Waterford captain Lorraine Bray is adamant that Waterford belong on the big stage as they face in to their All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship semi-final clash against Cork at Nowlan Park this Saturday.

The Deise find themselves at this point for the third time in four seasons – as they bid to reach the decider at Cork. Having reached one final in 79 years prior to 2023, Waterford are now just an hour away from a second final in 3 years. Bray has soldiered in white and blue for many years now – and the Cappoquin star says Waterford Camogie is only going in one direction – the right one.

“It’s where any team wants to be and look, we’re really looking forward to it, it’s great to be back in an All-Ireland semi-final again. It’s definitely taken us a good few years to get up to this stage and be reaching quarter-finals and semi-finals, but it just goes to show the progress that’s been made over the last few years. We’re definitely one of those top teams now as well. We’ve got that drive and backing from the management team, and they’ve instilled that belief in us that we know what we’re capable of.”

Standing in Waterford’s way are a formidable Cork side on the cusp of a third successive All-Ireland crown. It won’t be easy, but nothing is at this level. If Waterford want to be the best team in the land, they have to dethrone those who stand before them.

“We’ve done the best preparations we can do, we’re definitely going to throw the shackles off and throw everything at Cork on Saturday. It’s the team that things go right for on the day, and the team that are going to work harder, that are going to come out the right side. We like the underdog title at times as well. You love that challenge, that’s what you’ve been training and doing those hard slogs in the winter for – it’s for these kind of days.”

It’s a broad question to say the least, but what would success on Saturday mean to Lorraine Bray and the Waterford camp?

“It would mean everything. Your whole life is surrounded by what goes on in camogie. It’s definitely the main priority in my life at the minute. Every other girl on the panel – we’re all there for the end goal, and that’s to be in an All-Ireland final. Even when you reach an All-Ireland final, you want to be coming away with the trophy, our first step is getting over that semi-final against Cork.”

WLR will bring you the game live this Saturday thanks to proud sponsors Supermacs – where the best post match analysis takes place.

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