Hurt from last year's semi-final defeat is driving Offaly on this year

THE hurt from last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork is one of the things driving Offaly on this year, defender Amy Byrne said ahead of this year's final.

“I think last year that hurt was like nothing that I've ever felt before so we were able to bottle that up so hopefully this year we can unleash that bottle and hopefully that will be this week. We never want to be back there again, that was horrible losing that. But we knew we were so close and that was what was so hard. We knew that on another day we could have won it so we're not going to leave anything behind us again, it will all be left out on the field,” she said.

The Lusmagh native transferred to Shinrone this year but laughed that she hasn't actually got to play with them yet. She explained “I'm from Lusmagh. We were joined up with Drumcullen but we split this year and Lusmagh didn't have a senior team, so I transferred to Shinrone. I haven't played with them yet but we'll be playing championship in a few weeks time.”

Amy comes from a solid GAA background with her father Ray having played with Lusmagh for many years while her grandfather Brendan served both the club and County Board with distinction.

Her attention up to this have been focused on the county team and next Sunday's final. “There's a buzz in the camp and everyone is looking forward to next Sunday. Being able to train in O'Connor Park is great as well, to get in here to big stadiums, I'd never played here before this year. “

Playing in Croke Park will be new for the team. “We're going up this week to have a view of the stadium before Sunday. Most of the panel haven't played in Croke Park before, so it is going to be new to us. It is different to Semple Stadium and Chadwick's Wexford Park, it is bigger and the novelty of it as well. Hopefully getting that trip early in the week will throw off the novelty and on Sunday we can focus on the game in hand.”

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Getting to the final has been the result of a very good year for Offaly. “Our year has gone well and after winning the league we were able to drive it on for the championship. I know we lost to Antrim in the first round by two points but coming back in the semi-final and beating them was a great achievement for us and gave us a boost as a team to believe that we can do it. It would be great to top off the year with a win – it would be the cherry on the cake,” she said.

The manner of that semi-final win over Antrim was very encouraging. “I think it showed a lot of character in the team. All the subs that came on contributed. It was a really hot day as well so we had to use our panel and all subs who came on did their job and I think even in the dying minutes of the game when the panic set in, we were still able to keep our cool and get the win, which was great and hopefully we can do the same on Sunday.”

Amy is in her sixth year on the panel. “Having been there for the downs and lows in the latter years at senior level, it's great to be back up here and you cherish it more and appreciate it more, the work that has gone in to get back up, so hopefully we can get the win and get back up senior where I started in 2019.”

Amy does have memories of Offaly's last win in 2010. “I do remember the last win in 2010. My uncle Joachim (Kelly) was the manager at the time . I don't remember the matches but I do remember the celebrations and coming home to the lorry and the different villages and towns and I just remember the girls being so happy and being on such a high. It's mad that back then I was looking up at them and them winning All-Irelands and the roles are reversed now and I'm in that position and we can win the All-Ireland and there will be some of them in the stands looking on.”

Amy said the new structures have given “teams like us a chance to drive on. It was ourselves and Kerry who were beaten in the semi-finals last year and now we're in the final. It definitely helps.”

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Looking at Sunday's opponents Amy said she hasn't come across them much over the years. “We played them in the league this year and we beat them but they are in an All-Ireland final so it is a clean slate as far as we are concerned You are going to meet a good team in an All-Ireland final so we are not looking back at that at all.we just go in with a clean slate and focus on the game in hand and leave everything on the field.”

This is their second year under David Sullivan's management. “Last year we were getting to know them and they were getting to know us but coming in this year, second year in, we knew them a lot better, we knew what they were about and we knew the standards and I think we were on a higher level this year coming into the year so we were able to train at a higher level at the start of the year and drive it on. That hopefully will stand to us.”

The introduction of new players has also helped. “We brought a few of the minors like Kate Pilkington and Niamh Sheehy and they are huge on the panel as well and they drive us on. Younger girls with great talent, they'll be pushing for places on the team and they are definitely driving us on.

“The great thing about this year was that you were never sure of your place. There was always someone pushing for your jersey and that's great and that will come into play this week. We're going to need our panel and we're going to need to use 20 players and it's great that you can call on any girl in the dugout, you can rely on any of them because everyone has the talent to be on the team. It's been a huge part of our year our panel this year,” Amy added.

“There is a great spread of clubs on the Offaly team this year but when we are training it doesn't feel like there are certain clubs, we forget about the club championships when we are in here, we're Offaly when we are training here so we have a really strong bond as well here and that will stand to us. We are all close and we all get on.”

Having won the league Offaly are now going for a double. “We know now what it feel like to be champions and we want to feel that again so hopefully that can stand to us again,” she said.

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She's enjoying the excitement of the build up. “You see the flags going up now in the county and it's great. It's so rewarding to see them going up and knowing that you could be one step away from lifting that cup in the Hogan Stand. Hopefully everyone will get up there and support us. It's great to see that the club hurling fixtures were moved so there's nothing on Sunday so we hope to see some of the hurlers and their families up as well, there's no excuse now.”