Nugent’s side ready for Saffron challenge

By Shaun Casey

DOWN are preparing for a tough encounter with Division 1B league leaders Antrim and boss Domhnall Nugent says his time in charge of the Mourne camogs is very much “a work in progress”.

Down have played three league games so far this season and picked up a round two victory over Westmeath either side of defeats to Limerick (eight points) and more recently Clare (two).

While it’s a results driven business, Nugent is more interested in developing Down camogie for the future.

“If we put our happiness in outcomes or results, then we won’t be very happy,” said the former Antrim hurler. “It’s ultimately trying to make sure to everyone around us that it’s all part of a bigger picture.

“The foundation work was done over the past number of years in getting Down camogie to where it’s at but we’re almost rebuilding the foundations.

“We’re putting our own stamp on it as a management team and players to try and deliver those good outcomes but it’s just taking time. I couldn’t ask any more from the players, the players are giving so much.

“The best players in the county are in our changing room and they’ve all bought into it. There’s a good buzz around and they’re very receptive to learning and getting better and it’ll come, so it’s very much just a work in progress.”

It’s baby steps at the minute, but there’s definitely been improvements.

“Have we got better from the first Limerick game to the game against Clare? Absolutely,” added Nugent. “The things we’re doing on a Tuesday and Thursday, you can see it on a Saturday afternoon.

“That’s probably the most pleasing thing. I haven’t mentioned winning or losing to the girls, and I won’t mention it until it gets to the business end of the season.

“It’s just about sticking to the process and hopefully the results will look after themselves.”

Nugent comes up against his native county this weekend but insists there’ll no room for sentiment in Ahoghill.

“Antrim is my home county and I’m very proud to have represented Antrim and to have played for Antrim at the highest level,” Nugent continued.

“It still means a lot to me, but I said whenever I met the Down girls that I would give them every bit of my energy every time that they see me.

“That’s what I have done three days a week and even during the week for the girls in that Down changing room.

“I’m very much in that changing room now and I’m very proud to be a part of Down camogie. Antrim are on a different journey than us, we have to be very realistic about that, we have to get our own house in order before we look at others.

“There’s no point in comparing us to Antrim at the minute because of the things we’re trying to build.

“We’ll see what happens at the weekend, they’re going very well, they have unbelievable players and we just have to keep building.”