Name: Aoife Ní Chaiside.
Age: 27.
Teams played for: Sleacht Néill, Doire, UUJ, St.Patrick’s, College Maghera, Ulster (Gael Linn), Mná Uladh (Iomain Cholmcille).
Which team mate has been the most inspirational and why?
Lots of team mates have inspired me in club and county teams however Gráinne Holmes (née McGoldrick – Eoghan Rua) has to be top of the list. After suffering a serious knee injury which required surgery, she had months of rehab to do which required a lot of self-motivation. To be ready to return to the pitch, mentally, following such an injury takes a lot of mental strength, something I admire and was honoured to play alongside her for Derry.
Clare McGrath (Sleacht Néill) has a very good attitude to training; she wants to make the most of every training and leave no stone unturned, be it on the pitch for tackling or running or creating a nasty finisher in the gym, she is the one to push you on.
Which team mate is the worst to train with and why?
Possibly double trouble Aine McAllister and Megan Kerr at Derry training only because they spend most time talkinglaughing, distracting us from training.
Which team mate do you want to mark in training and why?
Tina Bradley (Sleacht Néill) is one of the toughest team mates to mark, give her an inch and you have no chance to catch her, she knows what runs to make and when to make them, making it a nightmare for a defender to try and mark. Marking her in training is a tough challenge so that’s why I want to.
Which team mate do you dread marking in training and why?
Corner-forwardsprinter Therese Mellon (Sleacht Néill) is hard to stop when she is hitting her top speed. I get distracted by her pink boots and she has the ball over the bar before I’ve turned.
Which team mate is the best on journeys away?
If you’re getting to stay over then Orla McGuigan (Ballinascreen) is sure to give you a good laugh #CoKerry2021.
Which team is the worst for journeys away?
Simply because of the overpacking, Therese Mellon (Sleacht Néill). She is too stylish for her own good.
Which team mate is the loudest in the changing room?
Karen Kielt (Kilrea) is always sure to be telling a yarn, more recently tales about Bailey, her dog. She ruptured her Achilles’ for the second time and I wish her a speedy recovery.
Which team mate would you want standing over a last-second penalty?
Either Louise Dougan (Sleacht Néill) or Katie McAnenly (née McAuley) because both have shots like bullets. Louise’s stand-out penalty was one where Shannon Graham had been pulled down in the All-Ireland Club final 2018 in Clones and Louise stepped up as cool as you like walking past me in the backline to fire the ball into the net. Katie scored a brilliant penalty in Croke Park in the intermediate final against Galway in 2012 in the 62nd minute, the game finishing a draw.
Which team mate would you never want to see hitting a last-second penalty?
Clare McGrath (Sleacht Néill) because she would be shouting ‘every one calm down’ as she steps up to hit it, making everyone do the opposite.
Which team mate is the most sensible?
Faoiltiarna Burke (Sleacht Néill) – a sensible woman and has the head screwed on.
Who is the smartest of all your team mates?
Áine McGill (Lavey) has many, many letters after her name to prove it.
Who’s the best team mate to celebrate with?
Shanzo (Shannon) Graham knows how to party. Whether it’s camogie gear or dress up, bright lights of the Dugout or Derry city. And to top it off; there’s a celebratory sea swim.
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