Five minutes with – Down Camog Sorcha McCartan

Name: Sorcha McCartan

Age: 18

Occupation: Student

Teams played for: Castlewellan Camogie and Football, Down Football and Down Camogie, School Ulster Colleges All-Star football and Camogie teams, school football and Camogie teams

Game you most enjoyed playing in?
Most recently our county minor Camogie All-Ireland shield final was a hard-fought game and it was good to win my first first All Ireland medal

Game you least enjoyed playing in?
First club Camogie senior championship game against Clonduff last year, wasn’t too enjoyable looking at the scoreline after the game

What’s the worst pitch you’ve ever played on?
Ballykinlar, you’d lose an ankle on it

Toughest training session you’ve every been involved in?
Pre-season running training sessions are always equally tough

What’s your preferred brand of gear?
Nike running gear but Adidas boots always

Most inspirational individual you’ve ever met?
Tony Scullion, he came into our changing room before an All-star schools football interprovincial game and gave us an inspiring speech and that drove us on to win that year.

Where do you like to go out to celebrate?
Quinn’s Bar Newcastle always a good place for a post-match rave

What do you like to do when you are not training/playing?
Going for coffee or shopping, just in general spending my dad’s money

Which character in any film/tv show are you most like?
People say Michelle from Derry Girls but I don’t see it.

Which team mates (From any club/county) are the first you’d invite on a night out?
Lisa Morgan to provide the ridiculous jokes, Megan O’Boyle to have someone as just as embarrassing as myself out.

Which team mate is the worst dancer?
Fact: Aimee McAleenan, two left feet love. Wouldn’t admit it though.

Which team mate is the loudest in the changing room?
Deirbhile Savage. You can hear her from a mile away.

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happen in training/during a match?
Running down the hill at the figure of eight in Castlewellan. It was a rainy day and Megan O’Boyle (wearing trainers, smart move), slid from the top to the bottom, first time she’s ever been first in the runs.

What’s the worst excuse you’ve heard to get out of training and who did it come from?
Dearbhla Magee. Training was at 7pm and she had nail appointment at 7:45 and couldn’t get it changed, so she says.

Biggest ego?
Can’t say that now, don’t want to start any rows.

Worst/best person to sit next to on the team bus?
Worst: Catherine McGourty because she loves to sing a song…or 12. Best: Karen McMullan because it is the only time she’s quiet.

Worst/best person to share a room with on away days?
Worst Caitriona Caldwell orders room service for chicken goujons as a pre match meal. Best Caitriona Caldwell because I can eat the chicken goujons.

Who has the best diet, and who has the worst, and what do they consist of?
Worst Dearbhla Magee would eat a big fry before a game and still play unreal.
Best diet: Niamh Mallon, eats salad for breakfast.

Toughest opponent you have played against?
For Camogie, Fionnuala Carr, such an intelligent player. For football: Vikki Wall from Meath.

Best or worst quote you have heard from a team mate/opponent/manager?
If you’re not first, you’re last.

Best manager you have played for?
Martina Rooney, always keeps me right and always lifts the millions of hoodies I leave behind at training.

What frustrates you most about the GAA?
Training hard and not performing to the best of your ability on the biggest days.

What is the best thing about being part of the GAA?
The friends you make and the feeling you get when all the hard training has paid off after winning a game.