For most handball players, making an All-Ireland Senior Singles final is the stuff of dreams. For a select few, it’s something that happens once or twice in a career. But for Catriona Casey, it has become something of a routine.
The Ballydesmond star won her ninth All-Ireland Senior Singles semi-final in succession last weekend and is, naturally, well versed in what to expect as the days and hours tick down to Saturday.
“I approach the final the same as I would the semi-final really. After today (Wednesday), I’m just going to rest up, that’s the plan anyway. That probably has changed down through the years to be honest, I probably trained more in the past than I do now but I place a big emphasis on recovery these days and just being fresh going into games. That’s my plan of action.”
A teacher in St Peter’s NS in Phibsborough, while Casey teaches handball to her third class students during PE, she keeps her own accomplishments relatively quiet.
“I actually say nothing to be honest because it builds too much expectation and puts more pressure on myself, I don’t want to let them down. I have third class, I have been doing handball with them in PE so they are familiar with the sport.
“I train all over - Sportslink, St Brigid’s and more recently in the new centre, it’s great that we’re up and running now. I have lots of different training partners, I’d be afraid to mention a few for fear of leaving some out. I am very grateful to all of them really.”
During the two-year hiatus, when the handball word came to a standstill, she had to adjust quickly. For a player who travels to the States several times a year and competes all over Ireland on a regular basis, it was a major adjustment but one she took in her stride.
“Do you know what, I actually surprised myself by how relaxed I was about the whole thing. It kind of gives me hope for the future that when I finally do retire, I won’t be completely lost. I tried to look at it as a positive thing, obviously it went on a lot longer than any of us expected but especially at the beginning, my thoughts were that I had been on the road for a long time so it was good to get a break both physically and mentally.
“I was actually pretty fine with it, especially when there weren’t tournaments going on anywhere so I wasn’t specifically missing out. Now, obviously that’s two years kind of gone from some of our prime years I suppose but there was nothing that could be done about it.
“Before Christmas, when tournaments were coming back, I was hoping to travel to the US Nationals alright but I just made a last-minute decision not to go because of the numbers and restrictions that were in place for re-entering the country. That was harder then, when it’s happening without you.
“Obviously, I was looking forward to the return but I wasn’t getting too frustrated either. I think it was harder on juveniles to be honest because those were important years. When we came back, it was back to normal and we picked it up again relatively quickly.
“I think it made people appreciate it more after not having it. The entries have been really good in the ladies and the draws have been very deep in all the tournaments lately so I don’t feel like the standards have slipped at all.”
Next up is her great rival Martina McMahon. Casey says she is “very happy” with her own preparation and is really looking forward to the challenge, for so long almost a ritual but now, after the lay-off, a novelty again, for the fans at least.
“We were so used to playing each other nearly every couple of months to having not played each other now for over two years. I would have kept an eye on Martina’s games last weekend when I was up in Kingscourt, she looks like she’s hitting the ball really well and moving really well.
“Again, you’re going to focus on your own game but obviously you’re going to try to have a game plan as well.
“Will I be nervous? Yeah, I definitely do get nervous, the morning of the game I don’t like chatting to people,” she laughed.
“I definitely do get nervous, I don’t think that ever changes or ever will change. But it’s a good thing really because it shows that you care.”
By Paul Fitzpatrick
