What does it take to reach an elite level?

Shaka Hub
Mar 12, 2021
5 min read

When people look at the Dublin Senior Football team, they see a machine. A machine that has dominated the sport for the last decade, with some of the most talented players to ever play the game, donning the blue jersey during this period. They have been ruthless in their approach, lighting up Croke Park on so many incredible occasions (that’s if you are a Dub anyway).

We spoke to Seán ‘Bugsy’ Bugler this week, a relative newcomer to the inter-county game, who made his mark on the team in August 2019, with a man of the match performance in his championship debut. He has since achieved a regular starting place in the team for 2020 football championship and a nomination for an all-star award. Not bad for a 22 year old, trying to break into the greatest team of all time, you might say.

We asked him about life in the current COVID climate and what is keeping him motivated during Lockdown Part III. He gives an insight into the elite mind-set required to reach the highest level, providing us with some tips & tricks to maintain focus and improve consistency, which can be applied to all walks of life! Finally we look the sacrifices he has made along the way, as well as the things that bring him the ultimate satisfaction and some of his goals for the future.

Life during COVID

While there is a high degree of monotony to each day, Bugsy tries to remain as focused as possible on his goals for the year, leading an almost professional a lifestyle throughout the current lockdown. His time is dedicated to completing his Masters programme in DCU and preparing for a busy summer of championship action, which is only around the corner. He also dabbles with Tinder from time to time, and has seen an impressive rise in matches since he shaved the moustache, following the All-Ireland win in December. Coincidence? I think not.

Training varies from running or shooting sessions on the pitch, to power and speed work in the DCU gym. The availability of DCU’s facilities has been a ‘Godsend’ during this period, and Bugsy has taken the individual sessions in his stride. “I feel like I’ve adapted quite well to the individual sessions. Obviously, you’d much rather be training with all the lads, but you get into a bit of a routine and it definitely has some perks! It gives you the freedom to train when you like and allows for more rest time, depending on how your body is feeling. The most important thing for me though has been maintaining my focus on the goals I set out at the start of the year, that’s really kept me motivated”.

Bugsy outlined some really useful tools to help maintain his high standards. He was recently advised to use a diary and write down 10 objectives he has for each day. These objectives can be as simple as waking up at a certain time or visiting an elderly relative that day. Simple and achievable objectives, complete on a daily basis that teach you self-discipline and the art of being consistent in your actions. A tool, that has been successfully implemented, into the daily routine of many of the players on the team. While it does seem like a cliché, he has also found that putting objectives into writing and then turning them into actions has been a beneficial exercise. It makes each goal of his more personal and gives him the hunger to achieve them. Just ask his All-Ireland medals, we suppose.

The Dream & the Sacrifice

For Bugsy, putting on the blue jersey and walking up the steps of the Hogan stand has always been the ultimate goal. He was brought up in a strong GAA household and witnessed some of the most talented Dublin footballers in recent memory playing for the club (St. Oliver Plunkett’s) on a weekly basis. He knew what he wanted, and soon understood what it was going to take to get there.

“A lot of it is down to lifestyle! It’s all about what you eat and making sure that you are keeping yourself as fit as possible at all times. Obviously, some of the sacrifices have been difficult and I would have loved to go on some of the lads holidays, weekends away and nights out. But I made the choice not to and I think that has been the difference”.

A big part of his development was also down to the intense Gym work he undertook over a number of years, something he still does today. “While it was very important, I probably spent too much time working in the gym and not on the football when Iwas 17 or 18. That has been reversed now and I feel like I’ve matured enough over the last few years to realise that”.

Bugsy also pointed to the passing of his Dad when he was 18 as an important part of the journey. “Of course it was a horrible thing to have to go through, but it’s definitely spurred me on and made me stronger as a person. I still visit him on the day of big games and that helps me to feel like he’s with me every step of the way”. For some people, experiences like the passing of a close family member or friend are totally detrimental to their future. For Bugsy, he has used this experience as motivation and achieved a goal that both he and his Dad had equally longed for.

The Future

“The pinnacle has to be winning the All-Ireland last year. Being part of the squad that won the five-in-a-row was special, but to contribute and play in the final last year was a dream come true!” Collecting Sam Maguire in the Hogan stand that day was his moment of ‘ultimate satisfaction’. But Bugsy is not one to rest on his laurels. He wants more and is willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

2020 is seen as a stepping-stone for him, and he is looking to propel himself to the same level as the biggest names in the game. “I want to get to the level that the likes of Con (O’Callaghan), (Ciarán) Kilkenny and (Brian) Fenton are at. These are the guys that are at the top of their game and that’s where I want to be in a couple of years’ time”. With the appetite for success that he has, and the mind-set to match it…. Something tells us that there’s a good chance he will do this!

When you look back on your career, what will make you say I’ve had a good career?

“Our motto is simple….Leave the Jersey in a better place than you found it”

Quick-Fire Questions:

Gym Session or Pitch Session - Gym

Book you are currently reading - 'The All-Blacks'

Death row Meal - Lasagne

Chinese or Pizza - Chinese

Last Minute Peno? - Straight down the middle

Childhood Hero - Alan Brogan

Favourite Sport apart from football (GAA) - Tennis

Occupation - Student

Celebrity Crush - Cheryl Cole