Dooley still coming to terms with honour of being chosen to lead his county

AS Laois prepare to face Kildare in the Joe McDonagh Cup final at Croke Park, captain David Dooley says he’s still coming to terms with the honour of being chosen to lead the county. The Rosenallis man was focused on personal improvement at the start of the year and wasn’t expecting the call from manager Tommy Fitzgerald.

“It wasn't something I kind of thought about coming into this year. I was focusing on myself and trying to improve as a hurler. Thankfully, that kind of came with it, and the lads put their faith in me. It's a huge honour,” he said.

Dooley has been guided by a strong group of experienced players in the Laois dressing room. That support system, he says, has helped him settle into the captain’s role and grow in confidence throughout the season.

“There’s huge experience there, huge leaders, a huge amount of former captains within the group as well, so I'm leaning on them a good bit, and they're helping me along a lot. I am growing into it, I think a little bit, and I'm becoming more comfortable in the role,” he said.

Before returning to the hurling setup, Dooley had chased a dream in a different sport. He played rugby with Tullamore and spent two years in the Leinster sub-academy before that chapter closed.

“It was a route. I saw a path that way, and it was a great experience to follow it. Dare to dream if you like, but obviously it didn't work out, and I was delighted to have this to come back to,” he said.

Despite the disappointment of that door closing, Dooley took plenty of lessons from his rugby journey, particularly around leadership and professionalism. He’s tried to carry those habits with him into his current role in the Laois camp.

“There were huge leaders within Leinster and within the club scene, and everything like that. I was surrounded by it and you're getting great learnings off the coaches, the kind of professionalism about it all, it's something you can definitely transfer to this. I've tried to kind of take my learnings from that and implement them here,” he said.

With Laois now just one win away from McDonagh Cup glory and a return to the Leinster Championship, the image of climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand is beginning to enter Dooley’s mind. Still, he’s focused on the task at hand first and foremost.

“It is for sure. I try not to think about it too much now, but there's that side of it, too. It would be a hugely proud moment, but we've a huge 70 minutes ahead of us before getting to that stage, so all focus on that first and foremost, and then worry about that if it happens,” he ended.