Haughey hails Dominic’s resilience ahead of another camogie final

There is a lot to be said for consistency.

St. Dominic’s will be lining out in their seventh consecutive Senior A final this Saturday as they try and atone for last year’s gut-wrenching two-point defeat to Oran.

Having lost the last two county finals and four out of the last six, there are natural questions over whether Dominic’s have been mentally scarred by their previous defeats.

However, St. Dominic’s manager John Haughey feels his side’s ability to dust themselves down and go again is a sign of their strong mentality.

“The losses make us hungrier. Every loss has different reasons. It is a different panel this year. Each year is on its own merit. I think the losses just gives us the hunger and the belief.

“To be getting to the county final on such a consistent level, it shows what a brilliant mentality that the girls have. They keep going back to try and reach the top,” Haughey stated.

In a campaign that saw St. Dominic’s’ dual players in high demand, the fact their camogie side prevailed after extra-time against Athleague — just four days after losing to Clann na nGael in the senior ladies’ football semi-final — is a testament to the players’ fortitude, according to their manager.

“The issue with dual players is picking up knocks. At this stage of the season regardless of who you are or even if you don’t play the two codes, there will be niggles.

“It is a mentality thing at this stage of the season. They had the football semi-final on the Tuesday night, and they had the camogie semi-final on the following Saturday. People would have said, oh it’s gone to extra time Dominic’s will be in trouble here. But it was us that pulled it out of the fire.

“For me, the whole dual code thing shows a massive desire to represent the club, and it shows their athletic ability. It shows what wholehearted and genuine girls these are in that they give both codes due respect and a massive effort.

“I don’t see it as an issue at all. I think it just shows what a brilliant bunch of athletic, highly-motivated, and talented group of girls we have,” he concluded.