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www.ladiesgaelic.ie | WINTER 2021 | 31 INTERVIEW "The media coverage was massive for it. I was overwhelmed by that. It was lovely for the girls on the team, to do it for them. We wouldn't get much publicity, being from Carlow and playing junior and not making the All-Ireland final. "It was great to be on the big stage representing the girls, the management team, everyone from Carlow, my club. It was a proud day for Carlow. Alongside the girls, I couldn't have done it without them." Ní Shé was in Croke Park with her mother Fionnuala that day but of course she would have preferred if her teammates were there too. They narrowly missed out on the TG4 All-Ireland Junior final after a 3-22 to 3-18 extra-time defeat to Antrim. "We have never played in Croke Park. We had never been in an All-Ireland. Hopefully we can use the experience next year and go the next step." Ní Shé is living on campus at Trinity College but she still managed to get home for training for club and county all year long. And it was a fruitful campaign for her club too, winning a county title after victory over their big rivals Old Leighlin in the decider. "It was brilliant to win the county final. We had lost to Old Leighlin for the last three years in a row so it was nice to get the win against them this time," said Ní Shé. "I had to rush off after. I had a shower in the grounds and went straight to the hairdressers and straight up to Dublin then. One of the girls that used to play on our football team is a hairdresser so we had her ready once the match was over. "I was still a bit late for the All-Stars." But it was a magnificent day and evening for Ní Shé, the 22-year-old was announced as the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Player of the Year after a stellar campaign. And although her club lost their Leinster quarter-final against Dublin champions St Sylvester's, her young footballing career continues to go from strength to strength. She will enjoy the rest of 2021 before making plans for another exciting year with Carlow and potentially appearing in Croke Park with her teammates this time around. "I'm looking forward to spending some time at home at Christmas," said Ní Shé. "I haven't been home much. I have been travelling back to Carlow for training but I always have to come straight back up to Dublin so I'm looking forward to the break after exams. We have been going non-stop. "My friend Ruth plays with Carlow and Bennekerry- Tinryland as well and she drives me up and down from Dublin for every training. We were saying we were going since April. Three times a week up and down is a lot so looking forward to a bit of a break and time at home. "I wouldn't be making half the trainings I do without her. I am very very lucky she lives near me in Dublin. It makes it more fun. I don't really see it as a chore. I enjoy it and we have a great time in the car." "WE WERE GETTING BETTER WITH EVERY GAME. WE LOST TO ANTRIM AFTER EXTRA-TIME IN OUR FIRST MATCH. THEN WE LOST TO WICKLOW. WE HAD A GREAT WIN AGAINST LIMERICK AND THEN WE BEAT DERRY BY A POINT." The Bennekerry-Tinryland sharpshooter, who is nicknamed 'Bruno Fernandes' by her brothers because of her tendency to score penalties, brought her personal tally for the season to 9-19 that day. "We had a great year," said Ní Shé. "We were getting better with every game. We lost to Antrim after extra-time in our first match. Then we lost to Wicklow. We had a great win against Limerick and then we beat Derry by a point. "But we lost to Antrim in extra-time again in the All- Ireland semi-final and that was devastating because we were getting better with every game. We were unlucky not to win that game. "In the end, it was lack of experience and quite a young team. We were three points up with about five to six minutes to go in extra-time and didn't manage the game as well as we could have. Above from left: Clíodhna Ní Shé of Carlow during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Junior Championship Semi- Final match between Antrim and Carlow. 2. Clíodhna Ní Shé of Carlow is pictured with The Croke Park/LGFA Player of the Month award for August . 3. Cliodhna Ní Shé of Carlow in action against Duana Coleman of Antrim