Balancing being both an international basketball player and an inter-county footballer is not easy, but it is one that 21-year-old Kiltimagh native Dayna Finn is dealing with.
Finn has been selected as part of the Irish senior basketball squad for the upcoming small nations European Championships in Cyprus, making the progression up from the underage ranks of the game.
With such a major championship on the horizon, she's had to ease off a bit with her football commitments of late - but once that is out of the way, she'll be back on board - all things going well that Mayo progress through the early rounds of the championship.
Trying to stay on top of both commitments did see her have to take a rest recently due to a minor injury she picked up earlier this year. "I had hip-flexer strain. So yah, it was basically from doing too much, I was overloaded and just needed rest and bit of rehab. You hate your physios, but you’ll thank them in the long run," she told the Press last week at an event to mark Pinergy being announced as the new official sponsor of the All-Ireland Schools Cup competition, following the extension of its Official Energy and Official Insights partnership with Basketball Ireland in a three-year deal.
Speaking about the demands of balancing both sports, Finn said: "Previously there before Christmas, we had championship for Mayo and the basketball got cancelled, so there was none of that (balancing ), so I played championship with Mayo and that was great, to be back on the field.
"Then basketball came back, I played both; to be honest, we started training at the same time and there was three weeks there we were training for the league campaign with football and I was going well with both. We would have trained with the Irish team at the weekends, one day sessions here and there – and I actually picked up an injury then from doing too much.
"So then, I suppose this is the only time ever that I had to take a step back from one; maybe not take a step back, just more focus on one, because I was out for four weeks there, I’m only back three weeks.
"Going back to both at such a high level, it wouldn’t be possible really and I wouldn’t want to pick up an injury going to the Europeans. I’m still in around with Mayo at the moment and the Europeans is the main focus. When I get back from that, hopefully we’ll have got through the championship rounds and will have an All Ireland on the cards.
"It is tough, it took me a while - but then with injury and everything, to come to the realisation that I have to kind of step back from one, despite being so frustrated with the injury; I think it will all work out in my favour."
While basketball has a long history in Mayo, the popularity of the game has declined in recent decades and it was just about doing a sport when she got into the game as a child, see explained.
"To be honest, I think training was on and I was like ‘Yah Mam, can I go to basketball; like you know, just went to training and started from there; and I know, it is a lot of things, like parents and people in the community would encourage the football more, with GAA being such a big sport; but I always really loved the basketball from underage.
"I had a really good few years with Kiltimagh and then with the regional teams in the West and things like that. It just went from there and the Irish team and things kind of started and I never looked back since, but yah, I still love the football and I’m trying to play both.
"Mam and Dad played a bit; Mam would have played a bit in secondary school; that was it. There was no early spark, that they were like, go and play basketball; it was my own choice and the same for Hazel (her sister )."
The aforementioned Hazel is also following in her older sister's footsteps, having also been selected by the national team - she will be playing with the Irish u18 team in the European Challengers tournament in the Czech Republic later this summer.
As for how she thinks she and her teammates will get on in the Europeans, Dayna is going for gold, she said: "For us the goal would be to win gold at this tournament. That is our main goal and I think we can, I’m pretty confident. In terms of playing against the teams, senior level is different. You are playing against older women, with more experience.
"But the teams would be similar. Our group is Malta and Andorra; Norway were in our group but they have pulled out due to Covid restrictions, so we have two in our group.
"On the other side you have Luxembourg and Cyprus. I have played against Andorra and Luxembourg on the other sides and I would have seen the others play. I’m sure I’ll see girls I’ve played against at u18 and u20 on the teams.
"It will always be a challenge. You are playing in a European championship, but I’m looking forward to getting that experience and the opportunity to play top teams."
