Cork's Amy O'Connor not taking success for granted
Michael Bolton
Having won six All-Ireland camogie titles with Cork, Amy O'Connor knows the effort it takes to be successful.
O'Connor returned from over seven months out with a foot injury in Cork's Very League final win over Galway—her first league title with the Rebels.
The time away from the sport made the 28-year-old eager to return, particularly as a leader in the group.
"I picked up a bit of an injury last year in the All-Ireland final, and I was out for seven and a half months. It definitely made me more hungry to get back, to be better than ever, so that put things into perspective for me.
"It was hard. The end goal is getting back doing what you love. That was it. It took longer than I was hoping for initially, but it was all about getting back to do the thing I love the most. Sunday was my first full game back after all that. I got so much enjoyment out of being back.
"This is my 12th year now, so you're a bit more experienced and you've been around a bit. You've played in the bigger games. You step into those leadership roles you may not have had when you first came onto the panel."
At the time O'Connor joined the Cork panel, alongside her were Méabh Cahalane, Laura Treacy, Libby Coppinger, and Hannah Looney—names who have all contributed to Cork's success.
O'Connor has been key to everything Cork has achieved over the years, but also knows the feeling of coming up short.
In 2023, O'Connor put in one of the greatest performances in an All-Ireland final, scoring 3-7 in the victory over Waterford.
Attention will quickly turn to the championship, with Cork facing Clare in the Munster semi-final as they bid for a third consecutive All-Ireland title.
The Cork forward insists this team is far from the finished article, and warned that they must improve from their league campaign.
"When I came onto the panel, we won two All-Irelands on the trot, then lost one, won another two, and then went another couple of years without winning at all. Sometimes you have to have the bad days to appreciate the good days.
"It took a long time to build what we have now, and we'll continue to build on that.
"We know we're not the finished article, but we'll continue to build and hopefully continue to progress.
"We played Galway two weeks ago and we didn't perform at all—we didn't turn up on the day—and they were much hungrier. We made it our business not to let that happen again.
"I wouldn't say it was easy in the league final—we just happened to play well on the day.
"I count myself very lucky to have been part of a great Cork group—or groups—over the years. If you get ahead of yourself, that is when you take your eye off the ball and lose.
"It's about being grounded and focused on the next game."