Nicole Walsh - Tipperary's poacher-turned-gamekeeper

There is a photo that Nicole Walsh loves, even though it was taken in the aftermath of Tipperary's devastating All-Ireland camogie semi-final defeat to Waterford last July.

The final whistle has been blown and Sportsfile photographer Piaras Ó Midheach has turned his lens towards the stands at UPMC Nowlan Park. He trains it on a woman, her right hand to her mouth in obvious bitter disappointment.

Held by her left arm is an infant child, soother in mouth, ear muffs on to protect her from the raucous exhortations of both sets of supporters.

The woman is Geraldine Walsh, the baby, her six-month-old grandchild, Ellie-Mai Boland.

Geraldine knows all about the slings and arrows of supporting Gaelic games teams. Her father, Seán Kenny captained Tipp hurlers in 1950. Her daughter Nicole is a Tipperary player.

Nicole is Ellie-Mai’s mum. She is a veteran, a constant in terms of sublime stickwork and vital scores in the blue and gold as well as for her beloved Borris-Ileigh.

She scored 1-1 as Tipp bagged their first ever All-Ireland minor title in 2011, her converted free two minutes from time nudging a team that also included Julie Ann Bourke, Clodagh Quirke and the Fryday cousins, Sarah and Ereena.

The goal had arrived in the 52nd minute to bring Tipp level. This was a big-time operator.

Walsh did it at senior level for years as Tipp made those infinitesimal improvements particularly under Bill Mullaney.

She got married to Damien Boland early in 2022 and a short while after, became pregnant, giving birth to Ellie-Mai on 1 February last year.

Returning to the fold with Borris went smoothly and so when Denis Kelly invited her back into the Tipp championship squad, she didn't have to think twice. While the campaign ended in heartbreak, it