Five Minutes with… Down’s Meghan Doherty

Name: Meghan Doherty

Age: 25

Occupation: Café Manager

Teams played for: Carryduff, Down , Queens, & Schools All stars.

Game you most enjoyed playing in?

Kildare championship game 2019. Went in as underdogs and ended up winning by 12 points. Think there were about 6 yellow cards in that game, it’s the physical games I enjoy the most (and I wasn’t one of the 6 that got the yellow).

Game you least enjoyed playing in?

Our Sligo 2019 championship game. It just wasn’t our day, split my head open in the first half and couldn’t even tell you how much we were beaten by in the end. Certainly a match to forget.

What’s the worst pitch you’ve ever played on?

Annaclone’s home pitch in Co. Down – always remember the bumps through it and the long grass.

Toughest training session you’ve ever been involved in?

The last training session before our All Ireland final in 2014. You were lucky if you had any legs left for the final the amount of running we had to do.

What’s your preferred brand of gear?

Under Armour or Nike.

Most inspirational individual you’ve ever met?

Aside from my mum and dad of course! Declan Coyle would certainly be up there for me. Down ladies have had few sessions with him about his ‘Green Platform’ book and he is amazing. Showing us how much your mindset can improve your game.

Where do you like to go to celebrate?

Cathedral Quarter in Belfast – not a stranger to any of the bars there lol.

What do you like to do with you are not training/playing?

Hanging with my friends – going for food and drinks. Thankfully training a good bit keeps me healthy(ish).

Which character in any TV show/film are you most like?

The Hulk – especially after a year doing our strength and conditioning programme with Paul lol.

Which team mates (from any club/county) are the first you’d invite on a night out?

My club Carryduff girlies always produce a great night. The county girls too. Some of those nights have been seriously messy, with a not so fun day after (Orla Swail can confirm this).

Which team mate is the worst dancer?

Mary for sure, hasn’t quite perfected her twerking yet.

Which team mate is the loudest in the changing room?

Sarah doc – she’s our DJ.

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happy in training/during a match?

Lauren Cunningham showing up to Thursday night trainings with her hair in rollers for her Friday nights out drinking.

What’s the worst excuse you’ve heard to get out of training and who did

it come from?

Oonagh Lav – “the sunset was too pretty to miss for training”.

Biggest ego?

Jessica Foy – but she scores a serious amount of goals so I can’t blame her.

Worst/best person to sit next to on the team bus?

Worst: Emily Martin – she packs for a 2 week holiday so there would be no room for my legs. Best: Eve McArdle – we just sneak off to the back for a snooze.

Worst/best person to share a room with on away days?

Worst: Aoife Keown – too much of a messer I wouldn’t get my beauty sleep.

Best: Me and Anna McKee were lovely roomies on our county away game.

Who has the best diet, and who has the worst?

Aisling Cull never disappoints. The Duffy sisters make some tasty looking meals too. Worst: Adair, forever snacking on the sweeties.

Toughest opponent you have played against?

Geraldine McLaughlin from Donegal or Caroline O’Hanlon, Armagh, both sensational and impossible to mark.

Best or worst quote you have heard from a team mate/opponent/

manager?

“Hit the space not the face” – one I heard at U12 and has stuck with me ever since.

Best manager you have played for?

I’m lucky enough to have played under such great management that I couldn’t name just one. Alec, Stevie Miller and Sean O’Kane have all done great things for me for my club/Carryduff and current county managers Caoibhe and Peter who are certainly the best county managers Down ladies have ever had.

What frustrates you most about the GAA?

Drinking bans (only joking). That yellow card sin bin only applies in women’s games and the lack of physicality allowed.

What’s the best thing about being part of the GAA?

Growing up from no age being dedicated and working so hard at something and becoming great at it. The rewards are amazing, the friendships, experiences and achievements.