Kerry's Patrice Diggan hoping to inspire next generation at All-Ireland final
Michael Bolton
While Kerry may still be celebrating their All-Ireland win, attention in the county now turns to camogie, with Patrice Diggan hoping to make history with her county.
After the Kingdom were defeated at the semi-final stage last season, they have gone one step further to face Offaly in Croke Park on Sunday.
A county that would not be the first on people's minds when camogie is mentioned, Kerry has made massive strides in recent years, having won the junior title in 2019.
For Diggan, inspiring the next generation is vital.
"It is huge for younger girls in the county and clubs around the place to be able to see us get to Croke Park.
"As a child, it is everyone's dream to play in Croke Park, it would have been our dream when we were children.
"It is massive for kids around the county to see this and get the opportunity go to Croke Park. No matter what the result is on Sunday, it is huge for us to be playing there on All-Ireland final day."
A county that was never known for camogie, the popularity of the sport has risen alongside the success of the county team in Kerry.
For Diggan, who would have grown up with very few players and clubs interested in the sport, the rise of popularity in the sport is welcome to see.
"Even within your own club, I would be there underage for matches, it is huge to see the interest there at underage.
"When we were growing up, there was only one or two clubs there, we were playing the same teams all the time. Now, when you are going to finals, you have to ask who are they playing because it could be any of the clubs."
Sunday's finals will see six different counties compete for silverware, but second squads of the big counties knocked out along the way.
For counties trying to develop the sport, this can only be a good thing for Camgoie according to Diggan.
"It is probably a great thing one sense that the second-tier teams from the likes of Cork and Galway are gone because it gives more of a chance for other counties to expand.
"You had Cork in the senior and intermediate last year, it is hard for development counties like ourselves to get there when you are up against that.
"That was probably one of the good things because it opens it up to other counties to get to Croke Park. There is different teams there this year, which is a great thing for camogie in general."