AS PETER DOOLEY pulled into the long drive that leads up to Carton House on Tuesday morning, he felt the butterflies in his stomach. This was a very new experience, but one he had been working towards for years.
Dooley, 26, has an impressive 93 caps for Leinster to his name, making his debut all the way back in October 2014. Yet until this week he had never been part of an Ireland squad.
With that in mind, he’s made an effort to make the right impressions. He was sure to get in early for Tuesday’s first day in camp “to avoid any disturbances”, and spent the weekend swotting up on some of the new plays he’ll be working on after getting a heads-up from some of the more familiar faces in the Ireland camp.
“It was the first weekend of study I’ve done in a while,” Dooley says. “It reminded me of my college days. It was good to get stuck into it straight away.”
The obvious question is the one so many of Andy Farrell’s squad have been asked over the last week. Did he ever think the Ireland call would come?
“I wouldn’t say (it feels) overdue but sometimes you’d be like, ‘Would I ever get a call-up?’ But when you get it, it’s a bit of a shock.
Dooley during an Ireland training session this week. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
“I suppose . It’s nice to get in here but you want to play and get capped. Hopefully that dream becomes a reality.”
While Farrell is working with an experimental squad this summer, Dooley is certainly there on merit. The loosehead featured 17 times for Leinster this season and remains a solid performer for the province, crafting his trade alongside masters of the front row like Cian Healy, and previously, Jack McGrath.
Click Here: soccer kit
Their presence limited Dooley’s opportunities, but provided world class education.
“You’re human, you’re not playing the big games and everyone wants to play the big games,” Dooley says.
“I think with the prop you come into your prime when you are 25 to 30, obviously Cian is just a freak being around as long as he has but hopefully just biding my time now and sticking with it (pays off). Having them two lads in Cian and Jack when he was in Leinster, they were great mentors, different players and you learn so much from both of them which obviously helped.
“Now I feel in my prime and hopefully that stands to me.”
Dooley has learned from one of the best in Leinster’s Cian Healy. Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
An international cap for Dooley would represent the latest sporting milestone for his hometown, Birr. Leinster teammate Michael Milne has been making inroads with the province this season while Jack Regan recently signed for the Ospreys following an impressive stint playing in New Zealand.
Dooley played plenty of hurling himself growing up before committing to the oval ball, lining out at centre-half back right up to minor level.
Once a nimble number eight, the powerful prop puts his athletic prowess down to good genes.
“I suppose an ounce of breeding is as good as a tonne of feeding is the saying,” Dooley says.