Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1192470
30 | WINTER 2019 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie By Jackie Cahill L OOKING back on a glory-laden career, Christina Heffernan pinpoints a couple of key memories that stand out. On Saturday, November 16, Mayo legend Christina was officially inducted into the Ladies Gaelic Football Association's Hall of Fame at the TG4 All Star banquet, in association with Lidl, and her storied roll of honour makes her a worthy recipient of this prestigious award. Having lost a series of All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-finals in heart-breaking fashion, Mayo finally got over the line in 1999 to contest their very first Senior decider. Not content with that, Mayo would now embark on a spell that would see them contest five successive Finals, with four victories achieved (1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003). Mayo had won an All-Ireland B title in 1993, when Christina's inter-county career was in its infancy, but this was the big one. Christina, a seven-time All Star recipient, recalls: "We lost seven All- Ireland semi-finals in a row and then, just to get over the line…We knew were up against Waterford (in 1999), they were the team of the 1990s to beat. Just to win the first one…it was unbelievable. When we won it, the support from the county that came out to meet us, you couldn't possibly forget." Christina realised that she was fortunate, as so many brilliant Mayo players had gone before but unfortunately never got to sample that winning feeling on All-Ireland Final day. It would happen for Christina and Mayo three more times, and she was captain in 2002, another "very special occasion." Christina, a majestic midfield player in her pomp, recalls: "We were playing Monaghan and I was up against one of my best friends." Christina, who was named on the TG4 Team of the Decade in 2010, had attended college in IT Sligo with Monaghan star Jenny Greenan, and the pair lived together. While Christina was naturally thrilled to captain Mayo to another All-Ireland title, her heart went out to Jenny. "Just to win the first one…it was unbelievable. When we won it, the support from the county that came out to meet us, you couldn't possibly forget". 'I thought the days of winning awards were gone'