Amber Cosgrove says that her DLR Waves team are ‘working really hard’ to improve upon a 10th placed finish last term.
With DLR now facing managerless Athlone Town this weekend, they might just fancy their chances of springing a surprise and picking up their first points of the season.
Amber Cosgrove spoke exclusively to The Halfway Line about team bonding, her versatility and DLR Waves biggest four legged fan…
‘Sunrise runs’ for pre-season team bonding says Amber Cosgrove
The DLR star is one of a number exciting talents at the Dublin club. Aisling Meehan Leah Donnelly, Michelle Doonan are just a few of the players coming through at DLR, Cosgrove said how pre-season had gone,
“Yeah, we’re actually just back from team bonding,” Cosgrove explained. “We had a team bonding down in Wexford, so we were doing all sorts of stuff. We went down to the beach and we’re running up sand dunes and all this, it was good, it was nice.
“And then we stayed the night down in Talbot, I think it’s called, so it was just nice to kind of spend time with the girls like overnight as well instead of just seeing them at training.
“But you know, then we had a sunrise run this morning so that was great…” Cosgrove reported with a mischievous smile.
Cosgrove explained how pre-season had gone so far,
“Yeah, good, obviously, it’s tough as it always is but it’s good. It’s enjoyable. Myself and the girls are working really hard this year with it. And yeah, it’s good to just get back on the pitch.
“It’s different doing pre-season on your own when you’re not with all the girls, they kind of push you that bit harder when you’re with the group. Just yeah, running that bit quicker so it’s more intense.”
When asked about whether it’s nice to be back with her team mates, Cosgrove laughed,
“Definitely, don’t get me wrong it’s nice to have the break, but it’s nice for a week, and then you’re kind of like: right when are we going back then? But no it’s great to be back now every week with them.”
‘I don’t mind where I play so long as I’m playing’ says versatile Cosgrove
Cosgrove is one of the most versatile footballers in Ireland, in 2024, playing predominantly at right back she was named DLR Waves Player of the Season.
Last term she played further forward attacking from the right side and sometimes the centre, earning more goal involvements for DLR Waves than any other player. But which position is Cosgrove’s preference?
“I don’t really mind, I’ve always kind of said I don’t mind where I play, as long as I’m playing,” Cosgrove explained. “I enjoy them all really. Like, [I] played in the 10 for a bit there last year like, I don’t really mind, initially I was a winger.
“I was always a winger, and then it was kind of more so when I moved to DLR. That’s when Laura [Heffernan] tried me right back. And then I done really well that season, actually.
“That was when I got Player of the Year here. Like it could be halfway through a game and I could be right back, and then I might be in the 10. It’s nice to kind of know all the positions as well then, so I know for the other girls, kind of what to do and everything.”
Amber Cosgrove admits opening fixtures will be ‘tough’
DLR Waves started the season against last season’s third placed side Galway United and a narrow 1-0 loss followed with a highlight reel performance from new goalkeeper Summer Lawless.
The fixture list has give DLR an unforgiving start, next up is last season’s champions Athlone Town followed by runners up Shelbourne. Amber Cosgrove gave her view on those opening fixtures,
“We know it’s gonna be tough,” Cosgrove noted. “I think with the league now this year, [we] don’t really know what any teams [are] like. There’s been that much changing around with all the girls. So we don’t really know what to expect.
“So we’re kind of just going in thinking more so of ourselves and our team, then looking at the other side and just see what we can do.”
Last season DLR finished tenth, a placement they are looking to improve upon this term,
“We’re just gonna take it game by game,” said Cosgrove. “Obviously, last season didn’t go as we wanted to. At the start of season we definitely lost out on a lot of points that we were kicking ourselves over.
“But yeah, take it game by game and see what happens. And we’re not gonna put any pressure on ourselves. We’re all working very hard, and we know what we’re able to do and what we’re capable of.
“So hopefully it just comes for us this year and we can push up the table a bit more, maybe get into the middle table more so than the bottom. That’d be nice.”
One of DLR’s best players Eve Badana retired at the end of last season, meaning less experience but more opportunity,
“Yeah, it’ll be different,” Cosgrove admits. “But the girls, they’ve been waiting for their chance now, and they just have to take it. So, yeah, they’re all very good so their won’t be any worries.”
Cosgrove lauds ‘It would be an honour’ to play for Ireland
Perhaps DLR Waves cutest fan is Cleo, Amber Cogrove’s dog. But how is the pup that captured the hearts of DLR Waves fans on media day last term?
“Cleo is good, Cosgrove said. “She’s not actually here right now, she might be back in for this year’s media photos, we’ll see” Cogrove says with a smile.
It was Cosgrove’s two legged family who helped her get into football in the first place, especially her cousins,
“Like none of my family played or anything, like my dad won’t be into it or anything was more so just from playing outside with my cousins.
“I initially started with Gaelic football and then I tried soccer. I went to Parkviilla down in Navan, and I ended up leaving Parkvilla and sticking with the Gaelic. And then I went back to Parkvilla again.
“Since then it’s just kind of been straight like, this is what I want. And then obviously as it got more serious, and then to senior level, that’s when I left the Gaelic, and I just kind of focused more so much. So yeah, that was really it.”
In recent years a number of League of Ireland players have been called up to the Irish national team, like Maria Reynolds and Kelly Brady. Does Cosgrove have similar ambitions?
“Yeah, obviously it’s something that would be an honour,” Cosgrove said. “I’d love that to happen, but yeah, we’ll see. I would love to, you never know… Maybe!” Cogrove concluded with a smile.
Amber Cosgrove’s DLR Waves face champions Athlone Town at the UCD Bowl on Saturday with kick off at 7:30pm, the match will be shown live on LOITV.
