It has been a year of highs and some lows for Dicksboro, DCU and Kilkenny Intermediate Camogie star Jane Cass.
A crushing All Ireland final defeat to Antrim last year, followed by the elation of Club & College success, Jane has committed herself to every bit of Camogie on offer for her. A testament to her love of the game and personal determination.
She was out in action again this weekend as the Kilkenny intermediate side could not replicate the senior team’s result when they lost to Waterford in Division 2 of the league on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-08.
“It was disappointing, we knew going down to Waterford, they are a strong team and they play senior. It was not going to be easy, so we knew whatever the result is, there would be stuff to take from it.”
“We have to beat Westmeath in two weeks to get through. Conditions are still poor, I think everyone is looking forward to the weather changing and playing on better grounds.”
All Ireland heartbreak
Last year saw Antrim prove too good for battling Kilkenny as John Scott’s side fell at the final hurdle in Croke Park. We needed to know now what the aim is for the intermediate team this year. Is it, as expected, to go one better than last year and win the All-Ireland?
“Definitely, we were obviously disappointed in Croke Park last year. Antrim are a class team, but this year we want to go one step forward and win it. There are new faces on the panel this year, with a lot of Minors on the panel who had a great All Ireland win last year. Their youth will bring something good to the team , so to win it is the goal. “
County Champions
All though intercounty did not go to plan last year, on the club side Jane was part of the Dicksboro team that won the county championship. The final was exhilarating with one single point separating Dicksboro from their final counterpart Piltown come the final whistle. Reminiscing about the game, it was evident how much this meant to Jane;
“Club is different, it is special. You are playing with girls you grew up with. It was a fantastic win. We had a tough semi-final against Thomasttown and then going up against Piltown. It was an unbelievable year and I still look back and remember the final whistle going, we were absolutely delighted”
“I think it makes it more special (winning by a single point). There were sixty minutes before that though where the hard work was put in.”
Embed from Getty ImagesAshbourne Cup All Star
It has been a banner twelve months for Jane because she was also part of the Ashbourne Cup-winning team with DCU and made the higher education all-star team of the year.
“There are so many counties that contribute to the Ashbourne competition. Winning was just class, we had a few nights celebrating!”
“There were eleven Kilkenny girls on our team, so there were no cliques. It took time for us to get together and regroup, but it definitely stands on the pitch , knowing each other so well.”
“That win and the All-Star, everything is a panel effort. Your playing with the girls around you and driving you on, even the sideline. The fifteen that started was not the 15 that ended (the game). The whole panel at training everyone drives you on.”
“Getting the All-Star is definitely a cherry on top of the cake. Anything after the club final is a bonus, personally, I am delighted. However, it is a panel effort and I wouldn’t be there without the panel and management around me. “
Five Kilkenny players were been named in this year’s 2022 Third Level Camogie All-Star team after an impressive campaign with University College Dublin and NUIG respectively.
UCD and Dicksboro’s Ciara O’Shea and of course June Cass were joined by James Stephens star Niamh Deely and Young Ireland’s sisters Steffi and Tiffanie Fitzgerald, with Tiffanie representing NUIG.
Listen to the full interview with Jane on Scoreline Extra below :
