Twomey hails Ryan role

THE year of 2015 was a strong one for Lucan Sarsfields. A first ever appearance in a Senior 1 county final; success in the Senior 1 Summer Cup and whole host of underage titles along the way.
The year ended with 10 Sarsfields’ players involved in the annual Dubstars versus Dublin seniors with the club’s star Ali Twomey scoring 0-12 and being named player of the match in Dublin’s 3-17 to 3-5 win at Parnell’s.
Speaking on the progression of the camogie section in Lucan, Twomey told GazetteSport at the AIG launch of the Dublin season that much of the credit belongs to senior manager Liam Ryan.
“I think the amount of Lucan players involved in the Dub Stars game was a really good reflection of the quality of camogie at the club,” she said.
“A lot of it is down to Liam who has put in so much work over the years. He deserves so much of the credit; it’s down to him that everyone stays interested in playing for the club and keeps up the training and so on.”
A regular on the Dublin senior panel for the past few seasons, Twomey played little part as Ryan’s side won the Summer Cup but insists it was an important bit of success for the panel.
“We had a good summer. The Summer Cup would allow any girls who aren’t playing at intercounty level to continue playing over the summer and it was really good for us,” she said.
“It really helped the team develop because there were girls playing who wouldn’t normally probably get full games. So they were getting to play full matches and were standing out and being allowed express themselves and gain crucial experience.
“That brought the team on as a whole when it did come down to it in the championship as we were able to bring on girls who were well able for it. It built a lot of the girls’ confidence and that’s important in a team that is still so young,” added Twomey.
It may be a young Lucan side and the St Joseph’s College graduate is still in her developing years too but she spoke with a sense of leadership when reflecting on their Dublin championship final replay loss to Vincent’s last October.
“It was our first ever county final at senior level and the added experience gained for some of the girls I just mentioned really helped us,” she said.
“I know it’s tough to lose but I think in the long run looking back, if we had of won it straight away in our first final, we might not have gained as much experience as we will from drawing the first game and having to prepare for the replay just days later.
“Being such a young team, I know it sounds awful, but I think we’ll benefit more from losing than we would have from winning in this case.”