‘I’d run out of the way if she hit a ball near me’

Derry’s Mairead McNicholl talks about her team-mates…

Name: Mairead McNicholl.

Age: 28.

Teams played for: Swatragh, Derry, St Patrick’s College, Maghera and Queen’s University, Belfast.

Earliest GAA memory?

Watching the Swatragh Senior Camogie team get to the All-Ireland final in 2000.

Which team-mate has been the most inspirational and why?

Janet McGuckin. She always trained so hard and gave her all, was a brilliant leader and helped younger players settle into our senior team.

Who’s the best team-mate to train with and why?

Aoife Ní Chaiside, her effort and encouragement are first class.

Which team-mate is the worst to train with and why?

Dervla O’Kane, too fast to be marking.

Which team-mate do you want to mark in training and why?

Lauren McKenna, have to say I liked it because we had no choice who we were marking.Which team-mate do you dread marking in training and why?

Cliodhna Turner, she’s such a good tackler and never gives you an inch.

Best score you’ve seen from a team-mate?

Aoife Shaw’s last puck of the game free against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The composure to hit that was unreal.

What win has your team celebrated the most?

We celebrated the All-Ireland this year fairly well, not too many others to mention.

Which team-mate is the best on journeys away?

Dara McGuckin always provides the good snacks.

Which club is the worst for journeys away?

Luckily, we don’t have any long journeys to club matches.

What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard in training or in a match, and who said it?

Niamh Quinn shouting “she can’t miss!” What’s the worst excuse you’ve heard to get out of training?

Someone locked their gear in their car and couldn’t get it out.

Which team-mate is the loudest in the changing room?

Dara McGuckin always has the speaker ready.

Which team-mate would you want standing over a last-second penalty?

My sister Grainne, I’d run out of the way if she hit a ball near me.

Which team-mate would you never want to see hitting a last-second penalty?

Myself, I’d likely slip when I hit it.

Which team-mate is the most sensible?

Dervla O’Kane, always keeps everything in line.

Who is the smartest of all your team mates?

Niamh Quinn, she nearly has two degrees.

Who’s the best team mate to celebrate with?

Shannon O’Doherty, always knows which song to have playing next.