Five Minutes With… Down’s Karen McMullan

FIVE MINUTES WITH

Name: Karen McMullan

Age: 33 (21 at heart!)

Occupation: PE Teacher, St Mary’s, Glasnevin in Dublin.

Teams played for: Down Senior camogie team, Liatroim Fontenoy’s camogie, Castlewellan ladies football, Down ladies footballers, University of Ulster, Jordanstown and Michael Cusack’s GAC, Sydney.

Game you most enjoyed playing in?
It’s probably a close call between winning the club championship in 2015 and also the county All-Ireland win in 2014. Both games were very tight right up until the end.

Game you least enjoyed playing in?
The 2019 All Ireland Camogie semi-final defeat to Westmeath.

What’s the worst pitch you’ve ever played on?
Any Ards pitch! Hate getting that boat over.

Toughest training session you’ve ever been involved in?
Any session in 2014 with the Down ladies footballers with our coach Diane O’Hora. She was a fan of a few ups and downs!

What’s your preferred brand of gear?
Whatever I can find first.

Most inspirational individual you’ve ever met?
My twin sister.

Where do you like to go to celebrate?
In normal circumstances Muholland’s in Castlewellan and then closely followed by any parties at the Duffin residence.

What do you like to do with you are not training/playing?
New-found love for sea swimming.

Which character in any TV show/film are you most like?
Honestly, I have no time to watch TV!

Which team mates (from any club/county) are the first you’d invite on a night out?
Kelly Duffin first up as she normally supplies the venue, followed by Dearbhla Magee who is good for sorting out the tunes. Emma McCormick is in there too and it wouldn’t be a night out without the rest of the Liatroim camogs and Castlewellan footballers.

Which team mate is the worst dancer?
Lisa (I love Coors) Morgan!

Which team mate is the loudest in the changing room?
Has to be Dearbhla Mageen, ever stops!

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happy in training/during a match?
Grainne O’Higgins forgetting her boots before an All-Ireland semi final has to be up there with one of her funniest moments.

What’s the worst excuse you’ve heard to get out of training and who did it come from?
Once again Dearbhla Magee. Getting the nails done one night and missed county training.

Biggest ego?
Big Derv Magee and her 100 pairs of trainers.

Worst/best person to sit next to on the team bus?
Aoife Keown. She always supplies the sweets.

Worst/best person to share a room with on away days?
Best and worst would be Kelly Duffin. Always supplies the toiletries etc but she’s always up at the crack of dawn.

Who has the best diet, and who has the worst?
Best would be a toss up between Aimee McAleenan and Niamh Mallon.

Worst – Aoife Keown – eats rubbish and can still run all day.

Toughest opponent you have played against?
Every county session recently where I’ve been attempting to run after Sara-Louise Carr.

Best or worst quote you have heard from a team mate/opponent/manager?
‘You either win or you learn.’

Best manager you have played for?
Paul McStravick. We won back-to-back Club All-Ireland titles with him.

What frustrates you most about the GAA?
Camogie and LGFA not working together more. If both these associations come together under the GAA under the one umbrella it will only enhance our games even more.

What’s the best thing about being part of the GAA?
Meeting people and the memories made. I recently lived in Australia for four years and only for Michael Cusack’s GAC I would never have lasted as long. Friendships that will last a lifetime.