Does any family currently contribute more to Kilkenny GAA than the Farrells?
Along with senior hurler Jonjo, the Thomastown clan had no fewer than three starters on the Kilkenny camogie team that Sunday ended a 22-year wait for All-Ireland glory.
Having captained the Cats to glory 22 years ago, Ann Downey masterminded a 1-13 to 1-9 victory over three-in-a-row chasing Cork in Croke Park, which could not have been achieved without the Farrells.
While Anna and Megan were ruling the roost together at midfield, sister Shelly at wing-forward scored Kilkenny’s only goal – a bullet to the top corner in the 42nd minute.
Shelly Farrell finds the back of the net to give Kilkenny a 7 point lead against Cork in the Camogie final. https://t.co/vB748k5Rbq
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) September 11, 2016
The sisters’ performances were superb and not at all impacted by an interesting morning on the family farm – which saw their departure for Croke Park delayed by some escaped livestock.
On Monday’s Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1, they replayed Brenda Donoghue’s interview with their mother Helen Farrell from The Marty Squad, in which she detailed the rather unusual preparations the sisters enjoyed.
“Well they were heading out the door with their bags on their backs and their father said, ‘stop, you can’t go anywhere. There are two bulls out on the road’.
“They had to hunt the bulls before they could go out. At least it took their minds off the match, so they were grand.”
You often hear players discussing the importance of a set routine and avoiding all distractions ahead of a big game – the Farrell sisters’ Sunday morning suggests that is a load of bull.
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