The sight of hundreds of young camogie players at the open training session of the senior camogie squad helps with the perception of a pathway for younger players go on to represent their county.
The initiative from Galway camogie to invite fans to what was effectively their media night was a novel one, and represented a boost to the senior players as much as it did to the starstruck youngest who turned up.
Galway Camogie chairman Brian Griffin who is conscious of the need for definite pathways through the ranks for the conveyor belt of Galway said that such events have their merit in the short term and the long term.
"By coming along here this evening, they get a taste of what it is like to represent your county at the highest level, and hopefully someday, they will feel inspired to go on and do that themselves.
"We want to bring so many players through and create a vibe around Galway camogie and female sport as well. To bring it up from where it was. It has grown exponiently in the last few years.
"The seniors in the last five years have become an elite outfit. The whole levels have changed in the area of nutrition, strength and conditioning, psychology. They are on a par with their male counterparts in many ways.
"It is all geared towards getting more female officials and coaches. if you look at our U-16 set-up this year, it was all female coaches and that is important as well," he said.
Brian praised the resilience of the squad as they head east at the weekend.
"Cork are never easy but I have great faith in this Galway squad. They are a resilient bunch. They have been standard bearers for the GAA in Galway for the last five or six years. They are in a final every year, either a league or a championship. They know what it takes and they won't be afraid of Cork.
"The players have a culture of appearing in finals at the underage levels, so they are not fazed by it. In the last few years, we have been in two u-16 finals, the u15s won their blitzes, the u-14s won their title last year; the Intermediate two years ago. The culture is there and we are developing all the time," he said. "A win on Sunday will be the icing on the cake," he concluded.
