KATIE POWER has two screws inserted into her knee — but not even that would stop her playing for Kilkenny.
Power, 33, has been with the Cats since 2008 after bursting on to the scene against Galway in the league final with a point en route to victory.
But she has suffered many bumps and bruises since.
In 2019, Power broke her finger very badly and then it began to frequently dislocate. But she played through the pain barrier as Kilkenny reached the All-Ireland final.
After recovering, she suffered a broken kneecap that forced her to watch on from the stands as the Noresiders won the 2020 All-Ireland.
She still feels the effects of that injury today as one of the two screws inserted in the joint broke and became embedded in the bone.
But it was determined that it would be the lesser of two evils to leave them in.
Power was back on the pitch to earn her third senior All-Ireland title in 2022.
And still will continue to plough on this year too as captain, but admitted: “I would be lying if I said giving up didn’t enter my head with the injuries but that’s a short-term thing.
“More so if you’re having a bad day, or you’d wake up in the morning and you’d be sore and you’d say, ‘Why am I doing this to myself?’
“I feel like whenever your time is done, it’s done forever. There won’t be any going back on it.
“I’m just going to try to get the best out of myself and enjoy what I do while I can.
“I’d hate to look back then and say, ‘Maybe I could have given another year’.
“Look, I would love to go off and travel but there will be time to do that whenever the day comes that you’re not going to be able to play the camogie.”
Stalwart Power has three All-Ireland camogie titles to her name with Kilkenny, having won her first in 2016.
But a new group of Noreside stars are beginning to make their mark on the inter-county scene.
Miriam Walsh, Grace Walsh and Julieanne Malone have left the fold from last year, while Denise Gaule and Claire Phelan departed a year before.
There has also been a change in the dugout with Tommy Shefflin — brother of hurling hero Henry — their new manager.
But new emerging stars such as Laura Murphy, Michelle Teehan, Kellyann Doyle and Aoife Norris are ready to shine alongside experienced Power.
YOUNG AND HUNGRY
And they will be looking to do so this afternoon when the Cats face Cork in Division 1A of the Very Camogie League at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The Rebelettes are current All-Ireland champions and sit on top of the pile in Division 1A after successive wins over Waterford and Dublin.
But Piltown ace Power is hoping to claim a scalp.
She said: “Kilkenny camogie is at the top table of senior camogie like we had been for ten years or so.
“The panel is extremely young this year and there are a lot of girls after being brought in.
“I think that this will be exciting for the next couple of years.
“It will take them a few years, in terms of experience and S&C and that.
“You notice a heightened sense in training when you know that you’re going to be playing Cork.
“I’m sure that it’s the exact same for them. They have been the best team in the country the last two years, and probably by a good stretch as well.
“So, it’s going to be a learning curve for us with new girls and new management.
“But the girls are all buzzing in training and are really looking forward to it.
“You’ll know a lot more coming out of Páirc Uí Chaoimh after the weekend.”
