Five Minutes With…Down’s Aoife Keown

Name: Aoife Keown.

Age: 24.

Occupation: Physiotherapist.

Teams played for: Castlewellan, Down ladies, Down camogs.

Game you most enjoyed playing in?

Camogie Senior Ulster semi-final last year against Derry – the team played well all over that day.

Game you least enjoyed playing in?

Last year’s football championship against Sligo, one to forget.

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

Tipperary Camogie have their own grounds, which is great, but I can’t say I’m a fan of the pitch.

Toughest training session you’ve ever been involved in?

Hard to say one. Any session taken by Marty Mallon and Philly tend to be the toughest – no stop watches in Portaferry you see.

What’s your preferred brand of gear?

Under Armour.

Most inspirational individual you’ve ever met?

Simone Biles – don’t chat to me if you don’t know her.

Where do you like to go to celebrate?

Mullholland’s, best bar in the town (Castlewellan) – Marie and James look after us.

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

Coffee dates, walking my dog Lia, going to the gym – not very exciting this past few months.

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

This is a hard one, would love to say Christina Yang from Grey’s – purely for her sarcasm but can’t say I have the brains for her character.

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

Lisa Morgan for the jokes, Lauren Cunnigham to laugh at and Clara Mulvenna to help with my dancing.

Which team mate is the worst dancer?

I’m going to go ahead and give this award to Meghan ‘The Duh’ Doherty, stiff as a board god love her.

Which team mate is the loudest in the changing room?

Sorcha McCartan and her portable speaker usually.

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

Lauren Cunningham arrived to a game with Curlers in, I wish that was a joke but there are photos to prove it.

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

I’ve heard many, but Dearbhla Magee ta3kes the biscuit. She has missed graining to get acryllics done before championship weekend.

Biggest ego?

My good friend Jess Foy deserves this one. She usually says her back is broke after games from carrying us.

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

Best – Cara Cunningham, no better woman to get you in the right mood.

Worst – Emily Martin, takes up too much room with that suitcase she carts about.

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

Worst person would have to be Adair Trainor, wouldn’t get much sleep with the snoring

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

Best – Aisling Cull, or as we know her.. Daniel Davey’s Apprentice.

Worst – Mary ‘Cream Crackers’ Adegbamiye.

Toughest opponent you have played against?

My club mate Caitriona Caldwell. I’m just glad when we play games that she’s on my team

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

Can’t give away too much but Caoibhe and Peter always have good sayings that help before going out to play.

Best manager you have played for?

Jimmy Kennedy, a Wexford man who found himself in Castlewellan. We were that bad he moved back to Buffer’s Alley.

What frustrates you most about the GAA?

Lack of consideration for dual players from the LGFA and the Camogie Association.

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

Caroline and Sharon’s Curry Sundays.