The image of the game of camogie has advanced a lot since one old reporter described it, in private, as "a knackered version of hurling". Tomorrow's clash of Tipperary, the holders, and Cork in the 68th All-Ireland decider at Croke Park (3.30 p.m.) is packed with the promise of exhilarating skills combined with keen competition and fluent action.
The modern game has seen pitch and goal frame dimensions altered to accommodate the pace and striking power of present-day, adroit players. And the final will be played on a full-length pitch.
One hasn't got to go beyond the names of Cork's Ciara Healy and Tipperary's Catriona Hennessy for two potential match-winners.
When the same teams met in the National League final, Healy was introduced in the second half and scored the winning goal. The same player had shot the winning point against Kilkenny in this year's championship quarterfinal - again after coming on as a substitute.
Healy, who is only 18, was given an automatic starting-place for the semi-final against Wexford. "I am happy to be rid of that `super sub' tag," she says.
For Tipperary, Hennessy's match-winning exploits were on show, much to Kilkenny's regret, in last year's final when she slotted the winning goal after being sprung from the bench in the second half.
And the Eircell Player of the Year, Deirdre Hughes, can build on the opportunistic play of Hennessy and Emer McDonnell in attack. The former Tipperary hurling star Michael Cleary is confident that his well-balanced team can reverse the league final result and capture a second successive title.
Cork's team of experience and youth parades the talents of Linda Mellerick in midfield and Fiona O'Driscoll in attack. Double All-Ireland club medal winner Mary O'Connor is a huge asset in attack.
The junior final gets the action underway at 1.40 p.m. and Derry, led by Aileen Tohill, a sister of county football star Anthony, will be seeking revenge against Cork for defeat in last year's final.
TIPPERARY: J Delaney; S Kelly, U Dwyer, C Madden; S Nealon, C Gaynor, T Brophy; E Hayden, A Hayden; P Fogarty, N Kennedy, C Hennessy; E McDonnell, D Hughes, C Grogan.
CORK: C Keohane; D Cronin, E Duggan, M Finn; S Hayes, M O'Connor, V Harris; U Troy, L Mellerick; S O'Callaghan, C Harrington, F O'Driscoll; U Burke, C Healy, U O'Donoghue.
CORK (Junior): O O'Callaghann; S Buckley, J O'Callahan, A Kelleher; S Corkery, E Dillon, C O'Gorman; V O'Keeffe, M O'Connell; C Corkery, A O'Regan, J O'Leary; E O'Friel, A O'Regan, L Murphy.
DERRY (Junior): A Crilly; S McArlean, G Maguire, B McIvor; K McDonald, C Doherty, S Convery; S McCaul, A O'Loughlin; A Tohill, P McAtamney, A Kealy; C McNicholl, M O'Kane, K Rafferty.
