Dowds: Sleacht Néill can’t wait for Loughgiel test

By Niall Gartland

THE Sleacht Néill camogs are back on the provincial stage after a one-year absence, and their manager Elaine Dowds says they are counting down the days to Sunday’s mouth-watering semi-final clash against Loughgiel.

Sleacht Néill were desperately disappointed to relinquish their county crown last year with defeat to Swatragh, but they’ve knuckled down, avenged that defeat, and are now back on familiar terrain in the Ulster Championship.

On their return to the top of the tree in Derry, Dowds said: “Last year was a terrible disappointment for the girls, they’re so used to winning.

“I came in maybe three and-a-half months before last year’s championship and they’d lost maybe six girls from the team that played in the previous Ulster final, so they were rebuilding and I don’t think they realised how much they actually were rebuilding. To only lose to Swatragh by two points was pretty good in the circumstances.

“That defeat really galvanised the team, it was such a difficult loss. We talked about it and we figured out what we were going to do to win it this year. It wasn’t just about getting the cup back, it was the girls proving their hunger and their resilience. Their pride in the maroon jersey, it means everything to them.”

Dowds knows all that there is to be known about semi-final opponents Loughgiel. A native of Dunloy, she’s a long-standing teacher at Cross and Passion, Ballycastle, where many of the Loughgiel girls were educated. She also spent two years as Antrim camogie manager, working with a number of Loughgiel stars, and was recently appointed for a second stint at the helm.

This Sunday, however, her role with Sleacht Néill is the only show in town. The celebrated Derry side has watched on as Loughgiel have won three Ulster Senior titles on the bounce, and they’ll be hoping that Sunday is the day the rival swings back in their favour. Dowds and her team simply can’t wait.

“Sleacht Néill have a brilliant track record in Ulster and that was the springboard to the three All-Ireland wins.

“As the coach and the manager, having a number of players who have been through that whole process is a help, as they have an expectation and a mindset that is aligned with playing big games. They know the levels that are required to win Ulster.

“That’s important particularly against a team like Loughgiel – they have 12 Antrims in a row, they’ve dominated Ulster for the last few years, and they don’t know how to lose. They’ve been so close to winning an All-Ireland, they’re absolutely lethal, but that mentality is engrained in Sleacht Néill too, so we know what’s ahead of us. For us to be in Ulster again, the attitude is ‘brilliant, let’s go for it.’”

Dowds also added that for the 60 minutes of battle on Sunday, her full focus will be on doing everything in her power to help Sleacht Néill.

“It’s an interesting dynamic for me because the majority of Loughgiel girls have come through Cross and Passion and had me as either a teacher or coach for seven years. Most of them moved onto Antrim, so I managed them at that level as well.

“I’ve watched them grow, I know and respect them, but at the end of the day, I have to be prepared to face them. I have to bring that Sleacht Néill team with me and hopefully they’ll be good enough to beat them. It’s going to be interesting.”