Orlagh Phelan on captaining Offaly in All-Ireland final at just 20 years old

Michael Bolton

Captaining your county in an All-Ireland final would be an honour for any player, but one Offaly's Orlagh Phelan gets to experience at just 20 years old.

Part of a young team who haven't looked back since winning Division 2A, Offaly have gone one step further since exiting at the semi-final stages last season.

Leading Offaly against Kerry in the All-Ireland Intermediate camogie final will be Phelan, who has taken the responsibility of captain in her stride this season.

"I don't dwell on it too much. I am the same as everybody else.

"I have to show up for training, play my best to get on the first 15 and want to win as well.

"You have your different roles, you have to lead in training, lead in how you approach things, lead on and off the field.

"We are a group of girls who want to win, and I just look after that. It has been a fantastic honour, but I just make sure I work as hard as everyone else."

After coming so close the the Intermediate final last season, Offaly spent no time licking their wounds, with silverware captured early in their league success.

Now, having gone one step further and 60 minutes away from becoming All-Ireland champions, the Offaly defender says the hurt from last season has been motivation for the team.

"We always knew at the back of our minds that we are just one step away.

"Starting the year off with the league final win, that was brilliant. It motivated us and gave us that confidence as well.

"Throughout the year, it was about having that confidence in ourselves, because we knew we were well able for it."

It has not been an easy few years for Offaly camogie, who perhaps has not lived up to its potential in recent years.

After relegation to Intermediate back in 2023 and dropping down to the third tier of the league, the tide looks to be turning.

For Phelan and this young group of players, testing themselves against the best is a huge motivation ahead of Sunday's final.

"Senior camogie is where you want to be playing, that is where the highest standards are.

"When you are playing senior, you are playing against the best counties, you are playing against the best players, so that is where everyone want to play.

"That is where you learn, that is where you improve."