LIMERICK HAD been level mere seconds, they were loaded with all the momentum in the world, but at the opposite end to the majority of the second-half scores, Lisa Bolger was picking herself up off the ground. Her tenacity and resolve had just presented Wexford with a chance to regain the lead in injury time.

The unimposing figure of Wexford free-taker Ciara O'Connor strolled slowly in the direction of the ball. She looked calm enough, she looked composed as she lined up to take the biggest free of her life.

'I was talking to myself,' said Ciara. 'Right, concentrate, pick and strike Ciara,' I was talking to myself and the linesman started to laugh at me, but I didn't care what he thought, I just said "please, please go over" and thankfully it did. I never had to put a pressure free over before, but that was definitetly a pressure free that day.'

It might well have been the most pressure-filled and biggest moment of her playing career to date but maybe, deep-down, early words from her older sister, and Senior team member, Aoife, rang through.

'I would distinctly remember Aoife when I started hurling Senior with the club, she would always say "just believe in yourself". I did look up to them (eldest sisters Aoife and Claire). To see your sisters play for the Senior team, it's like younger girls now looking up to the likes of anyone that's playing for Wexford Seniors.'

From looking up to her own sisters, as captain, the side must look to her for support. 'It was very unexpected at the beginning of the year, I didn't know what way to take it to be honest, but sure it's a great honour to be captain.

'On the pitch you just try to encourage the girls if you can and try to be a leader that way. No negative shouting because it just sounds terrible, it's always good to just keep encouraging the girls. I have had to do very little in fairness, it's just the "C" that's beside your name.'

The semi-final saw Ciara move closer to the goal to take up the position of full-forward and, while she is not overly familiar with it, she is enjoying the experience.

'It was definitely a different position. Out on the wing you're used to having so much space and you can even drift into midfield if you want. It's a frustrating place to play too; if there is no ball coming in and then if two balls come in and you miss them, you're the worst player on the pitch!'

To come out on top against a resilient Offaly side, O'Connor knows what has to be improved on from their previous championship meeting.

'We have to cut out the space, not let the Offaly half-forward line pull us out. They tried to pull us out an awful lot and leave the space in front of our full-back line.'

'As forwards we have to spread out, because we found that day we were like sheep at one stage - everyone was running after the one ball like Under-12s, but it's just the simple things we need to do well to win it on the day.

It will be a first time to play on the hallowed turf for the captain, but she is ready to lead her team out in front of 30,000 screaming fans.

'It's every camogie player's dream to play in Croke Park. It's a huge day, it's the one time in the year that Wexford camogie gets to play there. When we run out onto the pitch we have to forget it's Croke Park we are running onto, it's another game; we have to enjoy it but we have to win it at the same time.'

- DEAN GOODISON