Chasing Ulster glory on two fronts

By Michael McMullan

THERE is another busy weekend ahead for Caitrín Dobbin, but the Loughgiel ace doesn’t know anything different.

This time last year she scored 0-4 as the Shamrocks toppled Sleacht Néill 24 hours after winning an Ulster dancing title.

Every year she threatens to hang up her dancing shoes. Last year was to be her last. It wasn’t.

It’s back to the Carrickdale Hotel this Saturday, before swapping the nimble feet on stage for a bid to step around the Clonduff defence in Sunday’s Ulster semi-final. It’s intense but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Loughgiel and Dunloy shared two wins each before Dobbin’s star performance when the teams met on county final day ensured an 11th successive title.

While many onlookers await their demise, the Shamrocks bandwagon just keeps rolling on.

Dobbin puts it down to hunger
as well as the freshness of six
new players coming in from underage.

It’s a first title win for them but the rest of the squad play with a hunger like they were hunting a first championship win.

“You have a few girls in the team there that probably were going for their ninth or tenth championship,” pointed out Dobbin, who played in all 11 of the championship wins.

“I just think it’s a credit to the girls that the hunger never dies. You’re always wanting more.”

There is always a degree of intrigue attached to serial winners. Who is the driving force? Where does that level of consistency come from? Is it the newcomers? Dobbin pauses and delivers the most modest of answers.

“I literally feel like I’m just blessed to be part of such a good team,” she said.

“The girls on the team, they’re just so committed and they’re always wanting to go to that next level.

“There were a handful of ones coming in this year. There are always people coming up pushing through, pushing you on.”

When starting jerseys need fought for, the standards have to rise. And, around the dressing room, players look back on the previous year. It’s never enough.

“Obviously the management that we’ve had through the years, there is always a very professional set up,” she added.

“We just want to give back against what we’re getting and do it for the club, to try and break some records.”

Their recent win in Antrim is number 27. At Ulster level, they’ve level with Sleacht Néill on six.

The closest they’ve come to the All-Ireland was a narrow defeat at the hands of Sarsfields two years ago.

Swatragh face the winners of Loughgiel’s showdown with Clonduff and Dobbin is expecting a tough encounter.

“We’ll definitely not be complacent going into a game like that,” she said.

“Clonduff have some brilliant players. I would know a good few of their players, they are strong and physical.

“We know we have to step it up a level from our own county final. It’s not going to be easy and it’s probably going to be down to who wants it more on the day.”

Hunger has never been a problem with Loughgiel in the past. But, before that, Dobbin has an Ulster dancing title to defend.