Eimear Scally says Cork can build on final appearance

Cork star Eimear Scally says that the Munster side can build on their All-Ireland final appearance on last year.

The Rebelettes fell to Dublin 3-11 to 1-12 in front of 50,141 at Croke Park in the decider last September.

“[Getting back to the final was] huge for our team,” Scally explained. “I suppose there would have been a lot of talk about losing the older girls and that we might not be what we were without them. Obviously, it’s a different team and a different style of football I suppose but for us to get back meant a lot.

“Obviously it was disappointing to lose the final and I suppose we would have always thought that there could have been a bit more in us but look, that happens. You can’t play the perfect game all the time and Dublin were just unbelievable that day.”

Scally is of the opinion that the side can take heart from the experience, and they will be stronger for it in the coming year:

“It’s about learning from your mistakes, taking the heartbreak and driving you on for the following year.

“That was my fifth year on the team and my first time starting an All-Ireland final. It was huge for me even. I would have gotten to come on, which was great, but to start was obviously nerve-wrecking as well.

“You just have to take the game in your stride. It’s hard, but you have to really think of it as any other game. It’s hard when you’re going from an All-Ireland quarter-final, semi-final, with a couple of thousand supporting you to 50,000 plus in Croke Park and not being able to hear a thing, and the excitement of it. You really just need to try and get your mindset focused and things like that.”

Ephie Fitzgerald’s side are preparing for the National League, in which they will play two doubleheaders with the men’s side at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Scally is of the opinion that this can help grow women’s game.

“We’re always trying to raise the profile of the ladies football,” she explained. “We were very lucky to get a few sessions in there last year coming up to the All-Ireland semi-final and final. I know Tracey Kennedy (Cork GAA Chairperson) would have put in work and the lads would have put in huge work to make this happen. I suppose a there’s been so much emphasis put on it in the county there the last while that the Cork ladies never got to play there. I just feel bad for a lot of the girls who never got to play in there, but like we’re absolutely delighted.

“Look, it’s just improving the profile.

“You’d be talking to a lot of old lads back at home and they be like, ‘I watched the game, and it’s as good as the men’s football to watch’ so I suppose for people to be subjected to that and get to see us, it might encourage them to come watch us play or tune into us a little but more. It will just get people talking a bit more about us and ladies football in general.”

Source: Read Full Article