ERIN MCLAUGHLIN LAUGHS before the question is fully out.
The Ireland and Peamount United striker knows exactly what’s coming.
“So McLaughlin’s my surname,” she explains, “but in Donegal, there’s a lot of McLaughlins, Dohertys… we’re not actually all related.”
“Well, we probably are,” she jokes.
“But each family tends to have a family nickname. Mine is Fildara. It’s just very, very popular at home. People at home wouldn’t really call me McLaughlin at all. There’s so many of us so that’s just what we’re known as, Fildara. I’ve never had a problem with it my whole life until I came down here. It does get a bit confusing, but I think now people have kind of clicked on to the bit… but I’m more known as McLaughlin. I don’t mind that.”
The 42 admits that there was confusion in these quarters some years ago; uncertainty whether Erin McLaughlin and Erin Fildara was the same person or if there were two different footballers.
We weren’t alone, it seems.
“When I signed for Peamount at the start, someone did an interview, someone from the league, and they were talking about the new signings at Peamount. It was like, ‘Erin McLaughlin and Erin Fildara.’ I was just like, ‘I’m the one person!’
“It can be quite confusing, but it’s funny because people in Donegal just understand it.
“Normal to us… I suppose we’re just different!”
Suffice to say McLaughlin has made a name for herself in Irish women’s football, with 2023 a real breakthrough season.
The 20-year-old attacker’s second campaign at Peamount has concluded with a first league title, an Ireland senior debut and a sum of three international caps, including one start.
She’s in the running for both the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Player of the Year — which will be announced tonight — and the PFAI Player of the Year, and is tipped for inclusion in the Ireland squad named by interim manager Eileen Gleeson later this morning.
“It’s been an unbelievable year, both personally and with this team,” McLaughlin reflects at Peas’ Greenogue base. “I think my main goal this year was to win the league and then anything that came with that was going to be a bonus.
“I was training with the home-based [Ireland] squad every week leading up to the preparation of the World Cup. I was working hard to get into the World Cup [training] squad, I never felt the shout would come but whenever I did get it, I was just over the moon. To be a part of that squad in the preparation was just… it was an unreal experience for me and something that I can carry on now with my career.
“Obviously not getting picked for the World Cup was a disappointment but the experience for me was just unreal. Then obviously a change manager, different outlooks on things, I was hoping for an opportunity to come in. Didn’t know when it was going to come, then it came in the perfect week.
“We won the league and then I got the news that I was in the squad [for last month's Uefa Nations League double-header against Albania], so I don’t think anything could have topped that. Going into the squad again, just trying my hardest, trying to get a look in, proving what I can do… thankfully I got minutes in the first game, which was brilliant and then starting the second game, I don’t think you can really explain that to be honest. It obviously wasn’t the most ideal game to start in, but it was a start and that’s all that matters!”
McLaughlin can likely still feel the rain on her skin two weeks after that bizarre, thunderstorm-impacted 1-0 win in Shkodër.
A few days previous, she impressed off the bench at Tallaght Stadium.
She wore the number nine on both occasions, a serious mark of her potential.
“Unreal,” she beams. “I didn’t know until I went into the dressing room.
“When I was underage I was always number nine, but obviously you don’t expect to get number nine on a senior panel, especially not that quick. It was a really proud moment for my family as well, seeing me wearing the number nine.
“I feel like this is definitely a new opening, a new beginning. I’m getting my foot in the door probably further than I ever have before. It’s just about pushing on from here, keep showing what I can do.”
“We had nearly a 10-week break during the World Cup,” McLaughlin adds on the reset after her summer disappointment. “For that time, I just switched off. I went home to Donegal to spend time my family which I don’t get much time to do because I’m always down here playing football. Switched off for a couple of weeks, more mentally than physically, to be honest. Playing football week in, week out, it can have a complete mental toll on you.
“When the season came back then, I was well ready. I was able to use the experience that I had in preparation for the World Cup and bring it back into my second half the season. I wanted to do more stuff with my season, more goals etc. I scored a couple in the second half which I was happy about.”
Off the pitch, McLaughlin is currently in third year of primary school teaching at Maynooth University.
She has just finished her first day of placement as we chat, having belatedly started due to international duty, and she’s happy out with how things are going.
She’ll see out her degree before considering a move overseas, but that’s imminent for a player of her calibre. That said, she’s all in with her beloved Peamount for now.
“Obviously my first dream was to go pro and it still is, so hopefully that will stick to plan,” McLaughlin concludes, “but at least I always have something to fall back on if I need it.
“All I ever wanted to do outside of football is teaching so I just thought I’d go for it.
“It’s always good to have something education-wise.”
A wise head on young shoulders, a big future ahead after an impressive 2023.
You had no available strikers and you didn’t go with a False 9? Your status as football hipster is now revoked. Please hand back your copy of “Inverting the Pyramid”.
Into my 3rd season with Southampton…..
2 7th places finishes a cup final and I. Europe…….
Not too bad
Get in Daniel Carr from Huddersfield – Frightening quality and cheap
You’d want to get a wriggle on if you’re going to win the Champions League before Dec 1. If it’s taken this long to get to February in the game you’re either going to have to go all out (take a week off work/family) or concede defeat.
Why don’t we all help Paul with any tips on good affordable signings that he could make to improve his chances. It’s often a case of stumbling across cheap quality signings and sharing the find with friends.
Played 01/02 religously! (Anyone remember Javier Saviola??), i actually cannot play a version from 09 on, seasons take too long and everything became far too complicated. Im playing 08 the last few years, seems to be the last uncomplicated version. Maybe i just cant except change?? Lol.
Saviola was a goal machine!!
How long does a season take in the games these days? I’m a recovering cm01/02 player (kinda like being an alcoholic, although I may not have played today, I know just one match and I’m back to where I started) – was gona buy this but someone said the seasons take ages these days.
Mid-table mediocrity in the Argentine second division is where it’s at.
Try winning it with Limerick FC – took me ten in game years to win! Once you get qualified for the CL you get some good money to invest in players!
Loved the game years ago but had to stop due to losing too many weekends !
Illegally downloading it as we speak, i know miles jacobson wont be happy but i invested all my gaming money on Gta V. Might take on the brighton challenge too, sorry miles i bought every version up until now ;)
Its not illegal at all. The game is so old eidos released it for free. Go to champman0102.co.UK and you can download the game and update the database to the the 2013 season. Has to be the most addictive game ever created
What about Cork?
Da people’s republic is only available as an international side in the newer versions – wouldn’t be able to compete for the champo league with them.
I once won the champions league with dubnica nad chain who were in the Slovak 2nd division when I started with them :)
*dubnica nad vahom…curse you autocorrect!
Curse you indeed!
Nerds
Quaaaaaaaaare
…..says the “Back to The Future Trilogy” fan!!
cm 01/02 won’t work on windows 7 :-(
I tried to play the newer versions but it’s just not the same. Definitely stuck in my ways..
It’s a free download from a message board site, Google champman01/02. there is a way of installing on 7 and it’s on the website. Looks daunting at first but easy to do
It will work on windows 7 fine. After install right click the exe file and in properties change to compatibility mode as windows 98 and set as always run as administrator and it will work perfectly
How does one download it illegally?… Don’t worry I pay all my taxes
When is FM2014 out on android????…just checked play store…no sign of it?
Well at least you’re using FMC so the seasons shouldn’t take too long to do!
I started league 2 with bury won 3 consecutive promotions in the premier league now mid table.