Thompson is thrilled Murray stayed on

BY KIERAN McCARTHY 

ASHLING Thompson is thrilled that Paudie Murray has stayed on as Cork camogie manager.

The former Dohenys footballer has masterminded two successive Cork All-Ireland camogie triumphs in 2014 and 2015, and Thompson believes it’s a big boost to the county that he is at the helm for a fourth season in a row.

‘I’m delighted Paudie is involved again this year. I haven’t worked under any other Cork manager,’ Thompson explained to The Southern Star after she won the Munster Camogie Player of the Year award .

‘The players are glad to see him stay and the whole county is as well. He has been extremely successful since he came on board and he’s working hard already to make sure everything is as it should be ahead of the new season.’

Cork will begin their camogie national league Division 1 campaign against Limerick on February 21st, but Thompson and the her Milford teammates won’t be involved as they have an All-Ireland club senior final approaching in early March.

After their All-Ireland semi-final win against champions Oulart-The Ballagh recently, Milford (2013 and 2014 winners) setup a showdown against 2011 champs Killimor, of Galway, on Sunday, March 6th, in Croke Park, at 3.15pm.

‘All my concentration is on Milford now until after the All-Ireland. It was the same last year when Cork were involved in the All-Ireland, all my focus was on the county, unless we were playing club championship,’ Thompson explained.

‘I like to focus on one thing at a time. I will show face at county training in the next few weeks but the management are very understanding. Paudie Murray doesn’t expect me to be there because my focus is 100 per cent on Milford at the moment.’ 

‘It all starts with the club. I would never have been in this position I am today if it wasn’t for my club. Everyone starts out with their club and it goes from there. That’s why Milford are my number one priority right now.’

On her provincial camogie award, last year’s All-Ireland winning Cork camogie captain said: ‘It’s an award that means a lot because I’m representing my club. I see this as an overall award for the club after what we’ve achieved this season.’