By DARAGH SMALL
Television cameras used to make her anxious but now
Galway defender Mairead Coyne thrives in the spotlight.
When she was just 20, the Leenane youngster was
thrust into the limelight after she was picked to take part in TG4’s Underdogs.
It was a profound experience for Coyne, who’s now
30, and something that she could bank for when she opted to change codes, and
eventually was selected to represent her country on the rugby
field.
But still, nothing would prepare her for a World Cup
on home soil.
Ireland had beaten New Zealand and finished fourth
three years earlier.
However, in 2017 the expectations levels were
unprecedented, and the only way was down.
“What an experience, to put an Irish jersey in front
of your home crowd, family and friends,” said Coyne.
“But we don’t know what went wrong. There were
issues going on behind the scenes, and it was all very draining.
“It was brilliant to be part of it but it took a lot
out of us. The amount of training and being away from home, family and friends.
It took its toll, especially on me, I am a home bird and being away for two
months not seeing anyone, it took a lot out of me.
“There was a lot of pressure for us to do well,
especially after the girls in 2014. There was a lot of expectation but it just
wasn’t our year. We didn’t perform.
“It was exciting but I was so nervous before we
played. We were expected to do really well but things didn’t fall our way.”
Ireland finished eighth and soon Coyne would return
to the Galway ranks to play Ladies football again. But she hasn’t ruled out
reappearing in a Galwegians, Connacht or Irish No 15 jersey in time.
For now, she will make do with any jersey in
the match-day squad (she’s listed as number 23) for Tim Rabbitt’s
forces when they clash with Mayo at MacHale Park in Castlebar on Sunday (4pm).
Coyne has won four TG4 Connacht SFC medals already
and her journey also began in a provincial final against Mayo in 2009, shortly
after her adventure in the Underdogs.
“I didn’t know what to think of it at the start, I
was really nervous. There was no one else from Galway,” said Coyne.
“I was keeping to myself at one point and
trying to stay away from the cameras. I was so anxious, they only got me once
speaking on the camera because every time I saw one I was running away from it.
“I was a really shy person back then. It was tough
having a whole camera crew following you. But it actually helped me a lot with
the Irish camp.
“Usually there are cameras that come with that. But
I was used to it at the stage, because the cameras were following you
everywhere you went with the Underdogs.
“It was daunting at the time but you got used to
it.”
Now 30, Coyne has just come through one of her
toughest years, which included surgery on an ongoing knee cartilage injury.
She works in Elvery’s Sports in Galway City and
lives in Salthill, but relishes the opportunity to take a trip out to Connemara
where the family sheep farm awaits.
“It’s so good to go from being stuck in traffic
every day to being able to go home to this peaceful countryside,” said Coyne.
“You get so much fresh air and you are actually able
to enjoy the landscape, it’s just amazing.
“We gather the sheep with Milo, our dog. We go
halfway up the mountain and the sheepdog does all the work for us.
“But you are walking up hills for hours. It’s a good
old workout, a good cardio session.”
And Coyne will need all of her training and years of
experience on every pitch possible to cope with some of the best forwards in
the game this weekend.
“Mayo have Sarah Rowe back again from Australia. She
had a great season down there and will be flying fit,” said Coyne.
“But they have Niamh and Grace Kelly in the forwards
too. And they are a young team coming up as well. They have a lot of players we
mightn’t even know of because they are just coming into the squad.
“Hopefully we can just get the win.”
**The 2019 TG4 Connacht Ladies SFC Final between
Mayo and Galway is LIVE on the LGFA's Facebook Page on Sunday: https://www.facebook.com/LadiesGaelicFootball/ **
