Twelve months on from a heartbreaking one-point defeat to Tipperary in last year’s decider, Laois Camogie are back preparing for another All-Ireland final and for joint-manager Robert Jones, it’s a chance to put past pain behind them.

Their victory over Armagh in the final group game helped build momentum, while the disappointment of losing the Leinster final to Carlow prompted reflection and growth within the squad.

“We played Armagh in the last group game of the Championship and we went there not under huge pressure; it didn’t really matter whether we topped or came second. Armagh are very pacey in the forward line and very physical in the backs, so look it we have our work cut out. They’re a top-class team, we’re under no illusions about that, we just try and focus on ourselves, like that’s what we do in every game, is try and focus on our own performance. Armagh are after losing a couple of All-Ireland semi-finals, finals too just like ourselves. Nothing really has changed with us yet because we’ve not won yet and that’s the big thing.

“Since the Leinster final, where I thought we underperformed, we’re after improving big time, we’re after playing a couple of challenge games, two challenge games against the same team and that manager told us that he saw an improvement within two weeks. That was a huge benefit for us to hear that and the girls know it too. I think they’re coming at the right time and at the end of the day, it’s all in the heads. We have the ability to win this game, but it’s down to how they can get over the day; it’s all on the day,” he said.

The Laois panel that will line out in this year’s final still features a strong core of players from last year’s campaign, but it’s the integration of new, younger talent that has struck the right chord, according to Jones.

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“We haven’t picked our team yet, but I’d say we’re going to have 11 or 12 girls who played in the All-Ireland last year, so we have the experience. We have a couple of young girls who are in their first year this year and I’d say it won’t matter to them, they’ll play with a bit of freedom. That’s what we’re hoping they’ll do and look, there’s a great gel between the team, great unity. There are great characters on the team, young and experienced girls. We think we’re in a good place, but we’ll see on the 10th of August,” Jones added.