Niamh Hughes Is Our Mc Aleer And Rushe Guest This Week

Friday 03.07.2020

_{1. Earliest GAA memory.}

_{My earliest GAA memory would be playing for Coalisland Fianna. I played for the boys from U10 – U14 as there was no Ladies team at the time. I remember having to mark Lycrecia Quinn when we played Errigal Ciaran, personally I think I got the short straw as often marking the boys was an easier task than marking Lycrecia. Another early memory was winning my first and only Club Championship, when Coalisland Ladies beat Kildress by a goal in the U14C final. Unfortunately, Coalisland Ladies folded when I was 19, and this is when I transferred to Aodh Ruadh. Early memories with the Ruadh often involved ‘The Ruadh Social Club’ where the craic and the football went hand in hand. The Fianna Ladies now have a very successful set up but over the years putting on the Aodh Ruadh jersey has become special to me as a player, although it would be nice some day to be back in blue.}

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

_{An average week would consist of training every day, I love to train and enjoy pushing myself to work hard during each session. I am very blessed to have team mates who are equally as motivated as myself to train hard. I think lockdown made us realise that it is slightly more fun to do the runs with someone else rather than on your own.}

_{3. The best GAA venue you have been to?}

<sub>Fitzgerald Stadium in Kilarney was a great GAA venue to play in, but the best has to be Croke Park. I feel really privileged that I have got to play there. It is also hard to beat Fr Peter Campbell Park in Coalisland, we played Kerry there last year and there was something really special about playing on that pitch.
4. School participation and/or success.</sub>

_{I absolutely loved playing school football for St. Patrick’s Academy and although I didn’t have very much success, I learned a lot from my coach Jacqui McKendry, and made some great memories. I also loved playing University football for UUJ. We got beaten in an O’Connor Cup Final in 2012. It will always be, the one that got away, as that team had some of the greats, Sharron Courtney, Shannon Quinn and Neamh Woods, to name just a few. I now fulfil this passion through teaching and coaching in St. Mary’s Magherafelt.}

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

_{When I began playing for Aodh Ruadh, I always looked up to Marian Vincent, she was Full Back and Captain of the team, I loved how she encouraged everyone around her and aimed to get the best out of every player.}

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

_{I played Club and County Camogie until I was 20, although I spent more time kicking the ball, I really loved the physicality that was involved in Camogie. I have also started running, mostly 5ks in off season, I love the sense of achievement that comes with beating your own PB or winning a race.}

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

Grainne Kelly from St Macartan’s was always a very difficult opponent to face. However, if training counts, Emma Jane is as difficult as an opponent can get. If we aren’t carrying on, there is always a good battle for the ball. Maria Canavan is also a very difficult opponent, her left foot never misses and she is a lot stronger than she looks.

_{> 8. Best player you have ever seen play Gaelic football}

_{It is hard to overlook Neamh Woods. Not only is she an exceptional player but when your back is against the wall, Neamh will do something really special to lift the spirit of the team, she will make an impact that encourages everyone to lift their game.}

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

_{Yes! I have missed it a lot, it is great to be back training. I think it is also really nice to spend some time training with just the club. We usually train on the same nights as County, so its great to be there for every session.}

_{10. The best GAA match that you ever saw.}

_{It is hard to single out just one, but a game that stands out is Tyrone v Monaghan in the All Ireland Semi Final in 2018. Tyrone Ladies had just made it through to the All-Ireland Semi Final and there was a great buzz about. Tyrone won the game by a point, I remember the atmosphere in Croke Park was amazing. It was a very exciting game to watch.}

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

_{Yes, I don’t understand anyone who would be against this. I know from our own experience with Tyrone, the development players not only improved themselves, but it also meant all other players had to lift their game too, ultimately everyone was improving.}

 _{12. Your own involvement around the club.}

_{I feel as one of the more senior players it is important that I encourage the younger generation coming though. Aodh Ruadh have a great minor set up and I think It’s important to make them feel comfortable playing senior football. If there is a social gathering to be organised, I would also be involved in that!}

_{13. How important is the GAA in your community?}

_{I don’t even think you can put into words how important the GAA is in the community, without it we would all be lost. It is a great organisation to be involved in.}

_{14. Favourite county jersey (not Tyrone)} 

_Donegal

_{15. What are your main strengths as a footballer?}

_{My main strength would probably be running with the ball, although the left foot could be worked on!}