ONE of Cork’s mainstays over the past decade, Libby Coppinger’s search for a fifth All-Ireland senior camogie medal takes the St Colum’s stalwart back to Croke Park on Sunday.

Resolute, consistent, reliable, versatile and hard as nails are the most common descriptions of the Rebels’ full-back who joined the Cork seniors for the first time back in 2016.

What makes Coppinger even more special is the fact she also possesses an impressive CV as a former inter-county footballer.

Her seamless move to the edge of the square, donning the famous Cork number three jersey, and building a three-time All-Star camogie career underlines Coppinger’s versatility.

Former Cork camogie manager Matthew Twomey is a good judge of her character.

Twomey was in charge of Cork between 2021 and 2023, suffering back-to-back All-Ireland final losses before defeating Waterford to claim the county’s 29th senior title.

His admiration for the St Colum’s player has never diminished.

‘She was and still is so important to Cork as a full-back. Nothing ever fazes her. No matter what type of player she is marking, tall, small, fast or physical, Libby just gets on with the job,’ Twomey told The Southern Star.

‘It must have been a bit head-wrecking for her at times, moving from a forward’s role in football to a defender in camogie. She did it without hesitation and did it brilliantly.

‘I will always remember the battle Libby had with Kilkenny’s Miriam Walsh in the 2022 All-Ireland final and restricting her to three points. It was incredible.

‘She has been a steadying influence since she first came to us.

‘Libby has always given her all. Her reading of the game is exquisite. She’s just always that couple of steps in front of her marker. No one can get away from her. She constantly finds a way to get out in front.

‘The likes of Anna Geary, Gemma O’Connor and Laura Treacy were Cork full-backs before we put Libby in there. Those are big shoes to fill but it was a very easy decision for everyone involved.

‘Why? Because you knew you could rely on her, nothing would faze her and she would never be caught out. Those are incredible attributes to have but are exactly why we put our trust in her in the first place.’

Libby Coppinger picked up her third Camogie All-Star award in 2025.

***

Coppinger is one of those individuals who likes to do her talking out on the pitch.

Softly spoken in interviews but still well able to get her point across on topics such as skorts, dual-player fatigue or GPA player entitlements.

Her off-field influence, especially on younger players, was as vital as her defending during Twomey’s time in charge.

‘All the training sessions, football and camogie matches, everything, no matter how bad or good it got, Libby never stopped smiling,’ Twomey said.

‘That had a positive effect on everybody on the panel, including myself when I was manager.

‘Driving the long distance to and from Kealkill every night of the week as well, but she never once complained. We used to tell her to take a break from training every now and again. She never did.

‘Her standards were and still are incredible.

‘This Sunday is Cork’s sixth All-Ireland Camogie final in a row and I think a lot of that is testament to the players in the dressing room. There are lots of strong characters in there and Libby is one of them.

‘Anytime a new player joined up with us, Libby would be one of the first over, welcoming them with a smile and having a chat to settle them down.

‘That’s just in her nature, and with the other more senior Cork players too to be fair. I know Libby still does that. Believe me, it helps take a huge amount of pressure off young players when joining the Cork senior panel.’

Fans favourite Libby Coppinger signing autographs.

Coppinger’s ability to bounce back from serious injury and re-establish herself as one of the country’s best full-backs represents another important character trait.

A hamstring injury meant the St Colum’s defender missed the entire 2024 camogie championship. But her decision to concentrate on camogie alone, coupled with a steely determination to rehab properly, has seen the full-back return and deliver one of her most consistent years in a Cork jersey.

‘She was out for over nine months with a bad hamstring injury,’ Twomey said.

‘It is incredible, the seamless way she recovered and came back into the Cork senior panel. She missed out on so much but here she is, playing full-back to such a high standard again. It is as if she was never away.

‘Again, that says so much about Libby’s character and her determination.

‘Another important thing that has helped Libby, I believe, over the years is her family.

‘The camogie community is a small one but the support Libby gets from her family is special no matter where Cork plays.

‘The Coppingers are a very warm, friendly and welcoming family. Libby is the same. She is what I would describe as an enthusiasm torch. That’s a beautiful trait to have.’

This weekend's All-Ireland final marks ten years that Libby Coppinger has served as a member of Cork Camogie’s senior panel.

The St Colum’s stalwart has never been found wanting since being repositioned as a full-back.

Sunday’s showdown with Galway offers Coppinger another opportunity to show why she is regarded as one of the best number three’s in the business.