Tipperary and Devane eager to take their challenge to the next level

It is as much an indicator of Tipperary’s progress as any that camogie observers are now beginning to talk about a Big Four when considering the likely destination for silverware, after a sustained period of dominance by Galway, Cork and Division One champions, Kilkenny.

The recent announcement of a lucrative three-year partnership with Alpha Drives and Setanta College is another sign of the growing belief within the county but it is also a vital ingredient in providing the additional resources and services required to take that next step that would truly establish the Premier County among the elite – by winning a trophy.

Bill Mullaney’s side have racked up huge scores in winning their opening two Group One ties in the current Littlewoods Ireland League campaign against Down and Offaly, prevailing by an aggregate 7-37 to 1-8, while managing to introduce a number of new faces into the bargain.

Today's home game against Dublin at The Ragg (2pm) is likely to represent a sterner test, with Adrian O'Sullivan's side also accounting for Offaly comfortably, after performing well against All-Ireland champions Galway in their opener.

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Free-scoring former captain and 2018 All-Star, Cáit Devane has been in the vanguard of the Tipp improvement, along with the likes of this year’s co-skippers Julieanne Bourke and Grace O’Brien, Aoife McGrath and Mary Ryan.

Having an elite mindset and pushing for more might seem natural but when travelling from a low base and resources aren’t automatically available, it is not a straightforward process.

“It is very frustrating and what can creep in there, you can go quiet after a couple of years,” says Devane.

“When you’re trying to push for the best and when it’s no one’s fault, everybody wants it but it just can’t be got, the little bit of indifference can creep in. Thankfully there’s a gang of us there that are a little bit on the senior side at the minute and that didn’t happen.

“We stayed plugging away at it and kept pushing it and kept trying to drive the standards, in the right manner. ’Cos there’s no point throwing your toys out of the pram either. You’re only creating a negative atmosphere if you do that but the message had to be consistently delivered, that this was what was needed and how were we going to get there.

“ And there were little improvements along the way and now with the likes of the link with Setanta and the sponsorship by Alpha Drives, more of that can happen and it’s brilliant. It’s very satisfying.”

High level

Tipperary are consistently operating at a high level now. They qualified for their first final in 11 years when reaching the Division One decider in 2020 but Covid-19 ruined their chances of glory when the competition had to be cancelled.

Last year, they somehow contrived to lose the semi-final to subsequent victors Kilkenny, who were inspired in their comeback by Denise Gaule after Devane shot the lights out in the opening half. They then gave Galway a huge fright in the All-Ireland semi-final, before again, falling narrowly short. Once more, the Tribeswomen would add value to those efforts by going all the way.

There are pros and cons about those performances and results but the bottom line for the players now is that they must take the next step.

“We’re there or thereabouts but ultimately we haven’t taken a big scalp, one of the top three, so I don’t think it’d be realistic to say we’re in the mix with them because we haven’t beaten them in knockout competition. But that’s the goal.”

Clearly, that professionalism in approach and attitude is strong in this group under Mullaney, judging by the seriousness with which the Down and Offaly challenges were treated.

“You have to look after the housekeeping, the day-to-day work. Obviously you’re thinking of your goals and where you want to get to and we are mentioning winning national titles and provincial titles and things like that, but if you don’t have the nuts and bolts of it every Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, it’s going to fall apart. You might get a short kick out of it for a result or two, but long term, it’s not going to sustain you.

“And we have learned that. And having the same management team for the last couple of years has helped build on that as well. It’s the same messages all the time that are being delivered to us and they’re starting to be embedded in us now that have to be delivered a little less frequently!

“It’s about margins, getting that inch or two better every year but that’s sport. That’s why we all play it.”