One of the conclusions that Down camogie’s Deirbhile Savage drew from 2025 was that she is a fan of Domhnall Nugent’s approach to coaching the team.
The county did not enjoy the success they hoped for last season, but Deirbhile felt that a major positive was how the new manager implemented systems and structures that will benefit the county in the long run.
“I absolutely loved the set-up last year,” Deirbhile said. “I think what Domhnall has done for Down camogie is brilliant, and it is a very attractive place to be now.”
One of the things the Antrim man did that impressed Deirbhile was creating an environment where everyone felt valued, and where everyone had a voice. He did so by introducing the practice of putting girls into groups, or pods, which were led by leaders on the team.
“I wouldn’t have been one to work on the psychology of things,” Deirbhile admitted. “But last year I did try and work on that side of the game. I was reflecting on things and we were working in small pods. They were smaller groups that were led by the leadership group. Within those groups, if someone was feeling a certain way about something, then they had the ability to chat about it in that smaller group and then maybe bring it forward at training. That encouraged us to reflect on things, and even how we were feeling and how that can affect the way we play.”
“Domhnall introduced that. It is the first time that everyone felt like part of the team. Everyone felt that they were needed, and they brought something to the team. He let us be the drivers, if there was something that we needed.”
Having that openness means Deirbhile is excited about returning for the 2026 campaign. “I feel like it is a really good group of girls to drive on. That is the mood among the camp. Last year we felt that it got away from us, but we have the bit between our teeth this year. We hope that we can hit the ground running this year and chase that success.”
Though she was not entirely sure she was going to return after last year, Deirbhile reflected: “I have played camogie for a long time and I was trying to decide whether to go back to the county. I reflected a lot on the year. I am 29 and I thought that I really wanted to give it another go.”
Deirbhile took a season off in 2024, which was a positive when she came back in 2025. “It did me the world of good. I came back and had such an appetite. I wanted to make myself a better player. Obviously, with the girls who are playing for the county, you are playing with the best of the best. That is the attractive part of the county; it is really pushing you on and making you a better player.”
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