CORK LADIES FOOTBALLER Bríd Stack has drawn parallels between the victorious Rebelettes and Brian Cody’s conquering Kilkenny hurling team.
Last Sunday Kilkenny won their 13th All-Ireland senior semi-final under Cody’s watch and will bid for their 10th title in Croke Park next month.
Today Stack will be part of a Cork team that contests the TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior quarter-final against Mayo in Tullamore.
They’ll be hoping to maintain their incredible run of glory that has seen them win eight of the last nine All-Ireland titles.
“Kilkenny are an incredible team and everyone admires them,” outlines Stack. “You have to look at them and we see a lot of the same traits in ourselves.
“We’re a very competitive group of young women. Eamon (Ryan) has often said you’re only as good as your last game. We continues to play to the best of our ability for all the girls on the squad and for our families watching on. We keep our hunger going.”
Stack has paid tribute to Cork boss Ryan for his role at head of their winning setup.
“Eamon is the glue that keeps the whole team together. He came in 10 years ago and he brought the players together. A few of us from a minor team were brought in and he meshed us well with the senior group. Eamon has kept that fantastic foundation going and kept us on the road for the last ten years. He’s top class.”
It’s been an unusual season for Cork with their star player Juliet Murphy now retired while goalkeeper Elaine Harte also called it a day.
“It’s been strange since the start of the year with Juliet and Elaine gone,” admits Stack.
“Nollaig (Cleary) is back and that’s a huge boost. Juliet and Elaine have been such fantastic ambassadors for Cork ladies football. I grew up watching them play and they’re always still touching base as well as sending good luck messages. I think the two of them are definitely happy with their decision and they don’t owe the county anything else.”
Cork have coped without them as they won the league final back in May against Dublin before now taking on Mayo.
“The league had it’s ups and downs for us. We didn’t start playing very well at start of the league. We got into the fourth spot which was brilliant for us to get to the semi-finals. It was great then to kick on from there and win the whole thing out. We’re looking forward now to Mayo, going up against a team that we’ve played a lot over the last few years.”
Fixtures
Today
TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football quarter-finals
Armagh v Laois, Tullamore, 4.15pm
Cork v Mayo, Tullamore, 6pm
TG4 All-Ireland ladies intermediate football quarter-finals
Longford v Roscommon, Pearse Park, 2pm
Down v Sligo, Clones, 3pm
SuperValu linked up with Cork Ladies’ Gaelic footballers Valerie Mulcahy, Brid Stack, Geraldine O’Flynn, Orla Finn and Briege Corkery to celebrate the first year of their three year sponsorship partnership ahead of their crucial All Ireland Quarter Final against Mayo which takes place on August 16th. As well as becoming the team’s official jersey sponsor, the jersey will be on sale in Cork SuperValu stores throughout the season.
