Five minutes with Armagh’s Sinead Finnegan

Name: | Sinead Finnegan |
Age: | 28
Occupation: | Teacher

Teams played for:

Carrickcruppen and Armagh

If you were throwing a party and you could invite anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would you ask around?

David Beckham! That’s all I’d need!

If I had to invite any others I’d take Kevin Bridges for the night’s entertainment and Declan Nearney for a singsong, I was a huge Declan fan growing up, even have a signed CD!

Where do you like to go out to celebrate after a big victory?

The Crossroads- Marian McGuinness’ mother and father move out for the night and the team generally moves in. Although after the last party I don’t think we’re allowed back.

If you weren’t playing GAA what would you be at?

Looking for a job in Formula One! They get the nice cars, nice holidays and good money!

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

Pearse Ogs’ back pitch – it was fun last winter just trying to stay on your feet after heavy rain.

Which character in any film are you most like?

Dory – sometimes you just have to keep swimming.

Any odd items in your kit bag?

Feet/hand warmers – I am always cold!

A couple of Caoimhe Murray’s inhalers, we’ve a tendency to lose our inhalers so we’ll take whichever one is thrown at us.

What’s your preferred brand of gear?

I only wear Adidas boots. Wore Pumas for one match and did my cruciate so stick to what I know.

Who’s the biggest joker in the teams you play for?

For ‘Cruppen we’ve a double act of Aoife McCullough (queen of Kavos) and Shannon Sexton (Dj sexo beat) – no dj should ever leave their laptop if Shannon is around. Aoife went to Kavos and came home with #utc tattooed on her – because Caroline O’Hanlon told her it would be cool. We’re just glad she made it home.

On the county, Aimee and Blaithin Mackin are jokers when they’re together, car journeys to training were always good craic, especially trying to explain to them the difference between cows and bulls!

Which team mate has the best looking other half?

There are plenty of FHABs (Fiancés, Husbands and Boyfriends – they came up with this name themselves) around Cruppen! I’d have to pick Shannon Sexton’s man but they’re so madly in love I wouldn’t get a look in.

Who is the worst trainer?

Caroline O’Hanlon doesn’t do warm ups, she doesn’t believe in them, that’s the real reason she’s always late.

Who spends most time in front of the mirror in the dressing room?

Christ I know there’s always a queue – there’s never enough mirrors in a changing room! I’d say Katie Daly, no matter what beauty product you need, she has it. And eyes have to be on point!

Who’s the best/worst person to share a room with on away trips?

Best – Catherine and Niamh Marley – Catherine makes a great cup of tea and Niamh provides nice treats.

Worst – Sarah and Caoimhe Marley – they could spend the whole night talking tactics.

Who’s the best/worst person to sit beside on the team bus?

For Armagh I sat beside Tenny for most of the trips. Katie Daly always saved my seat. The Armagh girls are very specific about the seats they sit in. Lauren McConville is excellent for on-bus entertainment!

Who has the best and who has the worst diet on the team, and what does it include?

Natasha Lennon is fond of a Friar Tucks…she can eat more that you’d think!

Rebecca O’Reilly is the opposite, her diet consists of coffee, and more coffee. And anything else that contains caffeine

Best diet: would have to be Sharon Reel. Her snap chats make me jealous and she makes healthy eating look easy!

Toughest opponent you have faced?

County: Josephine Fitzpatrick from Monaghan.

Club: my first game back after cruciate and I was only home from holidays a few hours I was told to pick up Therese McNally at centre forward. I spent the night running after her. I never went on holiday mid season again.

Best or worst quote you’ve heard, either from a manager, player, opponent?

Mickey Heaney was a man of many sayings:

If you tango up, tango on

Grace Ferris – (Cruppen player and ultimate beauty of the world winner) – just be yourself, because everyone else is taken

Best manager you’ve ever played under?

Mickey Heaney and Barry Flynn. Both great coaches who would do anything for any of their players! Great men!

Best ever performance?

Club: Championship final against Harps last year.

I should maybe get hit on the head in more games.

County: NFL against Cork this year.

One to forget?

Championship against Monaghan two years ago, I wasn’t on long enough to remember anything from it.

When you were playing in the back garden, who did you pretend to be?

My primary school teacher Christopher McCann started my football career in full back so I tried to be like my dad or Seamus Moynihan.

If there was a transfer market who’d be in and who’d be out of the team?

I’d bring in Cora Staunton just because she’s an unbelievable player.

Numbers are low enough at ladies football level that I’ll hold onto everyone we’ve got.

A parish team is the way around that!