Talented County Roscommon sportstar making a name for herself

A Taughmaconnell girl is making a name for herself on the soccer and Gaelic football fields.

Maryam McCabe, aged 12, is a talented sportstar who has excelled in soccer, ladies’ football and camogie.

She has been selected for the FAI Midlands Girls U-13 Centre of Excellence soccer programme. This year, she has also been part of the Roscommon U-13 ladies’ football panel. Throw in playing camogie with Pádraig Pearses and soccer with Skyvalley Rovers and Maryam’s schedule is bursting at the seams.

Her father Derek McCabe, who is a second cousin of Repubic of Ireland soccer star, Katie McCabe, spoke to the Roscommon Herald as he was preparing to take his daughter to train with the Ireland U-13s at Willow Park.

Derek states that even though his daughter, who is the oldest of six children, is a high achiever, particularly when she crosses the white line, enjoying her sport is pivotal.

“We are a sports family. All our children except for our youngest Méabh, who will only be one next month, are involved in sport. We make sure they love it first and foremost. That is the most important thing. Where Maryam is now is because of herself and the work she puts in.

“I’m coaching in soccer and GAA. I have all my PDPs (Player Development Programmes) done. That is the coach pathway for the FAI, so I want to be involved as much as I can. The next step for me would be to get my D licence and move up as far as I can go. It is a hobby.

“Maryam is with the Roscommon U-13 development football squad headed by Declan Walsh (chairperson of Roscommon LGFA) and I am involved with that too. It is great to be involved and, hopefully, help her on her journey,” he stated.

On the soccer pitch, Maryam can line out as a right winger, right back or centre back. According to her father, she is someone who her sisters Batouly, Aaliyah and Méabh, alongside her brothers Noah and Tadhg, can look up to.

Maryam and Derek hold season tickets for the Ireland women’s soccer team. They are looking forward to travelling down to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to watch Eileen Gleeson’s side face France in their Euro 2025 qualifier next month.

Derek states that his daughter’s interest in watching teams and individuals play helps improve her understanding of the game.

“Another thing that helps keep her involved in soccer is us going to the international matches at home. England and Sweden weren’t good results, but she saw Lauren James’ performance. She was all over the pitch in the first half.

“She is defending, in midfield and then joining in the attacks. She is a right midfielder, but Maryam is learning from what she is seeing, the Irish squad she is with, what the club is saying to her and what I am saying. She is seeing it herself in action, so understanding how these professionals play is huge. She learns a lot,” he noted.

With the Castlesampson NS student highly regarded as a promising sportstar, how does Maryam continue to pursue her on field passion?

“We want her to enjoy her sport. She will have some good days and bad days in terms of play, but she is a great role model for her brothers and sisters, so we want her to keep leading by example in and out of sport. Hopefully she can go as far as she can with her soccer and the Gaelic will look after itself. It is just about keeping it going,” concluded Derek.