O’Doherty sets her sights on World squash title

Having already conquered Europe, squash player Orla O’Doherty from Portmarnock is now setting her sights on a global title at next year’s World Championships in Poland.

This year, the 48-year-old has already won the European Masters Championship as well as the Irish, Spanish, Slovenian, British and Maltese Open Masters titles. She is also ranked number three in Ireland overall and last May became the oldest woman in history to be selected to play for Ireland, when her three team mates were aged 18, 18, and 22!

Her recent success is even more remarkable given that Orla only decided to return to competitive action two years ago and she admits that proved to be an astute decision on her part.

“I absolutely loved going back into competition as a different person now than the one I was 20 years ago.  I was always a bit of a messer, a crowd pleaser shall we say, but now I’ve found the right balance of enjoyment for myself when I play. I’m playing the best squash of my life and enjoying every minute.”

Squash has been a constant companion for Orla since she first picked up a racquet and it was the formation of the Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Club in the early 1980s that proved to be the catalyst for a lifetime involvement in the sport.

“I grew up in Portmarnock and my parents were founding members of the Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Club where I began playing squash at age 10.  I represented Ireland at two world junior championships in 1987 and 1989, then pursued a professional playing career until 1993 when I won a green card in the lottery and moved to the US,” Orla told Fingal.ie.

“I spent 23 years in America coaching at universities and private sports clubs.  I returned to Portmarnock in February of 2015 and quickly settled in as head squash coach and gym instructor.  I have over 75 kids playing now from local schools and there is a vibrant adult community also.

“It’s my life, it’s all I know. The fact that it’s an individual sport is very important to me.  I can only blame or praise myself for a loss or a win.  I like taking on all the pressure myself.   The squash community around the world is incredible and I know, no matter where I go, I’ll have a friend and a place to stay. 

“I love the smell of the courts, the sound of the slamming ball, and the sheer delightful exhaustion you feel after a hard-fought match, win or lose.  There’s nothing like it.  It’s in my DNA. I think squash chooses quirky people.  I’ve never met a player whose company I didn’t enjoy.  It’s listed as the world’s most healthiest sport by Forbes magazine and you can burn up to 800 calories in one hour.”

Orla’s decision to return to competing at the highest levels in squash came two years ago in the aftermath of two significant illnesses and a desire to make some positive changes to her life. These changes involved working on strength and conditioning with former Dublin Ladies goalkeeper and All-Star Cliodhna O’Connor, nutritionist Daniel Davy and physio Alan Doyle and they have got her into the right condition to compete at the highest level as the age entry to Masters’ competitions is 35.

“I began working with Cliodhna O'Connor who formulated a strength and conditioning programme for me and now coaches me from a performance standpoint before and during my tournaments.  I attribute a large part of my success to her guidance and advice.

“I actually became certified in personal training myself through Fitcert, an ITEC programme which allows me to work in gyms around the world. I also began studying the power of mental training, through audio books, with regards to competing.  I learned different meditational techniques and acquired tools which helped me become more self-confident and relaxed during competition.

“I began working with a nutritionist, Daniel Davy, whom I continue to work with.  He has educated me on the power of performance nutrition. I am actually eating more than I ever have and am currently studying an online course with Optimum Nutrition.

“Another important choice I made was to consistently see my physio Alan Doyle, twice a month.  I have learned that Masters’ athletes require maintenance! So even if I don’t have any niggles or injuries, I will still have a session with Alan even if it’s just a sports massage or mobility work.

“Also, I am now training with Eoin Ryan over at Sutton LTC.  Eoin is probably Ireland’s most successful squash coach and he’s created an environment for me which allows me to compete with the men at Division One and Premier level.  Eoin is also working with me on developing deception in my game, which is a new element I am excited to discover at this age. Not many females naturally use deception but it’s been working well for me the last two events. 

“So, all in all, I’ve got a really great team in Cliodhna, Eoin, Alan and Daniel and I am so proud to be back in Portmarnock where it all began for me and from where I am pursuing my goal of winning the Masters World Championships next year.

Fingal is a great sporting county and opportunities are available for residents to participate in a wide variety of sports including squash which, according to Orla, is enjoying a rejuvenation across the county.

“Honestly, given that we have only one court in Portmarnock, we are doing pretty well.  I now have over 75 kids from the local schools playing.  But there is a huge potential to have 10 times that amount playing.  It is my goal and dream to develop a new facility in Portmarnock with five or six courts. 

“Eoin’s club in Sutton has five courts that are filled everyday with 300 kids and similar numbers in adults. I’ve spoken to Eoin and we both agree if a new development was built, together we could hold national championships, professional tournaments, and national squads.  I am turning people away because I have only one court.”

Orla recently did a interview with the Off The Ball podcast Off The Bench and it can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/kcHrlit1Grk