Ailbhe Davoren relishing busy schedule
Pictured is Galway footballer Ailbhe Davoren, who has teamed up with AIB to support the GOAL Mile. As part the campaign AIB is offering individuals who register for the GOAL Mile the chance to win up to €7,000 for their Gaelic Games club. To win, people need to register for their GOAL Mile and then enter the AIB GAA GOAL Mile competition at https://goalmile.org/aibgaacompetition
By Cian O'Connell
"We're so lucky to be playing winter football," Kilmacud Crokes' Ailbhe Davoren says ahead of Sunday's AIB Ladies Football All-Ireland Club Semi-Final against Moneyglass.
It has been a busy year for Galway's Davoren, who is living and working in Dublin.
Being involved with Crokes, though, brings a challenge, but Davoren is embracing the adventure. "We say it every time that we go out, we're still getting to train, and we're delighted to be back at this stage of the year again, giving it another rattle," she adds.
"I find it brilliant, the management set-up and the girls at Crokes, they're just exceptional people. It is my third year with them now, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. So, it's brilliant, I'm really enjoying moving into the club after the inter-county season."
When Galway's campaign concluded, Davoren was quickly back in action, but the Crokes adventure continues. "It is different in terms of you start into the championship again, starting into tough games in a different sense," Davoren remarks.
"The Dublin Championship is brilliant, we've top class games every Wednesday evening. That, in itself, is brilliant in Dublin, and then to get out of that is so hard.
"Everything after that is such a bonus. The management and the girls are brilliant, they're all inter-county players, in my eyes, because the standard is so high."
Galway have made progress under Daniel Moynihan's management in recent years, but Davoren remains adamant that the team can continue to compete for All-Ireland glory. It remains the ambition. "Absolutely," she replies. "That is the goal every year. We do feel closer to that, in terms of the last couple of seasons.
Ailbhe Davoren remains a key performer for Galway and Kilmacud Crokes. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"It shows you how hard it is, to get there, and to win one. There can be only be one winner and we've come close. I suppose, we've just to go back to the drawing board, to see and find those inches, where we can improve, to get over the line.
"Not just get there like we did in '24, but to perform on the big day. That is the main thing. It isn't easy, that is the answer, unfortunately."
The fact that several counties believe silverware can be attained is encouraging too. "On any given day in the Ladies Football, anyone can win it," Davoren says.
"There is a hop of a ball between many teams. Most games are very close to going to extra time.
"So, it is brilliant in a sense that it's great for the sport, it is brilliant for the Championship that people feel they're within reach, that they can get there. It makes every game more exciting, because everyone is in with a shot."
As a post primary teacher at St Andrew's in Blackrock, being involved training teams is part of the agenda. "Basketball is what I coach at school, mostly," she explains.
"I played basketball growing up, 50-50. I really enjoy coaching the basketball, probably more so than the football, in that it is slightly technical in terms of plays. It is rugby otherwise in the school, which I wouldn't know nothing about."
Basketball remains a popular pursuit in Moycullen, where Davoren is from. "After the Goal Mile on Christmas Day, the next day on Stephen's Day, we will play the basketball Christmas tournament in Moycullen, and we'll have a good rattle at that," she laughs.