Sunday's senior All-Ireland camogie final is full of intrigue. Cork - who have more O'Duffy Cups than anyone - will be looking to end their five-year drought. Waterford - who've only won one All-Ireland in their history - will be looking to end a 78-year drought. There are also some interesting subplots amongst the players, namely Cork's Ashling Thompson.
Thompson has been a lynchpin for Cork over the last decade, and is looking to win her fifth All-Ireland medal this weekend. She's been on the long road to recovery after suffering an ACL injury last year with her club Milford. The injury came weeks after Thompson had missed a long free that would have equalised the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. It was a challenging few months of recovery, but Thompson has played a vital role for Cork in their 2023 campaign, even if it means starting from the subs bench.
Thompson is also looking to complete a unusual double: her partner Limerick hurler Darragh O'Donovan won the All-Ireland two weeks ago, and Thompson will be out to do similar on Sunday afternoon.
In a fascinating interview with Therese O'Callaghan in the Irish Examiner this week, Thompson shed light on how her relationship has driven her on to be a better hurler.
"Darragh is such an influence on me, and gives me the want to be at that level and to be successful.”
Thompson also explained how she's worked with Limerick physio Seánie McAuliffe while rehabbing her ACL injury and has benefitted greatly just from being exposed to Limerick highly professional set-up.
"Even down to supplements, he [O'Donovan] would really look after me. There is a complete polar opposite in terms of player welfare between them and us.”
That serious approach was obvious to the Cork panel. Her teammate Amy O'Connor was full of praise during the week for Thompson's mindset in returning to injury
Ashling Thompson has reacted like a professional athlete in dealing with her injury since it happened to her. Credit where credit is due, she was absolutely phenomenal, so regimental in her recovery and I'm delighted for her because she's flying in training. She looks great, she looks sharp. She really, really went about it in the right way."
O'Donovan and Thompson are two of hurling's most colourful characters. The Doon man, fresh off his best-ever season, is a shoe-in for an All-Star, and deserves to be in the Hurler of the Year conversation. On a huge day for Cork camogie, it's certain that Thompson will play a big role in the outcome of this year's final. Another medal will only cement her place as one of the greats of Cork camogie.
