EXPERIENCE: Aisling Thompson. Katrina Mackey. Amy O’Connor. Hannah Looney. Just some of the Cork players who know what it takes to win an All-Ireland. No Waterford player can say that. It will count for a lot on Sunday, especially going into the closing stages.
FOREWARNED: The last time the Rebels played Waterford, they lost 1-18 to 1-15 in the Munster championship at the end of April. Cork boss Matthew Twomey will know the Deise’s threat and will come up with a plan to stop it. Worth noting too that Waterford almost beat Cork in the All-Ireland semi final in 2022 in Croke Park.
BENCH: Cork brought on five subs against Galway. Aisling Thompson, Laura Hayes, Cliona Healy, Orla Cronin and Orlaith Cahalane. All are potential match-winners, which is a plus for Cork. These ‘finishers’ could make the difference here. This squad now has strength in depth that, perhaps, it was lacking before.
DETERMINED: Four major finals in the last three years, lost them all, including the last two All-Ireland deciders. Cork will have that stat in their minds during the week and will be gunning to right those wrongs. This is a huge opportunity to do that against a side that weren’t considered in the top three before the season.
