Maguire looking forward to Tipp test
Camogie
The Cavan Camogs continue their assault on the All-Ireland premier junior championship this weekend as Tipperary come to Kingspan Breffni on Saturday afternoon. For only the second time, the girls will wear the new Cavan jersey which is the same jersey that the men’s footballers and hurlers wear.
The Anglo-Celt caught up with Cavan captain Josephine Maguire at the launch.
“It’s great to be part of the Kingspan, Wilton Waste Recycling and O’Reilly Group umbrella,” stated the Ballinagh woman.
“We’re absolutely delighted that the Camogie association is under the one umbrella wearing the same jersey as the men’s teams. We’re over the moon with it and there’s only bigger and better things to come. We’re very happy.”
The new jersey is identical apart from the crest which sees the Cavan camogie crest replace the Cavan GAA crest that the men wear.
“It’s great to have the camogie crest just to show that everyone is supporting us as well and it has our unique crest so all of our underage and anyone coming to our games can get out and buy them and show their support for us. So it’s great that we’re all under the one umbrella.”
Cavan opened the All-Ireland series with a comfortable win and Maguire is happy with how things have gone since.
“We played Wicklow down in Wicklow and I suppose the following week we were just reflecting on the game and getting back into training. We’ve been training the last couple of weeks and preparing for the Tipperary game. Everyone’s ready now, biting at the bit now to get in and to get a game. Obviously we have that championship feeling and it’s a big day for us Saturday. We hope as many people as possible come out and support us and we’re really excited for a good sporting game with Tipp.”
“Tipperary are a massive hurling county, we know they’re going to be very skillful, determined but all we can do is our best on the day. We definitely won’t underestimate them, we know how good they are and we’ll put our best foot forward.”
By the time the game throws in the girls will have had to wait four weeks to take the field and while that might be a disadvantage, Maguire isn’t looking for any excuses.
“Not really. We take each game as it comes so whenever it is we’ll just get back to training, but the heads down and go at it. We don’t know it that will be a quarter final or semi-final but whatever is we’ll just knuckle down and get at it.”
“Obviously you want games every single week and to keep everyone fresh and players biting at the bit to get in on the team. You want games week on week but it is what it is and sometimes it can work in your advantage, if someone’s out injured it gives them time to recover and get back in on the squad as well.”
When asked if she was confident going into the game on Saturday the Cavan captain said with a smile: “I wouldn’t say confident. Look, we take each game as it comes and we’ll see how it goes.”
Cavan take on Wicklow this Saturday at 2pm in Kingspan Breffni.
Asked about the statement issued by camogie and ladies football teams on Monday, Maguire did not wish to comment.
Photo: From left: Aideen Coyle, Shari Brady (Wilton Waste), Josephine Maguire, Kevin Smith (O’Reilly Group) and Shanise Fitzsimons at the joint-launch of the new county jersey. Photo: Adrian Donohoe