“I would consider myself a bit shy, but I guess leadership comes in different ways” – O’Byrne
By Hayden Moore
GOOD Counsel’s Emma O’Byrne has described it as “an absolute honour” to captain Dublin in her own backyard against Offaly in the Littlewoods Ireland Division One National Camogie League on Saturday.
At 21-years-old, O’Byrne led the Blues out against the Faithful and despite not coming away with the desired result, it is a moment she will treasure for the rest of her days.
Emma O'Byrne Dublin Camogie (Credit iLivePhotos.com)
New Dublin manager Adrian O’Sullivan has yet to appoint a permanent captain for the season and is rotating the armband week-to-week based off performances.
Having stood out in Dublin’s 0-6 to 1-8 loss at the hands of Kilkenny, the Drimnagh native was set for a home showing against Offaly in O’Toole Park in Crumlin, just a short walk from her home.
“We haven’t voted for a captain yet and after the Kilkenny game, Adrian [O’Sullivan] just said to me ‘Are you up for being captain next week?’,” the former Oblates and Assumption student told The Echo.
“I thought he was joking, so I just started laughing, I said to the girls ‘imagine me being captain?’.
“But he had to tell me that, no, he was serious, which of course was just such an absolute honour.
“I would consider myself a bit shy, but I guess leadership comes in different ways.
“You don’t always have to be the most vocal, going around shouting or anything.
“You can be a leader through hard work, getting your head down and leading by example through your performances and I’d like to think that’s what I do.
“It’s good for the younger boys and girls, especially the girls, that I coach, for them to have a player to look up to and I’d love to set that example for the younger girls who mightn’t be the loudest, just so they know you can do whatever you want if you work hard.”
Starting camogie at the age of 12 would be considered late by traditional standards, but for O’Byrne, she became infatuated with the sport.
Despite “not being the most talented”, O’Byrne’s hard work earned her a call-up to the Dublin Development Squad and “getting the head down” is something she emphasises constantly.
“When I was in the development squads, I didn’t really feel confident to talk to people, I’d be a bit more quiet,” she says.
“I’d be sitting up around the front of the bus going to matches all over the places, while all the louder girls were at the back and don’t get me wrong, I would have loved to be at the back of the bus with them.
“When you’d be in with the development squad, sometimes you would be left on your own and that’s okay, you can just keep working hard and keep the head down.
“I always thought it hindered me being that bit introverted, but if you’re comfortable playing and doing what you love, then you’ll be okay.”
At 17, O’Byrne received her first call-up the Senior Dublin panel under David Herity and has now entered into her fifth season with the squad.
After shipping two defeats in the opening two rounds of the National League, Dublin will fight for a chance to remain in the top division when they contest the relegation play-offs in a few weeks.
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