First memory of Roche

My very first memory in the blue jersey goes back to myself and Niamh Callan playing with the boys for Naomh Bríd in Kilcurry pitch every Sunday. It was the highlight of our week. We would have our U8 game and would also play the U10 game after too. After that, we moved onto the newly found Roche U12 girls’ team with Mary McArdle. 

Best day supporting Roche

There’s a few of them, but the one that stands out has to be when the lads were in Celebrity Bainisteoir in 2010. Even though it didn’t end with a win, there was a great buzz around the community for the weeks leading up to it. 

Most memorable win

Winning the minor league and championship in 2010. Our team came through the ranks from U12 and I believe we won each age group through to the minor championship, when we got the double. The championship win was one of our toughest of many rivalry games between us and St. Mary’s. I believe the game got a bit heated and I was shown a yellow and sent to the sideline for 10 minutes...I remember sitting on the side, raring to get back on.

We got the win anyways in the end and I somehow managed to bag player of the match. We drove around the town hanging out the windows and back to the clubrooms for food. We were such a solid team. Just a big group of friends on and off the pitch and had a great run through the underage championships together.

Even though I live across the pond now, I’m still close friends with the same bunch of girls that I played with since U12. What I’d do to be able to go back and get one more season in with them. Maybe one day!

Hardest defeat to take

Has to be the same as Oliva and Rosie’s. The senior championship loss to Stabannon in 2011. Our championship win was a long time coming and I felt we were so close that year. Also, it was my last game with Roche before moving away for college that year. After that I commuted up from Kerry most weekends, but it wasn’t the same. 

Biggest rivalry

I think any senior game against Stabannon. Every one of them always felt like a final. 

Roche dream team

Tara McGivern; Fionnuala Begley, Arlene Stalley, Katie Halligan; Lauren Meehan, Niamh Callan, Olivia Wall; Rosie Heeney, Aoife Halligan; Jennie McCourt, Tracey Rogers, Shauna Finn; Aisling Begley, Nicola Mills, Amy Gribben (Coach: Cathal Heaney).

Best Roche player played with

Would have to be Rosie Heaney. I was thrown into midfield for the senior team from a young age, alongside Rosie. She taught me so much playing alongside her and I always looked up to her. She taught me the simple things such as tactics for the first throw-in, to criss-crossing for our kickouts (sorry, Rosie, I hope I’m not giving away your tactics here!). I felt she was a consistent, strong player to play alongside, with a positive attitude on and off the pitch.

Dressing room joker

Katie Halligan!!!

Your Roche in three words

My home away from home (sorry, I needed five!).