Dr Jennifer Hayes continues to make her mark on Cork GAA adding two more titles

For clinical psychologist Dr Jennifer Hayes, dabbling in the GAA scene over the last four years has been an enjoyable outlet and to put it mildly – she’s been hugely successful.

After first helping Ben O’Connor’s Midleton to their Premier Senior HC triumph in 2021, Hayes has gone from strength to strength.

Following their success, she joined the Fr O’Neill’s setup in 2022, when they won the Senior A title.

The following year she partnered with O’Connor once again – this time with the Cork U20s, and they claimed both the Munster and All-Ireland titles.

While the U20s were beaten this year in the Munster decider, she then took up roles with Aghada’s Ladies football team and Glen Rovers’ senior hurling outfit.

Two clubs, two titles.

Galway’s senior camogie team, Midleton’s seniors in 2022 and this year’s Cork U20s mark the only shortcomings on her CV.

But the results speak for themselves, and last Sunday’s titles for the Glen and Aghada made it a day that Jennifer won’t forget.

“My immediate reaction was absolute relief, to be honest,” she begins. “I was just so relieved and delighted to see the Glen going back up to the top tier, where I feel they belong.

I think Cork hurling needs them there. I think the Glen community, the supporters and the players need to be there as well.

“As events unfolded then later on in the day, I was thrilled with Aghada, their first ever senior title. These ladies are my neighbours. Aghada is my club” The effect Hayes has had on every team she’s worked with is there for all to see, and as sport continues to evolve – so too does the significance of psychology.

“Psychology always makes an impact, but I think it's important to see it in context as well.

“You could have the best psychology in the world, but if the other bits aren’t right, you’ll make no headway. I would always say, that hurling comes first, psychology comes second.

“The hurling must be right, the fitness, the strength, the skill – that all has to be there. But I do think the psychology is extremely important. One area where it can make a difference is helping players deal with tricky moments, pressure moments in the game.

DEMAND

“Managing pressure – and it's not just the players, it's seeing it at a systems level as well I think is helpful. I also think the set of values in a team, that's something that psychology can make a big difference on, all those things add to what's already in the pot.

“Elite players care about what they're doing, they are passionate about it,” Hayes explains. “It means an awful lot to them. When something means an awful lot to you, a form of pressure comes with that.

“If you don't manage the pressure well, it can play out in your actions on the day. If you're having anxious thoughts or feeling stressed in your body or in your mind, you're more likely to produce an anxious action.

“That might be things like pulling back from the ball, standing back, and not making an aggressive run. Targeting that would be key at an elite level.

“Teaching players the skills to manage pressure thoughts, to manage pressure moments is important.

“To produce a strong, confident, controlled but aggressive hurling action despite the pressure, what you might be thinking, the doubt you might have in your head, or a fear that you might have.

“Everyone has a set of psychological skills; every player has learned some psychology skills to deal with difficult moments or to rise to an occasion. I build on this.” That pressure applies to everyone – even Dr Hayes, given the precarious nature of the Glen’s situation this year.

There was no margin for error, they had to win the Senior A HC.

SIGNIFICANCE

“From a personal pressure point of view, it was a tricky psychology gig,” she admits. “Simply because it meant so much to people, I had to produce the goods”.

The psychology had to be right, and the Glen had to get it right.

“Because of the upset from last year, it just ran so deep. They’re a very proud hurling club with history that transcends generations. They were devastated with the outcome last year.

“With that devastation then came a pressured opportunity to put that right this year. In fairness to them, they responded so well. At a systems level they did absolutely everything they could to turn things around. Everyone worked together as a unit to turn that around.” There was never any doubt for Hayes when it came to taking up the role with Glen Rovers, given the meaning of it.

“The minute Tomás rang me and asked would I meet him to have a chat, I knew driving to that meeting that if he was going to offer me that job, I was going to take it, without knowing anything else,” she remarks.

“I’ve always felt passionately that Cork hurling needs the Glen at the top tier.

“What psychologist worth their salt wouldn't want a cut at that?”