Steelstown star is on the rise

ORLA McGeogh had an exciting season in 2020 despite the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Steelstown footballer joined the club senior team, and also got to play one county senior match for Derry against Antrim.

McGeough is not only a footballer. She plays Camogie for Na Magha and netball for Northern Ireland u-17s. Last year she played in the European Championships in March before the lockdown.

“That was an amazing opportunity,” she said.

It was her football that brought her to the attention of Gaelic Life as she has impressed with her performances, and was recognised in the Gaelic Life All-Star awards.

It is all remarkable for a girl who is still a minor, but she has taken it in her stride.

She’s more excited about the new season and the potential that exists in Steelstown.

“The Steelstown club is really strong at the moment. We have a good mix of experienced players and younger players. Hopefully the future for Steelstown is bright and we can put in good performances and show what we can do because of all the work we are putting in behind the scenes.”

Last year was McGeough’s first year as a senior player.

“From my year there were a couple that made it up onto the squad, but I was very lucky to make it onto the team so early in my first year.

“Maybe I had been playing minor matches well and they had been watching.

“I am not sure how they picked me. Attending training and putting the hard work in shows them what you are capable of.

“I learned from the more experienced players, and took more confidence in myself. It is a step up from minor level, to step into the senior team. Everyone is so welcoming.”

She noticed some important differences between minor and senior.

“The physicality is different. When you are playing against older and more experienced players you have to be more clued in. You have to be aware that your team-mates are there to support you so that you don’t feel isolated when you step out onto the pitch.”

She said the experience of moving into the senior team was positive.

“They were all so lovely and welcoming. I suppose they were glad to see newer players on the team.

“They were advising me from the very start. They were really supportive, and gave me help in matches and training.”

However, the frustration for Steelstown was that they didn’t get to complete their campaign.

They were due to play in the Ulster Club series but their games were postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Last year we didn’t get to finish the Ulster Championship. We were going so well with training and matches. Hopefully we can build on that and put in some good performances.”

McGeough thinks that the GAA is on the rise in the Maiden city.

“I really do think it is growing in the city. It would be known as a soccer city but the GAA is growing.

“I moved into the club from Faughanvale because they didn’t have a girls team. From when I was 14 they were very welcoming. There are more people, and though it is a club, people are from a lot of different places. It does feel like a family when you step into the team.”