1. Earliest GAA memory.

Earliest GAA memory would have to be attending the All Ireland Final in 2003. I can remember having the red and white day in school and leaving that Sunday morning when it was pitch black with the lunchboxes packed and ready to go.  It was a deadly day out meeting all our family and friends down in Dublin to see Tyrone lift the cup. It definitely inspired me to get out on a pitch after being a part of it. From a playing aspect I can remember playing primary school football and having a record amount of games unbeaten. I owe all my success since then to Damien Kelly for letting me play for the P7 team in P6!

 2. How much time do you give over to GAA each week? Can you give us a breakdown of an average week?

Pre lockdown I was out 6-7 days a week between gym, club & county training and coaching underage. It can be hectic but having a sister training the same makes it easier. My ma was probably sick looking at us during lockdown – she’d never seen us at home during the evenings so much in years!

3. The best GAA venue you have been to?

Croker is definitely up there with the best venue to attend a GAA match. Although I love a good trip to Clones and it’s also a great pitch to play on. Though it is hard to beat running out in the green and white at Killeeshil St. Mary’s.

4. School participation and/or success?

I attended St Ciaran’s College in Ballygawley where I am now fortunate enough to currently teach in also. We didn’t have a lot of success during our school years but we certainly made up for it with the craic we had going to away games. Maria Curran was sick of having to make the bus driver stop at Austin’s chippy on the way home because we had already phoned in our order!

I then went on to Jordonstown to university where I had some of the most enjoyable days playing football. There is something special about the group of girls you play college football with, some of whom I am still very friendly with. I also loved playing college football in London when I studied for my PGCE.

 5. Club/ County role models that you looked up to as a youth

The ladies football in our club only started when I was 4 so I have been fortunate enough to actually play alongside the role models I also looked up to when I was growing up. Caitriona McGahan was a great leader on the pitch as well as taking me under her wing when I moved to London (hard to fit under it with her height but we managed). Nicola McAnenly was a great player to have around the club also when I was growing up, between training youth games and playing herself she still managed to organise a great team night out!

6. Other sports that you played or had an interest in.

I would have played some basketball and netball growing up through primary school and it is great to now be a PE teacher invovled in teaching various sports to the students.

7. Most difficult opponent you have faced in club football and why?

In terms of opponents I hate to see Lycrecia Quinn coming walking over beside me. She is such a skilful player and a nightmare to keep up with! However, in our own club we have such fantastic players that I also dread to mark during trainings. Between Louise Kelly, Grainne Rafferty & Zoe Loughran, I’m tempted to try out as a forward to avoid trying to mark them!

 8. Best player you have ever seen play Gaelic football

For men’s football I’m going to have to say Peter Canavan or Conor Gormley. They are both incredible players to watch and real leaders on the pitch. For ladies it’s hard not to love watching Neamh Woods play. Her commitment is incredible and she is a real motivation for our team. She’s a joy to play alongside.

 9. Are you happy enough to see the restart of club and county activities?

Yes, I most definitely am. I really missed the social aspect that the GAA brings and it’s been great being back out with all the girls and enjoying our football again. It has been especially nice just having club football to concentrate on during the summer months as normally county fixtures take over!

 10. The best GAA match that you ever saw.

I would have to say the 2003 All Ireland Final. It’s great to say I’ve witnessed Tyrone winning their first All Ireland title.

 11. Are you a fan of academies/development squads? Why

Yes absolutely. I always think it is a great way of involving more players in a county setup. Even now being older and seeing the younger girls being so excited at being selected for any county squad it is great to have as much opportunity for youth as possible.

 12. Your own involvement around the club

As well as playing, I have coached various youth teams in the club and for the past 4/5 years have been a regular face for the U8 &  U10 girls. At times I would say I enjoy coaching them more than I do playing! They really remind you why you play football and we always have great craic at every training and blitz. They are a joy to watch develop as footballers and as indiviuduals. One of the best memories I have had is seeing all the young club girls down in Croker cheering us on to win an All Ireland. The U8 & U10 girls also got to play at half time at our county final last year and watched us win the intermediate championship – which they then talked non-stop about at training for the next month

13. How important is the GAA in your community?

GAA plays a massive role in our community and I think with everything that has happened this year it proves that even more. The GAA played a huge part in delivering food parcels and keeping the community spirit high during the lockdown. Killeeshil GFC feels more like a family of families so to speak than just a football club.

14. Favourite county jersey (not Tyrone)

I’m going to say Galway as aside from Tyrone our family is made to support them (@Selina)

 15. What are your main strengths as a footballer?

I would say my commitment is what has helped me develop more than anything. I also would say my communication with the team on the pitch is another main strength. From P1 right through until I left school my teachers would kindly write on my report that I talk too much, so it’s nice to put the trait to good use!