Latest news with #LibbyCoppinger
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Cork's Libby Coppinger hopeful 'integration will happen' soon
Libby Coppinger has been defending her patch as full-back for most of her near decade on the Cork senior camogie team. The four All-Irelands and two All-Star awards accumulated since being called up in 2016 and establishing herself the following season provide irrefutable evidence that she is in the finest traditions of Cork full-backs, though injury prevented her from playing a part on the pitch last year. Think resolute, think resilient, with not a dream of taking a backward step. A sure touch makes her the ideal blend of silk and steel. Coppinger also provides an invaluable defensive shield in her professional life, as a depository officer with Alter Domus, a funds services company. "When a fund is set up, there needs to be a depository appointed to it," Coppinger explains. "We're not involved in the investments or anything like that, but protecting the investor. It's kind of like a version of an audit. We're just ensuring everything's done properly and all the rules are being followed." A pretty significant pivot in 2021 brought the 28-year-old to this point, having graduated in public health. Life is, after all, one long journey of self-discovery, where the learning never stops. There was never any doubt about Coppinger's insatiable desire to wear the Blood and Bandage, however. West Cork would not be a traditional camogie stronghold but nobody told the girl from Kealkill and with St Colum's providing a steady foundation, she soared. While playing further up the field for the Rebels with the big ball and regularly getting among the scores, Coppinger's job description with a camán has always been about minding the house. As the game has evolved, so too have the full-back's challenges, to an extent. The job description remains the same. "I think as a whole in camogie, the skill is gone phenomenal, and there's some excellent hurlers out there. As a back, you're going out to mark your player, and there's obviously times where there's sweepers and everything involved. But you just have to try win your battle with the forward. So that hasn't changed. Just make sure they don't score. "I think maybe there's a bit more licence to do a bit of hurling yourself. Before, you were probably just there to stop them playing. Now you're playing a bit yourself as well. We talk about the forwards being the first line of the defence so the same way, we're the first line of attack. You're trying to give the ball to the player in the best position out the field. So hurling-wise, just in general, everyone's kind of gone up a level. "I suppose possession has become such a big part of the game now, whereas before, both sides might just try and get the ball down the field and clear their lines. So, there are more of those runs inside (rather than standing under a dropping ball). And they're making a couple of runs. You're trying to track them everywhere. So you have to be concentrating the whole game, make sure you're not ball-watching. You might not touch the ball as much and to be honest, it's nearly easier to be concentrating on the game when you're on the ball the whole time. So that mental part of it is always there." Another constant is that improvement and evolution continue to be the watchwords of the Coppinger code, but they are at the core of the Rebels' success too. 'We had been going for the League the last few years, so it was nice to actually get over the line this year' There are always new peaks to scale, in terms of KPIs within games and through a season. And while the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship is the overriding priority in every term, securing a first Very League Division 1A medal had high value for Coppinger and most of her equally garlanded teammates. Only the Mackey twins and Ashling Thompson had been involved the last time Cork had won it, a dozen years ago. "We were disappointed after our showing when we played Galway in the last round so we were very grateful to get to play them again just a few weeks later, when a cup was on the line as well. So it was good to win it. "I think we got a lot from the league, players-wise, building, people getting game time and everything like that. We had been going for the league the last few years, so it was nice to actually get over the line this year. We're happy out to have the medal." Coppinger was her usual authoritative self, having missed the Leesiders' run to a second straight All-Ireland last year with a Grade 3C hamstring tear. And while it did make her think about the mileage she has built up over the years playing both codes for Cork, she could not bring herself to lighten her load just yet. Meanwhile, she hopes integration of the Gaelic games associations will take place in 2027, as promised, and will aid those that want to play both codes, particularly at club level. "I probably did think about