Leah Caffrey: 'We've been able to navigate the challenges'
Safefood, in partnership with the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs programme, today launched 'Fuel Your Game', a new suite of resources designed to support young players, parents, and coaches in making informed food choices to enhance their Gaelic games activity and overall health and wellbeing. Pictured at the launch is Dublin LGFA player Leah Caffrey demonstrating the importance of healthy eating and hydration for peak performance. For more information and to access the resources, visit: https://learning.gaa.ie/fueltheirgame
By Cian O'Connell
"I've always enjoyed it, I probably would've been a lot more nervous towards the start of my career," Leah Caffrey replies when asked whether her perspective as a senior inter-county player has altered.
Caffrey has represented Dublin for more than a decade. In that time Dublin have been relevant, competing at the highest level. "You grow into it, I guess," she adds.
"Probably in the last few years, I've had more of a leadership role which I've really enjoyed. There is a lot of really good talent coming through in Dublin so we're lucky to have that and to be able to have those girls come into our group, and hopefully pass on as much knowledge as you can.
"Hopefully you can pass on the torch for those girls to carry it from there."
Being a leader matters. "It can come in so many different ways," Caffrey says.
"Carla is the captain, she'd be the biggest leader that way, but there is also so many leaders on the team, not including myself. There is leadership all over the pitch.
"It is probably in the small actions we take for each other, looking out for each other, making sure everything is alright.
"If anyone needs a hand, that is the biggest thing on our team, to make sure everyone is in a good mindframe and we can all get behind each other, no matter what it is."
Dublin's Leah Caffrey pictured with the Brendan Martin Cup at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
That the 2025 campaign culminated in another All-Ireland title brought immense satisfaction. As the campaign evolved, Dublin evolved. "Yeah, it was definitely brilliant," Caffrey replies.
"We were kind of improving with each game we played. Thankfully, then in the final we were able to put in a really good performance.
"I think we were delighted on the day because we had a lot of tough sessions before that. For it all to pay off on the day, it was brilliant."
The fact that several counties believe silverware can be attained adds an extra layer of intrigue. "Definitely, when you go out in the league, you don't know who is going to win the league, but then you don't know who is going to go on from that to win the championship too," Caffrey remarks.
"It is wide open, but it also makes every game even more important. You've to make sure you're ready and that everybody is ready to go at any given minute because you don't know what is going to happen.
"There can be surprises, even this year you'd a few surprises, and it really blows things wide open. It makes it more exciting."
In recent years Dublin have adequately dealt with the change of management and retirement of influential players. "I think with players, people will be moving on and things are happening, that is just sport," Caffrey responds.
"You've to see what the group is, and then go from there. With the management, it is similar to that. There has been a pretty steady core group of players all along, that has been able to steady the ship a bit. I think it has been great and we've been able to navigate the challenges."