Dublin’s Davey hopeful ladies football is on upward curve
TWO of ladies football’s biggest names believe the game has made significant strides in recent years in its quest to be more equitably treated.
Dublin’s Lydnsey Davey, who played in her 10th All-Ireland final back in December and Player of the Year nominee Aimee Mackin (Armagh) have seen significant strides as ladies football continues to go from strength to strength.
Last year saw ladies teams paid travelling expenses for the first time, a development welcomed by five time All-Ireland winner Davey, who made her debut for the Dubs in 2004 as a 15-year-old.
“It’s definitely something that was a nice thing to get,” said Davey, who has yet to make up her mind as to whether she’ll return to action with Dublin in 2021. “I had never received travel expenses for all my years playing with Dublin, and to get that last year was a lovely thing.
“Like, for some of the girls it is a financial burden playing inter-county with the amount of money they would spend on travel, but I suppose you need the finances there to be able to find that for players.”
The recent trend of playing in double-headers with men’s matches is also a welcome initiative, Davey said.
Opportunity
“I have to say I always loved any time we have had the opportunity to have double-headers, especially in Croker.
“One of the best double-headers we had was down when we were playing Mayo and the crowds that came out for that were brilliant. There was a fantastic atmosphere.
“If it gets people to come in earlier and watch the games, and hopefully the more and more they happen, the more crowds they will draw.”
On a personal level, Mackin enjoyed a brilliant 2020. A cruciate injury victim the previous season, she bounced back to earn a Players’ Player of the Year nomination alongside Dublin duo Carla Rowe and Sinéad Goldrick.
The winner of that award, along with the Team of the Year across the various grades will be announced on ‘Peil na mBan – Foirne na Bliana in association with AIG’ on TG4 this Saturday from 7.15pm.
Armagh made huge strides last year, going down to eventual champions Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final but off the pitch they’ve been making waves too as they (along with the Waterford LGFA) secured grounds to call their own.
And Mackin believes the acquisition will help the game in the county to kick on to the next level.
“There’s not too many ladies teams who have it so it’s definitely something that would push all of us on and improve us,” she said.
“Over the last few years as a ladies footballer, it’s difficult to get pitches,” said Mackin. “It’s nice to know where you’re going to be training before the actual day.”
IT’S looking increasingly likely that Joey Carbery will at least return to action for Munster before the end of the Six Nations as the end to his injury nightmare seems to be happening a bit quicker than expected.
The fact that the 25-year-old, who has been out of action for more than 13 months with an ankle injury, is being considered for selection for this Friday’s trip to play Cardiff Blues in the PRO14 is testimony to progress he has made in recent weeks.
His return might not happen until next week’s clash with Connacht at Thomond Park, or Scarlets or Benetton in the subsequent weeks, but barring another setback to a career dogged by injury, it’s looking increasingly likely that he will soon be back on the field.
Munster defence coach JP Ferreira yesterday stressed that Carbery was not being rushed and that a number of factors needed to align for the outhalf to resume, not least the player himself, the medical team and head coach Johann van Graan.
“We are waiting on the medics and we are waiting on Joey, so he has to just come through training and if it takes another week or another two weeks or another three weeks, that’s just what it’s going to be. He might not play this weekend, I can’t tell you. It’s up to him, the medical team and Johann.
Comfortable
“He is training, obviously they are amending his training, he is in and out but he really looked good last week and he obviously just got to keep on going and when he is comfortable, and the medics are comfortable and Johann then he might be included, but he is looking really well.”
Munster have a run of four games in four weekends and Ferreira confirmed that Carbery is getting very close to a return to action.
“Yeah, he probably is but no pressure on him, we are not putting pressure on anyone. He needs to be 100pc in his mind and the medics need to be 100pc on it so he is looking good currently. Probably needs a bit more contact but that will come.”
Meanwhile, the Pretoria native said that while there is uncertainty how the season will continue in the pandemic, he said nothing was coming out of South Africa to suggest that the proposed Rainbow Cup would not take place.
“They are currently starting up a smaller competition to prepare them for the Rainbow Cup. I haven’t heard any rumours or anything that it is not going ahead. As far as I know, it is going ahead. Does the Lions tour play a part in it? It probably does.
“So I think the decision will probably be up to PRO14 and to see what happens on the back of the Lions tour and if it carries on or doesn’t,” he added.