Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1466433
www.ladiesgaelic.ie | SPRING 2022 | 35 INTERVIEW "We didn't know Ollie until he came to our club, I didn't know him before that but I knew of him from going around to the schools. A lot of the younger girls on our team, would be like, oh that's Ollie from primary school, he did football with them," said Tully. "I really got to know him since he was in our club. Dad was selector with him here. I would never have had any interaction with him before that but over the last few years we have bonded well." And after a few failed attempts, her friends eventually succeeded in getting Tully to try out for the Underdogs, although Lennon was influential there too. "Ollie pushed me towards it. He was like: do it, do it, do it," said Tully. "My sister would have played county for the last few years. She stopped two years ago maybe. She would have been very good now. She would have been always starting and stuff like that. "So she was in with Roscommon and the reason I didn't go in was because I never really got asked in. It was like, I just left it and stopped thinking I was good enough for it. "And last year when the Underdogs thing came around the girls were like: why don't you go for that? I was like 'ah'. Then Ollie pushed me towards it. So I was like, fine, so I did it. "It was a really good experience. You get to meet a lot of people from around Ireland. The different type of footballers there are and all of the people's stories as to why they weren't playing. "It was nice to go away on weekends away, so it was like camp. It was really good as well playing games against club teams and other county teams, we played Foxrock up in Dublin, it was a good experience. "And the management; Mickey Ned O'Sullivan, Michelle Ryan and Kevin Cassidy, they're lovely. It was a really good experience and it's a stepping stone going into the county team." Tully eventually got her chance with Roscommon and hasn't looked back since, she ended up scoring a crucial point in the narrow 0-9 to 1-5 victory over Wexford in the final. However, she has had to put one of her biggest loves on hold while she continues to grow into her new footballing career, and that is her fantastic handball exploits. "To be honest, the handball has taken a step back this year, I still do the competitions but the football would have been the main one this year," said Tully. "But for handball, it's more myself. With football, you are training with a team whereas with handball, you are training by yourself. I would organise my own games and going to gym and stuff by myself. "I had actually been to America in February and I am just back from America for another competition. There is one competition but it is bang smack in the middle of championship, so I don't know if I will go. "Handball would probably be number one but I kind of said I would give football a go this year so I am just putting everything into football." On top of everything, Tully is studying a Master's in Education, after which she will begin secondary school teaching with Geography and Irish. But in the meantime, there could be an opportunity to secure more silverware later in the summer, and Roscommon may not be far away from their own appearance in Croke Park on a TG4 All-Ireland final day. "AND L AST YEAR WHEN THE UNDERDOGS THING CAME AROUND THE GIRLS WERE LIKE WHY DON'T YOU GO FOR THAT? I WAS LIKE AH. THEN OLLIE PUSHED ME TOWARDS IT. SO I WAS LIKE, FINE, SO I DID IT ."