‘It’s an absolutely amazing feeling’ — Feely

Aisling Feely and Niamh Feeney had more than one reason to celebrate last weekend. But the birthday girls put their partying on hold to make sure that Roscommon finally returned to Croke Park for an All-Ireland ladies’ final.

For Feely, injuries have thwarted her undoubted potential. But she was superb on Sunday, ending up as the game’s top scorer with a necklace of delightful points. Needless to say, all the sacrifices the Boyle player made to return to intercounty football have been worth it.

“This is what it’s all about,” she smiled.

“I was slaving away, rehabbing a knee injury two years ago. Your goal is to get back training and to get back playing. Now we’re going to Croke Park. It’s an absolutely amazing feeling.

“It’s everyone’s dream to play in Croke Park. Sometimes, that dream can feel a little far-fetched when you’re not getting the performances or the results, given the training you’re putting in.

“This year, especially during the championship, we’ve just put the head down and kept going. We absolutely deserve to be there.

“Sometimes, we know that we have the talent in Roscommon. The girls are amazing but in the past, maybe, we haven’t converted that potential into performances. But this year’s we’ve just taken the championship by the scruff of the neck and said to ourselves, ‘why can’t we get there’?,” she revealed.

Roscommon have revelled in the underdog role, which has been firmly stuck to them since the 22-point defeat against Leitrim in the Connacht final. It’s a role, Feely admitted, that has suited the team.

“We were written off in the group against Cavan and Down. We were written off against Leitrim and, again today, everyone expected Westmeath to win. The underdog narrative can be kind of exhausted, but it resonates with our team.

“Every single girl on that team gave their all, as they have done throughout the championship. Getting to Croke Park and playing in an All-Ireland final is nothing short of what this group deserves. I’m just so proud of them all.

“None of this team have ever played a game in Croke Park. At an individual level, it’s your dream. But it’s nice for Helena Cummins, Laura Fleming and Niamh Feeney — these girls have given a number of years to Roscommon. They’re just stalwarts of Roscommon LGFA. Sometimes, you never get the chance to play in Croke Park. I’m just so glad these girls will because they deserve it.

“Niamh (Feeney) trained me at U-14 a number of years ago. The fact that she can go from being one of your heroes, to being a team-mate, to becoming one of your friends — that’s just a full circle moment. That encapsulates how much of a unit we are. We do everything for each other.

“It’s just amazing that the U-16 and minors are in their finals. Roscommon LGFA is in a really healthy place at the moment.” For Feely, it was all about staying in the fight, and, despite a patchy first-half display, the Boyle forward felt that Roscommon were in a healthy position at the break.

“We knew that we were in a good spot if we were there or thereabouts (at half time). As it was, we were two points down and we were disappointed with how we played. But it was still a good place to be. We knew that there was more in us.

“We started the second half slowly, but we just kept plugging away. To be fair, Anna Jones kicked a monster two-point free. But for us to go down and reply with 1-1 was brilliant.

“We know that we have impact subs. It’s a small enough panel but you wouldn’t doubt any girl on it. Lauren (Shanagher) came on and kicked 1-1 and I’d never doubt her,” she remarked.

And with an All-Ireland final just around the corner, Feely availed of the opportunity to issue a rallying cry to supporters with Primrose and Blue blood running through their veins.

“The ladies’ finals are great days out. I’ve been up to a few of them in Croke Park, and they’re wonderful occasion. But we need every single Roscommon man, woman and child up there.

“We can’t do it without them. The feeling after Leitrim, going around hugging random people with Roscommon jerseys, that’s surreal.

“The crowd was massive for us today. I’d be saying to clubs — get your underage players on a bus and get them up to Dublin that day. If I had the chance to see the flagship Roscommon ladies’ team play in Croke Park, I’d be on that bus.

“I’d be pushing for clubs to get their young girls on buses. We need everyone and it’s how you can inspire a team,” she concluded.