‘We are better equipped this year to win All-Ireland,' insists Orla Finn

ORLA Finn has almost won it all with club and county – and she is confident she can add to her impressive collection this Sunday.

The lethal forward has won provincial, league and All-Irelands with Cork, as well as a 2016 All-Star award, and with Kinsale she has now won county and Munster titles at junior and intermediate level, and she can add an All-Ireland club title to that impressive CV this Sunday.

Finn, the second oldest player on the team behind Aisling Judge, will be the go-to player for the Kinsale attack against Dunboyne, and it’s easy to see why.

Since conquering Cork, Finn has scored 3-6 against Austin Stacks in a provincial semi-final, 3-8 against Clonmel in the Munster final, and there were eight points in the All-Ireland semi-final win against Maigh Cuilinn; that’s 6-22 in her last three games. It’s that last game, a 0-18 to 2-11 semi-final win against Maigh Cuilinn, that Finn believes will stand to Kinsale on Sunday.

‘We needed to perform against a team that was very well rounded and Moycullen were strong in every part of the field,’ she explained.

‘We did breeze through Munster so it was important that we did get a tough test ahead of the All-Ireland final.

‘The Moycullen game was a fantastic game that will stand to us.’

Finn also feels Kinsale have matured as a team this year and learned a lot from their junior adventure last year that ended with All-Ireland final heartbreak.

‘I think we are better equipped this year, definitely. Even in the last few games I noticed a huge improvement in the girls,’ she said.

‘The experience of last year – winning the county, Munster and getting to an All-Ireland final – has really stood to everyone, playing in really big games and playing in front of a bigger crowd than what we usually do.

‘Not just that but we are a year older and we’re physically a year stronger as well.

‘We know what’s ahead of us and I know the girls won’t be as nervous as they were last year. I know there will be nerves again this Sunday but the girls will have that experience from last year and that will help us.’