Ashling Thompson looking to end Cork title drought

In 2018, few would have predicted the Cork All-Ireland juggernaut would come to a halt.

When Cork broke Kilkenny hearts in injury-time on All-Ireland final day for the second year in succession as Orla Cotter's fifth free of the day proved the winner, it was the sixth time in a decade that the O’Duffy Cup was won by the Leesiders.

Ashling Thompson was midfield that day, but the intervening years means she, and her team-mates, have been reduced to the role of spectators on camogie’s big day.

Kilkenny’s 2020 success was sandwiched in between Galway victories, and that particular rivalry has dominated the landscape, with the Rebels failing at the last hurdle to the Tribeswomen last year.

It has taken some getting used to.

"Yeah, it is because it’s something we’re not used to," Thompson told RTÉ Sport when asked whether it was frustrating watching the Cats and Tribeswomen become the dominant players.

"It’s been 2018 since we’ve won a final, it’s a drought in Cork camogie. It mightn’t be for other counties but it’s a drought for us.

"Do you know what though, you learn a lot from losing. I know you want to be winning but at the end of the day you only learn from your losses I think. It’s been a big motivator.

"The main thing was to get back to the final this year but unless we’re pushing to get over the line on Sunday there’s just no point in being there."

It has been an eventful few weeks for the Millford player.

Thompson was shown a yellow card during the Rebels’ round-robin loss to Tipperary, but after the final whistle, received a straight red for allegedly using abusive language towards referee Justin Heffernan.

Her two-game suspension was overturned hours before the semi-final against Waterford. While she didn’t start against the