'It's like one big family'- Laura Finlay and St Brigid's set for Leinster Camogie final showdown

St Brigid’s Camogie Club have been riding the crest of a wave over the last few weeks with the club having captured the Laois Intermediate Camogie Championship before going on to seal their spot in this year’s Leinster final where they’ll face Kildare champions Naas.

Midfielder Laura Finlay says the whole team are relishing the opportunity of playing in a Leinster final in Tullamore on Sunday.

“I think we're all just looking forward to it and you know enjoying each training and it's great to be still hurling in the middle of November so just taking it day by day but very much looking forward to it. We've got great people behind us in the club and it's an exciting time,” she said.

Brian Bowe’s side came through a gruelling semi-final against reigning Leinster champions and All-Ireland finalists Na Fianna of Meath. Reflecting on the intense challenge they faced, Finlay praised the strength of their opponents while expressing relief and pride in coming out on top. With a Leinster final now on the horizon, she highlighted the physical and mental demands of the game and the team's focus on delivering their best performance when it mattered most. 

“I suppose we didn't really look into them too much, that's for the lads and Mary to look into. We just knew that we had to go out and perform and thankfully we did in the end. They're a great team, really very strong and it took us the week to recover after to be honest but yeah they were brilliant and we were just very happy to get out the right side of it.

"I think we put in a good shift at the end of it but they definitely put us to the pin of our collar anyway but lucky and happy to go over it in the end thankfully. Leinster final to look forward to and a great complaint that you're still playing in the middle of November,” Finlay said. Read more below picture.

St Brigid’s wouldn’t be in the Leinster Intermediate Championship had it not been for their superb victory over Camross in the County Final on Saturday, October 19.

“I didn't actually realise that we were down by four points down at one stage. There's a very healthy rivalry in Laois between the clubs, ourselves and Camross are no different.

"We go hammer and tongs when we go play each other which is part of sport isn't it but we had to dig deep there at the end and it just came right for us thankfully but Camross are brilliant on their day. When you have the calibre of players that our club has and we all get on so well, it's like one big family. It might sound a bit cliche or whatever but we knew that we had to go out and fight for every ball and that's what we did. The girls were outstanding on the day and very lucky to come away with a win and absolutely delighted for our players. The likes of Laura Dunne and them players that have given absolutely everything for the club over the last few years but when you get them walking up the steps of O’Moore Park,it's a good day for any club,” she said. Read more below picture.

Finlay also reflected on the club's recent meet and greet, where young Camogie players had the chance to connect with their Leinster final stars. She emphasised the importance of showing the next generation the value of persistence and resilience in sport. Acknowledging the club's challenging past, Finlay noted that many of the current team members were part of squads that faced tough losses just a few years ago. She stressed the importance of teaching younger players that success doesn’t come easily and that perseverance is key, especially during difficult times. For Finlay, the club’s current success is a testament to the dedication of players and supporters who never lost faith, and she is proud to share that journey with the younger members of the club.

“I think it's more so to show the younger girls in the club the importance of sports and the importance of resilience. If you look back a couple of years, we were losing shield finals badly and it wasn't all that long ago. Most of the players that are on the team now were involved with them teams maybe five or six years ago so it's important to show that it's not always sunshine and roses. You still have to dig deep and fight especially when things aren't going well in the club. It’s important for the younger girls to have that kind of never give up attitude and just stay going and the resilience that a lot of the players have at the minute. You learn a lot through sports and our club is something special there at the minute. It's great to spread that and we have unbelievable people behind us in the club.

"We gave them a lot of days that there wasn't much to celebrate like we gave some terrible days over the past few years but now it's so nice to see people that stuck with us through thick and thin have days out where you can bring a smile to someone's face by winning the county final, winning that semi-final and just going to stay going as best we can,” Finlay explained.

Naas will be the side standing in their way of being crowned Leinster champions on Sunday and Finlay knows that it’ll be whoever works the hardest that’ll have the trophy in their hands on Sunday afternoon. Read more below picture.

“It comes down to hard work at the end of the day doesn't it? Every team you're meeting now is exceptional and it’s who’s going to work harder on the day. I've no doubt that we will give it 100% and see what happens then. I think we're more so looking forward to it, it’s a privilege to be still playing and have a Leinster final to look forward to. It's very exciting for the club,” Finlay said.

For Finlay and some of her St Brigid’s team mates, they’ve had a great year playing for Laois. They got to the final in the three competitions that they played in; the league final, Leinster final and All-Ireland final.

“It's been a long year but when you're enjoying it, it's grand. Every time you go training with Brigid’s, you'll always have a laugh or something funny will happen. You'll never come away feeling worse than when you came to it but we don't underestimate how lucky we are and what a privileged position we are to still be hurling right now. Everyone is just really enjoying it and that's the main thing because you won't get these days back so you might as well enjoy them while they're here,” she said.

St Brigid’s were glad to have a two week break ahead of the final having played on consecutive weekends for the last eight of nine weekends.

“That match against Na Fianna was tough on the body and we were very glad of the two weeks just to reset. BB must have been feeling very generous to give us the Tuesday off which is very unlike him so we all took that with both hands. It’s just nice to give the bodies a break but when we came back to training Friday we were all saying it was a bit weird like we were missing each other during the week. We want to train and there's never a day that you don't want to go training and we were very happy for the two week break but definitely raring to go now for the weekend,” Finlay noted. Read more below picture.

After enduring several heartbreaking losses, including three consecutive County Final defeats and a narrow semi-final loss, the team finally celebrated victory in 2022. For Finlay, the triumph was a well-earned reward for a dedicated group of players who have faced many challenges together, learning valuable lessons through both wins and losses. With the current season going strong, she emphasised the close bond within the team and their shared commitment to give everything in the upcoming final.

“I know we had some heartbreak with Laois this year but I think within our club we had our own heartbreak over the last couple years. We lost three County Finals in a row the year before them three finals, we lost the semi-final by a point I think it was. We have been in big occasions with the group of girls that are involved now and there has been a lot of heartbreak. We've had to really dig deep at times to stay going with the club and stay going knowing that one day it will come right for us.

"The County Final win in 2022, I think that really was the payback that a lot of girls deserved like Laura Dunne, she’s playing I don't want to say how many years but she's been playing a while anyway. She's like a fine wine, she's getting better with age so whatever about the county girls when you have girls like that in the club that you can lean on. When you're training so hard all year and with the experience of losing finals and sure that's life isn't it you learn a lot through sports and you learn a lot through losing. Thankfully we now have learned how to win which is another skill in itself so we're not taking anything for granted. We're all in it together and I don't think one person can have all the answers, we all come up with the answers. Sometimes during a match it's just pure chaos and you have to lean on each other and we're very very lucky in our club that it's a group of 30-40 odd girls who are best friends. I don't say that lightly we are very close friends, maybe too good of friends at times. We're all just really enjoying this journey and who knows what’ll happen on Sunday.

"It's just been a great year and it’s great to be enjoying training and enjoying each day we meet up. We had that meet and greet for the younger girls in the club on Sunday but sure we then went for coffee about two hours after so we don't know when to go home. We get on with each other too well so we're just gonna draw on experience from the last couple years and just give it whatever we have on Sunday and see what happens,” Finlay ended. 

The Leinster Intermediate Camogie final takes place on Sunday, November 17 in Glenisk O'Connor Park between St Brigid's and Naas from 12pm. The game will be shown on YouTube. The Leinster Express/ Laois Live will be providing a live blog from the game while tickets can be purchased here.