playing the two more than ever before. I guess it was about getting the body back to the standard it was at but I felt this year, I kind of just had to give it a go. There's no point in throwing in the towel before you even try. "But unfortunately, it's just getting that bit harder. I know it ended my season last year, and you just want to park it but it still carries over, unfortunately, to the following year more than you'd like it to. But I'm happy to go another year. The decision is closer than I'd like it to be, but we're gonna keep going for as long as we can anyway. "I don't really know where we're at, at the minute with the integration. When we heard about it, you're happy to hear it but it's kind of, 'Will it happen before the end of my playing career?' "Obviously, there's three of us (as dual players with Cork – Hannah Looney and Aoife Healy the others), and there's more girls in other counties, and we're kind of, I suppose, highlighting it at an inter-county level, but it happens all over the place with clubs. So I would just like to see more togetherness and communication throughout that. "It's our choice to play at inter-county level, and that makes a bit more complicated. But the amount of girls playing dual all over the country, it's great to see, and we don't want to discourage that, especially when so many girls are walking away from sport as it is. "So hopefully integration will happen and it will be beneficial to us all." A minor setback did rule her out of the early stages of this year's championship but she was back in situ for the defeat of Clare last weekend and is looking forward to building on that at Chadwicks Wexford Park this afternoon (2pm). "Nothing's been perfect yet, but we're kind of building every game and trying to get through it and get to that semi-final spot and then reassess after that. But we still have Wexford coming, so all eyes are on that. You're not looking further ahead at all. "There's been a few injuries and stuff along the way for different players throughout our panel. But thankfully, we do have good depth there, and everyone's kind of fighting for that jersey, which creates good competition. "We're really just trying to go after our own performances in games, and you hope that the result will take care of itself then. You're trying to raise your standards all the time. You might win by a few scores or whatever, but might have been the prettiest. So you're always trying to review the game and learn from it. And we've been doing that throughout the year." The headline news? There's more to come. From Coppinger, and from Cork.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dual load getting heavier, but Cork ace Coppinger can't help but carry on
Libby Coppinger has been defending her patch as full-back for most of her near decade on the Cork senior camogie team. The four All-Irelands and two All-Star awards accumulated since being called up in 2016 provide irrefutable evidence that she is in the finest traditions of Cork full-backs, though injury prevented her from playing a part on the pitch last year. Think resolute, think resilient. A sure touch makes her the ideal blend of silk and steel. Coppinger also provides an invaluable defensive shield in her professional life, as a depository officer with Alter Domus, a funds services company. 'When a fund is set up, there needs to be a depository appointed to it,' Coppinger explains. 'We're not involved in the investments or anything like that, but protecting the investor. It's kind of like a version of an audit. We're just ensuring everything's done properly and all the rules are being followed.' A pretty significant pivot in 2021 brought the 28-year-old to this point, having graduated in public health. Life is, after all, one long journey of self-discovery, where the learning never stops. There was never any doubt about Coppinger's insatiable desire to wear the Blood and Bandage, however. West Cork would not be a traditional camogie stronghold but nobody told the girl from Kealkill and with St Colum's providing a steady foundation, she soared. While playing further up the field for the Rebels with the big ball and regularly getting among the scores, Coppinger's job description with a camán has always been about minding the house. As the game has evolved, so too have the full-back's challenges, to an extent. The job description remains the same. 'I think as a whole in camogie, the skill is gone phenomenal, and there's some excellent hurlers out there. As a back, you're going out to mark your player, and there's obviously times where there's sweepers and everything involved. But you just have to try win your battle with the forward. So that hasn't changed. Just make sure they don't score! 'I think maybe there's a bit more licence to do a bit of hurling yourself. Before, you were probably just there to stop them playing. Now you're playing a bit yourself as well. We talk about the forwards being the first line of the defence so the same way, we're the first line of attack. You're trying to give the ball to the player in the best position out the field. So hurling-wise, just in general, everyone's kind of gone up a level. 