Celine Daly

How you got started:

“I actually didn’t start playing football until I was 27, I’m from North Belfast- Greencastle. There used to be a club called Wolfetones – before my time when my mum was wee. When the Motorway (M2) was built the pitch was destroyed and was never reinstated. Where I’m from there is no GAA at all and in fact- I didn’t even know that there was a club until my mum told me years later”.

“I didn’t start playing ladies football at all, when I was 26 I started playing camogie for Gort na Mona and one day Kieran Megraw came down. He was starting up the lady’s team for his three daughters- at the time his three daughters were younger. We were training camogie and he said I’m going to start a ladies team at Lámh Dhearg and if a anyone would like to come along and get me started- that would be great. I was 27 at the time and that’s how I got started playing ladies football”.

Familiar faces:

“There have been a few that have been there from day dot, Kieran [Megraw] and his daughters. I remember Orla and Caoimhe [Megraw], Aisling [McConville] had always been there and Grainne [Herron] had always been there and others that where there from day dot”.

“I don’t think I remember the very first training session- when I was first went there was 6 or 7 of us from Gort na Mona that went to play football and we were there for about two seasons. When I first went I was with that gang and gradually because of commitments with families and things- they dropped away and I have been there since, so I’m here about 14-15 years”.

Past successes:

“The past success was less important to me than the football itself and the camaraderie- honest to god that’s true. People say that to me all the time- do you remember that match? those things aren’t at the forefront of my mind. To me it was honestly about playing football and the camaraderie. That’s what I love about it”.

“We have won Championships and leagues under Smickers [Brian Smyth], Micky Boyle and James Martin and we’ve had a rocky road; it seems that anytime we won the league- they decided to make two leagues. Everyone we won the league they merged the leagues and there’s been a rocky relationship with the county”.

Colour clashes and progression of Ladies Football in Antrim:

“When we first started- one of the big things was that everyone wore red and white. At the time it was St Pauls and Aldergrove and a few other teams were wearing red and white. We were delighted to even see anyone with a coloured jersey on them”.

“The numbers have really grown in ladies football since we’ve started – I think when we started there was only two leagues and maybe six-clubs in division two. Now, there must be 20+ ladies teams in Antrim. It has certainly evolved, and we have a more varied competition”.

 Transition:

“Another thing about the ladies team- it has really produced itself. Apart from a few die hards that have been there from the start like myself- it has produced itself every three or four years. We would have a team that was really strong and got so far and then – especially when we won a league or championship- it would trigger a few retirements, or a few leavers and we would have to rebuild again the next year. That process has happened three or four times since I’ve started”.

“What happens is that a few young ones come in and come through the team as well- that happens every three or four years. It doesn’t happen as you might think; that every year there should be x number of ones that come through. It actually doesn’t happen like that; it comes in wee clicks and waves. It’s a bit strange”.

Aisling McConville:

“Aisling McConville has to be the biggest header (only joking, a true Gael) – she’s just some craic. There have been a few ones- some people have come, and some people have gone, and they all have different personalities, but I think Aisling has to be the biggest character. She’s always up for the craic”.

Difference between Ladies and Men’s age groups:

“I had a meeting with the committee last year and I was actually surprised that people didn’t realise the difference between women and men’s age groups. In men you obviously have U-10, 12, 14,16, minor, 21 and then senior. That doesn’t happen in ladies football- in ladies you player senior – it used to be younger, but because of child protection its 15. You’re actually playing U-16 and senior simultaneously and it’s not a one off. That’s standard practice and very common”.

“That was one of the things that I was shocked when I met with the men’s committee – these fella’s aren’t coming through until their later teens or early 20s. Whereas we have the wee ones coming through at 15. That was one the things that surprised me”.

“In terms of helping them come in- I always take the approach that the doors always opened. The door is always open, and we love to see the wee ones come in, they just bring an extra dimension to our training as well. You see them come in and see how talented they are and sometimes they’re so fit that they show you up”.

“It’s great to see them and one the things we are always very conscious of making them feel welcome and not make them feel intimidated because if you talk to young people coming into senior – the biggest challenge is that can feel intimidated or are intimidated to turn up. I hope to think that my contribution to was to not to make them feel intimidated – let them feel they’re part of the team and they’re more than welcome. I think that’s the big thing”.

Brink of collapse and rising again:

“We were on the brink of collapse in January 2018- I actually thought we were two or three weeks away from folding. I was very concerned- we had just had a change of manager and the pre-season hadn’t happened. Also, we start starting up a minor team and I was very nervous because I had explained – we need them to come into senior when they are 15 and I wasn’t sure whether we could sustain both a senior and a minor team. I was very nervous”.

“There was some difference in those 18-months- to go from where I thought we were in a very dangerous position to going and winning a championship – it was tremendous. At our training sessions we had seven mentors. Seven mentors who are committed, always there and are so positive. Many hands make light work and that is just an amazing turnaround and I’m just delighted with that”.

The future of Ladies Football in the club:

“We’ve had success before but then it was followed by a dip and we’ve had to rebuild – but this time around its different. This time, the success that we’ve had comes from the new blood coming in and its on up. This year it wasn’t a case of us having a dip after the success, it was a case of carrying on from where we were. In our pre-season this year- we were flying- we were training hard, training in the gym and then we went out to the 3G in the snow, rain and everything else and it was Baltic. We were really flying and its’ just a pity that the virus has put the brakes on because we had huge momentum behind us and huge numbers behind it”.

“In terms of the future- these kids are tall and get the experience behind their belt as well. Now they’ve experienced success in the championship, in terms of the league- now we could consider ourselves winning the league and actually progressing into the higher divisions. That’s something that is realistic at this stage, I think getting blocked by very strong ‘B teams is a challenge and its there’s problems in all GAA – but hopefully we can overcome that challenge”.

Strictly and Lip-Sync challenge:

“I’ve been involved in the club strictly come dancing the Lip-Sync challenge as well- I’m just waiting on Jigs and Reels to be announced too. I don’t have any Irish dancing skills, but I would love a wee party piece with Irish dancing skills so I’m waiting on Jigs and Reels”.

“Strictly and the Lip-Sync challenge were absolutely brilliant; it was a real privilege to be able to do them. I don’t think you realise the work that goes into them- it was months before all the PR, the promotional stuff and then the practice and rehearsals. Ryan [Murray] was my partner in Strictly and it was just a great process. During rehearsals everyone was slegging me because every rehearsal I turned up and was doing it in my full kit, people were going – what are you doing? I was like what other clothes do you even wear. I was always doing the practice in my full kit”.

“The good thing was when we done the choreography – we got the video to practice and we had to take that video home to practice with it. I actually have the video and it’s good to look back on. It was a real privilege working with the team. On the day you’re a bag on nerves but the atmosphere is amazing. It’s one of those ones were you’re so, so nervous about doing it and then once its over- you’re thinking I could go back up and do it again straight away”.