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Ann Downey celebrates after Kilkenny's victory. Tommy Dickson/INPHO
Kilkenny

'Our girls certainly weren't going to be intimidated' - Kilkenny boss on handshake row

Ann Downey praised her players after making the long-awaited breakthrough.

KILKENNY MANAGER ANN Downey insisted their team refused ‘to be intimidated’ in yesterday’s All-Ireland senior camogie final against Cork as the they ended the county’s 22-year wait for the O’Duffy Cup.

Before the game players from both sides grappled during the pre-match handshake. That did not surprise Downey and she questioned whether the pre-match ritual should continue.

“Our girls certainly weren’t going to be intimidated,” Downey remarked when speaking to RTÉ.ie.

“Anything that was thrown at them, they were able to deal with it.

“It set the tone for the day. They knew that they were going to go into battle and that’s what they were doing.

“We were prepared coming up. We had all the ts crossed. We knew what was coming down the track and our girls were prepared for what was going to happen.

“I don’t think it was the first time that it happened at the handshake.

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea really that the handshake happens before a match.”

Downey praised her players to making a long-awaited breakthrough.

“They’ve been waiting long for this victory after being beaten in so many All-Ireland’s the last few years but to get over the line was unbelievable.

“The goodwill of the whole country was behind us. They know that this group of girls are excellent players, they were just unfortunate that they couldn’t win that senior All-Ireland.

“So many great camogie players of the last few years that weren’t on that panel would have deserved an All-Ireland medal but it just didn’t happen for them.”

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