The intercounty season may have ultimately finished in disappointment for Saoirse McCarthy, as her Cork team fell at the final hurdle to Galway at Croke Park.
But the Courcey Rovers star has been afforded a novel opportunity to finish her season on a high in recent weeks, as she was selected to captain Ireland in an international rules contest against Scotland this Saturday.
Captaining her country is not something she had on her bingo card for the year.
“No definitely not,” she laughs. “Playing Camogie, these opportunities don’t come around too often. But it’s been unreal.
“The response since it’s gone out has been gas. You realise how important it is. It’s brilliant for my family; my Dad is delighted telling everyone that I’m captain of Ireland! It’s brilliant to see their reactions too.”
The team is managed by Ger Manley, while fellow Rebel, Ashling Thompson is also on the panel. Otherwise, it is a whole new experience for McCarthy.
“It’s interesting. Everyone has different experience levels. They’re all from different counties, different parts of the country,” she outlines, speaking about the 19-strong panel which draws players from all over Ireland.
“I’ve been talking there to Dearbhla Magee from Down. Seeing how their club championship works, it’s different to ours. Talking about matches we played against each other. It’s really interesting. You realise everyone is kind of the same, no matter where you go within the GAA. It’s nice too in a way.”
Nonetheless, the panel is gelling ahead of the trip to Inverness.
“Ashling was down at training on Saturday and I was able to find her, because I knew where she was going to go! Those are things that you know from your teammates. You mightn’t have that familiarity between the [other] players,” McCarthy outlines. “But we’ve been training away and getting to know each other quite well over the last month or so.
“[The rules] take getting used to, and I don’t know if we’re fully used to it yet! But I think the hardest thing for us is not being able to catch the ball, especially when you’re running. If you’re soloing, and you need to catch the ball to look up… that’s been the hardest learning curve for me.
“Kicking it as well – you can’t kick it. And you never realised how much you kick it, until you can’t! It’s been really enjoyable, you’re probably learning a few bad habits in terms of Camogie, but the touch is definitely getting better.”
The Irish team are expecting a tough challenge from their hosts.
“It’s going to be really physical. It’s going to be a really tough match, obviously those girls are very well drilled in the game,” she continues. “We’re probably a little bit more new to it. It’s all to play for now on Saturday, it should be a great experience.
“I’ve been to Edinburgh once…but never been up that far (Inverness). I’m really, really excited to be honest, and excited that we’re getting to go over with the hurlers and experience that as well.”
That the Camogie and hurling teams are on an equal footing this weekend, travelling together as one party is real progress too.
“Definitely, it’s a step in the right direction in terms of the integration of the codes,” she notes. “It’s brilliant, even talking to the hurlers at training and being there on the same mornings. You’re meeting all of them too. It’s great to see it being on level terms.
“I think it’s a step forward in the right direction.”
Saturday’s double-header in Bught Park, Inverness will be broadcast live on the BBC Alba YouTube channel, with the women’s contest kicking off proceedings at 12pm.
