New joint-skipper O’Brien pleased with winning start

By Thomas Conway

Joint-managers suddenly came into fashion last summer, as Fergal Logan & Brian Dooher performed a masterful double-act to lead Tyrone to a scarcely anticipated All-Ireland title.

Joint-captaincies have yet to become à la mode, but there have been a few notable success stories. Kerry football captains Fionn Fitzgerald & Kieran O’Leary earned the privilege of lifting Sam Maguire together following the county’s All-Ireland Final victory over Donegal in 2014, while Corofin duo Jason Leonard & Micheál Lundy raised the Andy Merrigan Cup when the Galway club claimed the All-Ireland Senior Club football title in January 2020.

Should Tipperary go on to land this year’s All-Ireland Senior Camogie title, Nenagh’s Grace O’Brien & Borris-Ileigh’s Julieanne Bourke will write themselves into the history books for all kinds of far more important reasons. The joint-captaincy thing will seem peripheral - a unique distinction, but not the most significant one.

O’Brien, however, isn’t a player who is liable to become starstruck by dreams of climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand and lofting the O’Duffy Cup above her head. As an individual she is grounded - laser-focused on Tipp’s National League campaign, and undaunted by the responsibility which captaincy brings.

Saturday’s annihilation of Down wasn’t the most demanding of introductions to the role, but O’Brien performed with her usual finesse, thriving in her role as an attacking midfielder, and watching with satisfaction as some of Tipp’s new additions showcased their potential.

“The biggest thing for us on Saturday was to come away with a win,” O’Brien said.

“If you look at our team, a lot of new girls have come in and are getting chances, which is kind of the focus in the league this year - to blood some new players and strengthen up the panel. So, I suppose from that perspective, yesterday was a success.

“A lot of girls got their first start, their first opportunity to play with Tipp, so that was brilliant. And as well as that, we have a couple of girls back, girls who had taken a couple of years out. But look, the win was the most important thing, and we came away with that.”

A win was to be expected against Down, and although Offaly will pose a more difficult challenge on Saturday week, a Tipperary win should be the outcome there as well. Results are not always a necessity when it comes to the National League, but they help to generate a momentum which can become essential as the season wears on.

With her driving runs and wristy finishing, O’Brien is integral to that momentum, but so too is her midfield partner, Caoimhe Maher - back on inter-county duty following an extended break. Continue to synchronise like they did last Saturday, and O’Brien and Maher could form an All-Star midfield partnership. There is a weight of expectation on both their shoulders, but O’Brien knows they have the maturity to deal with that.

“Caoimhe is a huge asset to have back,” she said.

“She played for Tipp for years and she obviously had huge success with Burgess-Duharra, so the experience that she brings is incredible, and she’s amazing to play alongside. She makes everything look very easy, so she’s a brilliant partner to have in midfield, and I think she was excellent on Saturday.”

The Nenagh Éire-Óg player also understands the importance of power and pace, two elements of Tipp’s game which shone through last weekend. She alludes to the mercurial speed of Clodagh McIntyre and Casey Hennessy, citing their potential to cause damage, especially when playing on faster terrain. Tipp are now a team with several weapons in their locker, from pace and precision to energy and experience. It served them well last Saturday, and it should serve them well in the months to come.