The GAA is in her blood.
Devastated by injury and sidelined without choice, Sara-Louise Carr had a long road ahead of her in 2014.
An injury that saw her in rehab for three months, and left her playing catch up when she finally returned to the field, it was sheer will, pride, passion and determination that saw her turn her injury around and go on to win an All-Ireland camogie medal later that year.
Down were crowned Junior champions in 2014.
Speaking to Her.ie as part of the WGPA’s ‘Behind the Player’ campaign, Sara-Louise tells us about juggling life as a Compliance Associate and as a key member of Down camogie team.
“I think I’ll always remember June 7th. That day, myself, my sister Fionnuala and my cousin Clare lined out for the Down camogs in an Ulster Final against Derry with my uncle Alastair as part of the management team.”
In action for Down.
“Later on the same day my younger brother Charlie was playing football for Down minors against Derry in Celtic Park, with my older brother Aidan involved in the senior game and my young cousin Senan Carr playing at half time of the senior game in the mini games in Celtic Park as well.
“The updates and phone calls between supporters in different venues that day were pretty frequent,” she laughed. “Unfortunately the results for us all weren’t as interesting!”
Sara-Louise in action against Meath.
“Sport has always been a big part of my life. Sport teaches you a number of things: the most important of which is being part of a large family. My club especially are a big support to me.
“Playing sport has taught me that the harder you work, the greater the rewards and the same applies to my professional life, the experience of playing at a high level and that pressure of performance is something that I have already experienced so that whatever life or work throws at me I will be able to deal with.”
It was a big day for Down supporters.
“This was especially true last year. It was my most difficult challenge to date. The county was going really well from the beginning of the year and just at the start of the league, I got a bad injury which ruled me out for three months.
“I had problems with my hips before but it all came to a head last year and it ruled me out at the worst possible time. I had to do rehab for three months then I was back for the matches beginning in the summer but obviously I had a lot of catching up to do.
“I had the challenge of getting myself back to full fitness and trying to win a place from a girl who had made it her own and done well in it over the league.”
Sara-Louise in action against Laois.
“Thankfully I worked hard at it and Down had a run into September and I got my place back on the team whilst also winning an All-Ireland medal.
“The club had a really successful year too which lasted into an All-Ireland run in February this year so thankfully all the hard work paid off. I won’t forget that time.
“To be honest, the friends I have met through playing camogie has been hugely important to me – we pull each other through.
“I have made long lasting friendships with girls from other counties and teams I never would have met only for sport.”
It’s been a tough but worthwhile road for her.
“It also has brought me an element of discipline and self-belief helping me to accomplish things I never would have believed I could have done.
“Although I work full-time and have training too, it’s not really a problem most of the time as you get a structure and routine to your daily life that you become accustomed too.
“I work in Compliance and my employers FS Com are brilliant to work for. I enjoy my job and I am getting more and more experience which has a knock on effect. I think it would all be much harder if I had a job I didn’t enjoy.
“From sport, the aspect of teamwork is definitely transferable as a lot of my job involves depending on other people in order for it to be completed.”
Every day, women across Ireland commit hours of their time to sport.
Be it gaelic football, camogie or any other sport, the dedication behind the scenes, the hours of running in the frost, wind and rain is something that largely goes unnoticed.
As part of this new series, we also caught up with Annette Clarke of Galway and Collette Dormer of Kilkenny.
#BehindThePlayer is a new initiative by the WGPA (Women’s Gaelic Player Association) and PwC to highlight the dedication and commitment by female football and camogie stars behind the scenes. It highlights the players as individuals who are successful and ambitious in life and sport and positions them as role models for young people across Ireland.
