The narrative comes full round this Sunday, Linda Mellerick will find herself returning to the Croke Park pitch for the All-Ireland senior camogie final between Cork and Galway, a good 22 years after her retirement. Not many sportspersons are lucky enough to retire on a high, most painfully limp towards their retirement, detached from their glory days and battered from their relentless struggles. A select few, like Mellerick, make a victorious exit.
After leading Cork to a win over Tipperary in the All-Ireland final of 2002, the Glen Rovers player decided to quit the intercounty game. Mellerick’s illustrious career boasts six All-Ireland titles, 10 National Leagues, and the honour of being a two-time Player of the Year.
Her retirement didn’t diminish her acclaim; she was named in the Team of the Century, just two years post-retirement, asserting her standing among the esteemed camogie players ever. Besides, she led Cork to win the All-Ireland final twice in 1993 and 1997, both times triumphing over Galway.
As part of the 120-year celebrations of the Camogie Association, former All-Ireland-winning captains will make a special appearance on the pitch at the intermediate final’s half-time at Croke Park. The senior final witnesses a face-off between Cork and Galway while the intermediate one host a match between Cork and Kilkenny. The fact that Niamh O’Leary, Mellerick’s niece, is playing the fullback for Cork gives a somewhat cosmic touch to the events.
Mellerick fondly recalls the intense rivalry with Galway in the ’90s. Having debuted in 1985, she endured three consecutive All-Ireland final losses before finally tasting victory in 1993, seven long years from her debut. Winning the O’Duffy Cup in 1993 and 1997 were among her career’s proud moments, but what sticks with her is the pain of the loss to Galway in 1996. The defeat imprinted the scoreline deep into her memory.
Mellerick looks back on the 1996 game, where Galway unexpectedly stole victory from us, scoring four goals and beating us with a score of 4-8 to 1-15 even though we were the favourites. Since their first All-Ireland major victory in 1996, Galway has seen triumph thrice more in 2013, 2019, and 2021. Yet, with 29 titles, Cork continues to lead in camogie’s roll of honour and aspires to secure the O’Duffy Cup this season once more.
Hoping to circumvent another All-Ireland senior final loss after consecutive men’s and women’s senior football decider defeats, Galway fans are anxious. There’s been only one instance, back in 1956, when a county lost all three finals in a year, and unfortunately, it was Cork. However, Galway enters as 3-1 underdogs this Sunday, just as in ’96 when they unexpectedly defeated Cork. Mellerick suggests that Cork could learn a lesson from that upset, but feels this year is disparate.
Cork has emerged as strong contenders. In Mellerick’s opinion, Galway showed signs of transition last year and their performance has slightly dwindled this season due to several injuries. Though Galway ruled over Cork for several years, the tables turned last year when Cork seized victory in the All-Ireland semi-finals and the gap between the two has only grown since.
Despite season injuries to Méabh Cahalane and Libby Coppinger, Cork’s team didn’t falter. Cork’s straightforward playstyle coupled with an aggressive running game have troubled other teams all season, including Galway. Meeting at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in late June during the group stages, the home team annihilated the opposition, triumphing with a score of 2-16 to 1-7.
Given the statistics, Mellerick predicts a victory for Cork. While she believes Galway won’t give in easily, Mellerick envisions Cork winning by a four or five-point margin. This prediction needs to be plastered on Galway’s dressing room wall!
However, Mellerick is sincerely troubled about the current state of camogie. It’s clear she cares deeply.
The final match on Sunday marks the 12th time in the last 13 senior camogie finals that participants are selected from only three counties – Cork, Kilkenny, and Galway. Despite Waterford’s brief inclusion last year, they were swiftly and definitively dismissed with a crushing 19-point defeat, reinforcing the status quo within the sport.
Given the current state of camogie, it’s challenging to foresee a new county managing to emerge strong enough to rekindle the excitement in the senior championships. Predictions for the semi-finals this year indicated thrilling matches, but it was evident that Cork would triumph decisively over Dublin. The element of surprise is dissipating in the face of such predictability.
Mellerick expresses significant worries regarding this situation. “Sadly, although we claim that Tipperary and Waterford are narrowing the gap, the reality speaks differently,” he says. “They may have progressed when compared with Clare and Limerick, but have they caught up at a national level? Notably, Kilkenny might also be approaching a phase of transition.”
Observing Cork’s remarkable victories this year, Mellerick is concerned that the imbalance is growing. The sport urgently requires a healthy competition with the involvement of Wexford, Tipperary, Limerick, and Waterford, and not merely a patronising nod to ‘great strides’.
In addition to this predictable outcome, where Cork routed the Dubs, 4-17 to 0-9, Mellerick is also disquieted by the suggested alterations to the premier junior and intermediate championships that could impact Cork and Kilkenny’s performance in these grades.
Following his retirement, Mellerick continued to actively participate in the sport. Only two years after leaving Cork, the Camogie Association appointed her as the game’s ambassador for Leeside.
Motivated by her position and the need to substantiate it, Mellerick reached out to the Evening Echo in hopes of encouraging coverage of some university camogie games. Quite unexpectedly, the ex-Cork captain found herself producing previews, coverage and regular columns on camogie for the publication.
For the past twenty years, Mellerick and her associate, Mary Newman, have diligently worked to increase visibility and promotion of camogie within Leeside. However, Mellerick backed away from her writing role this year, meaning her attendance at this year’s All-Ireland final will strictly be as a fan.
She expressed her eagerness about making the journey to the match alongside her relatives, the prospect of being reunited with old friends and cheering on her niece in the intermediate final. Linda is also excited about being included in the pitch proceedings, which will offer a change of perspective for her.
When her final match for Cork concluded, Linda Mellerick allowed herself a fleeting moment of introspection at the close of the game. The O’Duffy Cup was headed back to Leeside; an optimal accomplice for the final leg of her sporting voyage. The decision was timely.
As she fondly remembers, she was aware that it was her last performance on the field. She participated in 13 finals, experienced seven losses but also savoured six victories. She had her fair share of disappointments but was immensely thankful for her achievements and the opportunities the game had provided her. And so, after expressing a silent farewell and expression of gratitude at closing, she exited. Yet, this Sunday, she’ll return.
Cork will also return, remaining as consistent as ever.