Interview with Sinead Goldrick by Declan Drake
- Mar 05,2014
With the visit of the league and All Ireland Champions Cork to Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon DECLAN DRAKE (FM104) spoke to Dublin skipper Sinead Goldrick ahead of the big game.
On Sunday afternoon in Parnell Park the Dublin ladies will play their 5th game in Division 1 of the Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League. The opposition are none other than Cork a side who in 2013 claimed another league and championship double to add to their impressive list of achievements over the last 9 years. It’s been a fantastic start to the New Year for the ladies who last week recorded a 3rd win in 4 league starts away to Donegal. Dubs skipper Sinead Goldrick a two time All Star is best placed to outline how the new management team at the helm compare to previous regimes
"We have had 4 different sets of management teams over the last 4 years. Every new one brings a different perspective. We have a core group who have worked under them all. Each year we have developed and progressed. Greg Mc Gonigle has a wealth of experience, he knows the game well and his passion is electric. He is a great asset to Dublin ladies. This year we have a nice mix of new players such as Sarah Mc Caffrey, Carla Rowe and Lucy Collins alongside some players who have come back to the panel like Coleen Barrett and Sorcha Furlong. It’s great that things are going so well at the moment and we are in a healthy league position".
An unbeaten run through February and into March has propelled the blues toward the top of the Division 1 Tesco Homegrown League table. The last 3 games have all been away from home and have produced impressive results with Mayo and Donegal beaten and a draw with Monaghan sandwiched between. Sinead is pleased that confidence levels amongst the squad are growing all the time thanks to the results achieved.
"Naturally a winning run sees confidence levels grow amongst the group. Division 1 is a very tough league and to be where we are at this stage of the campaign is excellent. We just take it on a game to game basis taking each different challenge as it comes. Thankfully so far it has gone extremely well, we focused quite quickly on the next challenge that lies ahead which is Cork as it happens"
Dublin will meet the Rebel queens for the first time since their ill-fated All Ireland Quarter final encounter in Birr last August. A game that went so well for a long period of time turned badly in the second half as Cork overturned a 9 point deficit to record a victory which looked anything but likely. Having won the Leinster Title hopes were high that Dublin would kick on in pursuit of a first All-Ireland since 2010, it wasn’t to be regretfully. So how much as that event been discussed amongst the group in the lead up to tomorrows league encounter?
"Yes it has been discussed amongst the group regardless whether players were on the team that day or not. It still is a hard pill to swallow but it’s an experience that will definitely motivate and drive us on as a unit. If we don’t learn from our mistakes then we are not going to improve."
A victory over Cork in a game which throws in at 2pm by the way at Parnell Park would bring this developing team to another level and not only be a significant step towards serious advancement in the competition but lay down a marker for the bigger prize of the championship.. For Ms Goldrick who plies her club trade with Foxrock Cabineteely what would constitute a successful campaign?
"Reaching the league final (which will be played at Parnell Park in May) would be considered a successful outcome we have never won the league Division 1 title so for this group especially the younger girls involved to do so would be massive. It would set things up nicely for the championship which of course is always the primary target. There is a lot of football to be played yet so we will see what happens over the next couple of months"
Dublin v Cork is usually whatever the code a special occasion. Tomorrow sees another chapter been written in the history of meetings between the sides over the last number of years in the ladies game. For Parnell Park which already this year has welcomed the All-Ireland Hurling Champions Clare it’s another prestigious game. As the girls normally play league matches at various venues around the county it will be a welcome experience to play at Parnell for the team as Sinead agrees.
"Absolutely, such an opportunity usually only comes when you get to a league final like we did in Division 2 a couple of years ago. To be playing the All Ireland Champions there this weekend is definitely a unique and welcome experience for us and one we will take with open arms. I hope we can get good support out behind us and those that come will enjoy a good game of football" . One can certainly echo those sentiments as well of course as hoping that another set of league points be safely secured.
