The Connacht side showed throughout this year’s championship that last year’s win was no fluke. They have the quality, the experience of winning, and crucially the belief that comes with knowing what it takes to go the full distance and come out on top.
Maher has been one of the key figures in the Galway setup, bringing energy and drive from the middle of the park. She is well aware that the mental side of defending a title can be just as demanding as the physical preparation.
Getting the balance right between respecting what they achieved last year while staying hungry enough to do it all again is the challenge that falls on every player in the Galway dressing room between now and Sunday’s throw-in.
Cork manager have put in serious work to get their side ready for this moment. Their route through the championship has shown they have the firepower to trouble any team in the country, and a final against the reigning champions on the biggest stage is exactly the kind of game their players have been preparing for all year.
The atmosphere for All-Ireland camogie finals has grown year on year, with bigger crowds and more national attention than ever before. Sunday’s game is expected to draw a massive following, with supporters from both counties making the trip in huge numbers.
For Galway, the message is simple. Forget the noise, forget the narrative around being champions, and focus on the game in front of them. Easier said than done when every pundit and supporter has an opinion, but that ability to block out the outside world and concentrate on the 60 minutes ahead is what separates good teams from great ones.
Maher and her teammates will be doing everything they can to make sure Galway are still standing when it matters most on Sunday afternoon.