In the early moments of the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship semi-final against Galway, Cork manager Jerry Wallace make a decision which epitomises his team.
"I think there were 30 seconds gone in the game, and Galway had moved their corner forward to the full-back line," Wallace told Cork's Red FM's Women in Sport podcast.
"All I remember is the corner-forward went flying past myself and Michael Boland on the sideline, and [Caoimhe O'Donoghue, our corner-back] said, 'Jerry, will I stay or go?' I said, 'Caoimhe, go and bring us back a few scores'. Little did I think she'd come back with three of them. That's the way we play. We play on the front foot all the time."
Cork - the reigning champions - won the game 1-18 to 3-10 to set up Sunday's All-Ireland final against Waterford at Nowlan Park.
They return to the decider having "transitioned a whole new team".
"I was just looking at it there this evening and I think there are around 10 changes from the team that played in last year's All-Ireland final," said Wallace.
Cork players celebrate after the 2022 All-Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship final against Galway. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Grealy
They face a Waterford team playing in their county's first ever final at this level, and one which beat Cork by seven points in the group stage.
"We were in the depths of deep training at the time," Wallace said about that defeat.
"We were after doing a massive gym session on the Tuesday night [before the game]. We had one hurling session on the Friday in MTU on the all-weather for about 40 minutes.
"We went down to Waterford still not knowing our team. We had a significant victory against Dublin in the opening round but we travelled to Waterford on a wet day, came up against a very well-prepared Waterford team.
"We had a hiccup that day but it gave us an opportunity to regroup."
Cork ended up topping the group in this year's rejigged championship, one which featured six teams - Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford - battling for a place in the top four and a spot in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
2023 Cork minor camogie captain Sinead Hurley celebrates after the 2022 All-Ireland U16A Camogie Championship final against Tipperary. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
"We had a different championship to compete in this year," said Wallace.
"It's been enjoyable for the players. I recently attended the senior league final between Galway and Cork, and I just happened to bump into the president of the [Camogie] Association.
"I did mention to her our satisfaction with the championship this year, starting a little bit later, affording us more quality games.
"I did make a suggestion that if they could find a bit of wiggle room for 2024, that they might allow two weeks between the games.
"It has been a very demanding schedule for the players. If you were to ask the players, I think they've loved this year, having the opportunity to pit themselves as top class players against top class opposition.
"With this group of young women, it's all about the development, all about them learning the game at a higher level and preparing themselves for the future.
"Nine of the team that started against Galway, they leave us this year, and will be moving on to the higher levels of camogie in Cork. Wouldn't it be nice for them to go out as All-Ireland champions?"
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