There's still a magic to Aoife Donohue — the maestro at the heart of Galway's camogie successes over the past few years. The star who once won a senior and intermediate title for Galway in the one day, eleven years ago.
In the semi-final against Tipperary, she took some serious hits, but each time she bounced back up again. In the first half, she set off on a mazy run that left her chasers trailing in her wake, she slalomed through and was bearing down on goal, when a fortuituous hook denied her a goal that would have registered as one of the most memorable of all time.
If it is classic goals we were looking for, we don't have to cast our minds back too far, because it was her major in the quarter-final against Waterford that shaped that win and showed the doubters that there is still something wonderful in this Galway team that has given us so much joy.
There seems a new freedom to her movement in recent matches. She is still enjoying her game, as she told me at the open training session in Athenry last week.
"I'm around a while. I've been in the full-forward line, the half forward line. I'll play wherever I'm put, but I'm really enjoying it this year.
"The environment and the group of players involved mean we all get on really well, and it's very enjoyable," she added.
The Mullagh woman who teaches in Colaiste Baile Chlair in Claregalway, knows too that as one of the more experienced players on the squad, she has a shared responsibility to impart advice and guidance to those for whom the notion of an All-Ireland final is a new adventure. But she takes it all in her stride.
"We've a great mix of youth and experience. There are a few of us who have been here quite a while. There are some who won the Intermediate title a couple of years ago, and now they're playing their first senior final in a few day's time.
"It does help that we have had the experience, but on the day, it comes down to the performance.
"Cork are the All-Ireland champions. They seem to have gone up another couple of levels and we look forward to the challenge of it.
"We have been building game on game and obviously we had a huge battle against Waterford in the quarterfinal. The Tipperary game could have gone either way, but I think we finished really strongly in the last ten minutes of that match.
"Hopefully, there is another performance coming this weekend," she added.
"It's brilliant for the county. When we were growing up, we loved looking up to players. It is great to see so many people here. Am sure they will go on and play for Galway in ten years time.
"It is great to have these days so that the kids can see the pathway for themselves and what can be achieved. It is all about keeping them playing camogie as well," she said.
"I can't wait for the final. It's great to see the excitement around the county. and I'm really looking forward to it."
Aoife won an All Star in 2019 and she also won the player of the league accolade for the Division One league for her performances in the 2019 Littlewoods camogie league! Aoife won an All Ireland Senior Title and Division 1 League Title in 2019 with Galway. Aoife won a national league title in 2015.
She completed the double in 2013 winning a Senior and Intermediate title with Galway in the same day. She won a Purcell Cup with NUIG in 2018 and she won an All Ireland Minor title with Galway in 2010.
She won a Senior title with her club in 2014 and she also won Senior league titles with Mullagh in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018. Aoife is the winner of three All Stars, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
One more title this weekend would be very sweet.
