‘Experience is great to have, but it will only get you so far’ – Carey
DUBLIN senior ladies footballer Olwen Carey insists the Jackies will not be overly reliant on experience when it comes to Sunday’s All-Ireland decider against Cork in Croke Park.
While the defending champions are set to contest their fifth straight final, they are coming up against one of the two most successful sides in the competition, with the Leesiders having already raised the Brendan Martin Cup no less than 11 times.
They stopped the Dubs one step short of the coveted prize over three straight seasons between 2014 and ’16 before Mick Bohan’s side finally got their hands on the silver-ware after beating Mayo in last year’s title match.
And while all this experience over recent years should serve Dublin well on Sunday, Carey feels the champions will have to serve up a huge performance in order to make it two-in-row.
“Experience is great to have, but it will only get you so far,” Carey told The Echo.
“It’s great to have it in the back pocket, but it will be tough against Cork.
“They have a few new players this season and others who have been there before and they’ll be hungry after missing out on the final last year.
“They had a good win over Donegal in the semi finals and we know that it’s going to be a tough challenge,” she said.
Finally getting over the line in last season’s cam-paign will, no doubt, be a big psychological boost for Dublin as will their one-point win over the Rebelettes in the National League early this year.
Carey twice found the back of the net on that occasion as Dublin weathered a late surge by their bitter rivals to win out 3-9 to 1-14.
It was major step on the road to a first National League title for the Blues, their campaign culminating in a 3-15 to 1-10 triumph over Mayo in the final back in May.
Again Carey was on the scoresheet for Dublin in that match in which Newcastle woman Ciara Trant served up a great performance in goal.
Another of Dublin’s Thomas Davis contingent, Siobhán McGrath is sure to play a major part for the Jackies this weekend.
Having helped her county to its first ever All-Ireland Senior Championship title back in 2010, the Tallaght woman brings a wealth of experience to the table.
Both herself and Carey have again been among the mainstays in this season’s Dublin panel, playing their part in Leinster Champ-ionship and National League honours on their way to, what could be a bigger prize this Sunday.
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