'I suppose possession has become such a big part of the game now, whereas before, both sides might just try and get the ball down the field and clear their lines. So, there are more of those runs inside (rather than standing under a dropping ball). And they're making a couple of runs. You're trying to track them everywhere. So you have to be concentrating the whole game, make sure you're not ball-watching. You might not touch the ball as much and to be honest, it's nearly easier to be concentrating on the game when you're on the ball the whole time. So that mental part of it is always there.' Improvement and evolution continue to be the watchwords of the Coppinger code, but they are at the core of the Rebels' success too. There are always new peaks to scale, in terms of KPIs within games and through a season. And while the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship is the overriding priority in every term, securing a first Very League Division 1A medal had high value for Coppinger and most of her equally garlanded teammates. Only the Mackey twins and Ashling Thompson had been involved the last time Cork had won it, a dozen years ago. 'We were disappointed after our showing when we played Galway in the last round so we were very grateful to get to play them again just a few weeks later, when a cup was on the line as well. So it was good to win it. 'I think we got a lot from the League, players-wise, building, people getting game time and everything like that. We had been going for the League the last few years, so it was nice to actually get over the line this year. We're happy out to have the medal.' Coppinger was her usual authoritative self, having missed the Leesiders' run to a second straight All-Ireland last year with a Grade 3C (very serious) hamstring tear. And while it did make her think about the mileage she has built up over the years playing both codes for Cork, she could not bring herself to lighten her load just yet. Meanwhile, she hopes integration of the Gaelic games associations will take place in 2027, as promised, and will aid those that want to play both codes, particularly at club level. 'I probably did think about playing the two more than ever before. I guess it was about getting the body back to the standard it was at but I felt this year, I kind of just had to give it a go. There's no point in throwing in the towel before you even try. 'But unfortunately, it's just getting that bit harder. I know it ended my season last year, and you just want to park it but it still carries over, unfortunately, to the following year more than you'd like it to. But I'm happy to go another year. The decision is closer than I'd like it to be, but we're gonna keep going for as long as we can anyway. 'I don't really know where we're at, at the minute with the integration. When we heard about it, you're happy to hear it but it's kind of, 'Will it happen before the end of my playing career?' 'Obviously, there's three of us (as dual players with Cork – Hannah Looney and Aoife Healy the others), and there's more girls in other counties, and we're kind of, I suppose, highlighting it at a an inter county level, but it happens all over the place with clubs. So I would just like to see more togetherness and communication throughout that. 'It's our choice to play at inter-county level, and that makes a bit more complicated. But the amount of girls playing dual all over the country, it's great to see, and we don't want to discourage that, especially when so many girls are walking away from sport as it is. 'So hopefully integration will happen and it will be beneficial to us all.' A minor setback did rule her out of the early stages of this year's Championship but she was back in situ for the defeat of Clare last weekend and is looking forward to building on that at Chadwicks Wexford Park this afternoon (2pm). 'Nothing's been perfect yet, but we're kind of building every game and trying to get through it and get to that semi-final spot and then reassess after that. But we still have Wexford coming, so all eyes are on that. You're not looking further ahead at all. 'There's been a few injuries and stuff along the way for different players throughout our panel. But thankfully, we do have good depth there, and everyone's kind of fighting for that jersey, which creates good competition. 'We're really just trying to go after our own performances in games, and you hope that the result will take care of itself then. You're trying to raise your standards all the time. You might win by a few scores or whatever, but might have been the prettiest. So you're always trying to review the game and learn from it. And we've been doing that throughout the year.' The headline news? There's more to come. From Coppinger, and from Cork.
