OWENS WON’T MAKE SWITCH
DUBLIN ladies football star Nicole Owens insists the reaction to the county’s historic three-ina-row win has been all positive – unlike the men’s success.
Various members of the men’s team were frustrated after commentary about funding, population and resources in the wake of their historic five-in-a-row.
There has been little of that negativity towards the ladies though Mayo’s Sarah Rowe did state in August that the Jackies are well ahead of the rest and benefit from their location and resources.
Rowe claimed the Dublin ladies have, ‘sponsorships here, there and everywhere and it’s really hard to compete with that.’
Rowe added: “It’s going to noticeably get bigger over the next few years, their dominance..it seems to be very professional for them’.
But asked if she feels a chasm has emerged, attacker Owens responded: “No, to be honest, it doesn’t feel like NICOLE OWENS reckons Dublin pals Niamh Mcevoy and Sinead Goldrick were right to take up AFLW contracts – but admits it isn’t for her.
All-ireland winners Mcevoy and Goldrick (above) are set to head Down Under to join the legion of Irish women, 18 in total, who have signed up for the oval ball game.
Owens said it’s an ‘unbelievable opportunity’ but the three-in-a-row All-ireland medallist reckons she’s that. I’m not going to underestimate the support we’ve had from county board and the sponsors but we’re still out there four days a week doing our sessions and learning year on year, exactly the same as Mayo or Cork are.
“Firstly, I don’t think there’s a gap at all. I think next year it all opens up again. And I also don’t think there’s a massive, massive difference in resources between all of the teams.”
Dublin also won the 2010 All-ireland though their winning run pales in comparison to the 11 titles Cork won between 2005 and 2016.
Owens said: “Part of that talk is the legacy of coming off the back of our three-in-a-row but it is nothing compared to Cork, who did the five-in-arow twice. It was only 2016 that they were winning their fifth title in a row. I don’t think sentiment has swung against us, which is kind of what’s happened to the lads”.
The talented forward is currently recovering from a cruciate injury suffered in July. She said: “There were so many things I was trying to look at after, I was wearing blades, which is one of the things they say (can cause the injury). But then again, I have done that exact same movement hundreds of times in my life. It is one of those things.” not cut out for it. She said: “I don’t know if I’d consider it. At the moment I’m happy with where my career is going outside of football.
It’s a significant break you’d have to take for that.
“Also, I don’t know if I’d be, not so much up to it but physical enough for it. I do wonder. I was only watching highlights the other day and it’s insane. I’ve put on muscle the last few years but I don’t know if I’d have all that muscle!”