Cotter ready for Croke Park experience

Bennekerry Tinryland captain, Shaneen Cotter said she was excited ahead of Saturday's AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies’ football final against Annaghdown of Galway, when she spoke to the media this week.

The experienced Carlow player stated:

“It’s hard to put into words, the emotions that I'm feeling this week and last week. When the final whistle went in the semi-final, we were all ecstatic. We’re the first ladies' team from Carlow to play a competitive game in Croke Park. I never thought it would be with my club, I thought it would be in different colours. I think everyone is so elated, I’m buzzing, buzzing is the only way to describe it.” 

The Carlow and Leinster champions have had a difficult route to the national final and Cotter believes the local community have been a huge support to the side.

“Our Leinster campaign started off strong in fairness, and we’ve built on it. Our first two Leinster matches were at home, so we had the home advantage. We got a crowd at it. Our supporters have driven us on. They were in Louth at our semi-final and in Kinnegead at our Leinster final also. It’s a huge achievement, I don’t think a team from Carlow has won the Leinster Intermediate since 2002. The buzz has been all around the county. Luckily for us we were playing our best football all year.” 

The Carlow player claimed that Saturday evening is a huge night for the club and community and stated it would mean everything to win in Croke Park this weekend.

“It would be a dream come true, but you try to not think about it too much because you don’t want it to take away from the experience. It would be phenomenal for the community and that. Like even mom this week was going on about tickets. And I was asking why are you getting so many tickets. But she was saying aunts and uncles want to go. It’s such a big deal for people. The U8s and u10s wearing the BT colours into school. There’s such a want in the community. It's bigger than us. It’s hard to articulate. I’d be lost for words again if we win it.” 

The Bennekerry/Tinryland captain believes that the incredible team bond within their squad is a key reason behind the side’s success this year. 

“One of the girls on the team was our teacher in the primary school and she would’ve taught us. So, there’s always been that bond. Like a lot of us in a small club would’ve coaches underage teams so that bond is there, were a small club. In terms of lie the bond, were very welcoming, we have breakfast mornings, we go to the river together, the last few years the minors have trained with the seniors, which helps with that bond. Everyone likes each other, which is so good.” 

Cotter praised her side’s management team also for leading the side to this weekend’s final. 

“All year they have just said to make sure we stay in the game. To work as a team and have the belief. They’ve been fantastic, they know they have such a great caliber of players, they’ve been kind’ve like why not.” 

Cotter’s side faces a stern test from Galway side, Annaghdown. The north Galway side defeated O’Donovan Rossa of Cork in their All-Ireland semi-final and were extremely impressive in their county and provincial campaiagns. Cotter is under no illusions of how difficult Saturday's final will be, but she is very much looking forward to the game.

Ciara McCarthy has top scored for the Galway Intermediate champions this season, and the former Galway senior player will once again lead the line in attack for the Cregg based outfit. Annaghdown defeated Oughterard and Drumcliffe Rosses point in their county and Connacht finals respectively, and they will also be able to call on the services of former Galway senior player, Chloe Crowe.

Bennekerry Tinryland face Annaghdown on Saturday afternoon in Croke Park at 3pm in the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies’ football final.