Rosenallis’ David Dooley ready to lead Laois in Joe McDonagh Cup final at Croker

As the Joe McDonagh Cup final looms at Croke Park, Laois captain David Dooley finds himself reflecting on a season that has taken an unexpected but deeply rewarding turn.

The Rosenallis man, who will lead his county out onto the biggest stage in hurling this weekend, admits the captaincy wasn’t even on his radar at the start of the year.

“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.

That sense of honour has been met with a strong support structure within the Laois dressing room, which has eased his transition into the role. Surrounded by seasoned figures and former leaders, Dooley says he’s leaned on that experience throughout the campaign.

“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.

Dooley’s journey to this point hasn’t followed a straight line. Before returning to the Laois hurling setup, he had stepped away from the sport to pursue a dream in rugby. Having played with Tullamore RFC, he earned a place in the Leinster sub-academy, where he spent two formative years chasing a different kind of sporting ambition.

“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.

Though that chapter closed, it left him with valuable lessons that he now applies in his hurling career, especially around mindset and leadership.

“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 silverware and a return to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship on the line this Saturday, the stakes could hardly be higher. And while the image of lifting the Joe McDonagh Cup at GAA HQ is one that naturally drifts into his mind, Dooley is keeping his attention firmly on the task in front of him.

“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.

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