BreakingNews.ie
20-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Cork's Hannah Looney says more respect must be shown to dual players
Cork footballer and camogie player Hannah Looney says she fears dual players will not continue in the game, as fixture scheduling continues to impact those playing both codes. As the Cork camogie side prepares to take on Clare on Saturday at 2 pm, the ladies footballers face Mayo in Castlebar in a must-win game in the All-Ireland group stages. Advertisement Not the only player forced to make a decision ahead of this weekend, Looney will line out with the footballers alongside Aoife Healy, while Libby Coppinger will play with the camogie side. This is not a new problem for Looney, who has always played both codes. She says more must be done to highlight the challenges facing dual players. 'There was a lot more respect for the dual player. If you look at ten years ago, everything has evolved so much and keeps evolving. 'When I first started, there were male players dabbling in and out of dual, but now it has totally gone out of the men's game, and it seems to be going that way for us too, unfortunately. Advertisement 'It's fine for me — I'm at the latter end of my career — but I do see it's going to be harder. In Cork at the moment, if you had a 17- or 18-year-old breaking into the senior set-ups, I can't see how they could start out on a dual journey the way things are going.' In years gone by, some players have been forced to play two games in one day. Looney says she is disappointed more has not been done about ongoing fixture clashes. 'The bottom line is I feel there's less interest, less respect, and less value, unfortunately. 'Even the fixture clash this weekend — a couple of years ago, there would have been huge uproar about this. You would have had the backing of the media, and you might have had the support of the county boards and managers to try to make a change. But it has just been fail after fail after fail. Advertisement 'Myself and Aoife will play football this Saturday — it's a knockout game for us against Mayo. Libby will be lining out with camogie. Libby is on her way back from injury and is working really hard to get camogie minutes, but she's going to be an absolutely huge loss for us in football. 'It's really frustrating. It's got to the stage where you don't even bother trying anymore.' In camogie, Cork and Looney are chasing history as they aim for a third All-Ireland title in a row. This season, it has all gone to plan for Cork so far, with a league title secured and two wins from two in the All-Ireland championship. Advertisement Having come close before, Looney knows how hard it is to achieve such success. 'The goal is the three-in-a-row, but you've got to get through each training session first before you can even think of anything else. 'You look at Cork camogie teams of the past and the legacies they've left — the inspiration they've given. 'This is an opportunity for us to leave our own legacy because there are huge legacies left before us. The three-in-a-row hasn't been done in recent times, and it's a chance for us to do that. 'I've tried to do it twice before — losing in '16 and losing in '17 — and it took us so long to get back up the Hogan steps. 'If I'm being honest, it's a huge driver for me — the three-in-a-row. It's something I haven't achieved before. If you chat to other players — Ashling Thompson, for example — she'll say it's just the next All-Ireland for her.'
Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cork dual stars forced to choose code as camogie and ladies football fixtures clash
Cork dual players Libby Coppinger, Hannah Looney, and Aoife Healy will have to choose between codes on Saturday, June 21, as both the Cork camogie and ladies football teams are in All-Ireland championship action that afternoon. Tuesday's confirmation of the television schedule for the group stages of the All-Ireland ladies football championship shows the clash of Cork and Mayo as one of the live television picks for Saturday, June 21. With reigning champions Kerry the other team in Group 2, the meeting of Cork and Mayo at 3pm will likely be a knockout fixture for the second and final qualifying spot in the group. Also on Saturday, June 21, the Cork camogie team are at home to Clare in Round 4 of the All-Ireland series. With Ger Manley's three-in-a-row chasing side not expected to encounter any difficulty in securing the necessary top-three finish in their five-team group, it is likely that the dual players will line out with the footballers on that afternoon and miss the camogie game, rather than attempting to have the camogie game pushed back 24 hours. That Saturday is the sole weekend when the two Cork teams are in All-Ireland group stage action on the same weekend. The camogie women began their group campaign with a comprehensive win over Limerick last Saturday. They are away to Tipp this Saturday, at home to Clare in the aforementioned June 21 fixture, and finish out the group against Wexford on Saturday, June 28. The footballers, meanwhile, open their All-Ireland series against Kerry on Saturday, June 14. Both this game and the meeting with Mayo will be shown live on TG4.
