THE CHALLENGE TO maintain their fitness levels kept Meadhbh Deeney and her Wicklow teammates on their toes during the summer lockdown, but the Thomas Davis attacker is just thankful that she’s still around to line out in her side’s TG4 All-Ireland junior championship semi-final against Antrim tomorrow.
A talented soccer player, Deeney has always challenged her sporting abilities away from ladies football, but an horrific biking accident in May put her all of her 2020 aspirations in doubt.
“I’m just so lucky, I have all my teeth and both my eyes,” said 26-year-old Deeney.
“I was mountain biking up in Kilpedder [in the Wicklow Hills] that day. It was a bad old fall. I was so lucky. I really scratched up my face but I only have two small scars now. I took a chunk out of my knee too, but I’m fully back now, so I can’t really complain.
“I was very lucky. Thankfully I was wearing a helmet, and I probably wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been.
“It is very scary. I had no clue what was going on when it happened, so I think that was probably for the best. I didn’t even see the cut on my knee or anything. I had a concussion and everything, it was a really bad fall.
“It was pretty tight for me coming back. I missed the first round of the club championship because of it. I didn’t have clearance until the week of our first game so I was trying to get back fit.
“That was a setback for me personally. It was a bit of a journey then to get back. Even now getting back on the bike…it’s been tough. I was doing the turbo trainer for ages just trying to work up to it.
“But I knew the feeling after playing with the girls in Division 3. I knew that I wanted to get back to that and to that level fitness. I worked so hard to do that, and I knew every other girl on the team was doing the same thing. I’m just delighted that I could get back in in enough time to be okay for county.”
Following her move to Dublin club Thomas Davis from her native Éire Óg, Deeney has been in excellent form for the Wicklow county team. It must have been a relief for manager Mark Murnaghan to have her back in the fold in time for the championship, and as joint-top scorer with 2-10 after two games, he has a real attacking weapon on his hands.
Deeney won a TG4 All-Ireland hunior title back in 2011 alongside her sister Caoilfhionn, but the county had to plan without her for a five-year block since then. The talented attacker accepted a scholarship to play soccer with Savannah College, Georgia in the US, where she studied Film and Television Production.
Back in Ireland since 2018, the award winning film-maker has returned to the ladies football fold and has even managed to merge her love of film production with that of sport.
“Playing in the US was brilliant. I left home when I was 18 and went over on a soccer scholarship for five years. I was a full-time athlete basically. We trained for at least two hours every day, we were going weights, learning about nutrition and everything. It was a great experience. I had the time of my life really, so far.
“When I came home in 2018 I started back with Wicklow. And that’s when I linked up to work with Fifty-Three Six. We’re a digital marketing agency and produce sports marketing campaigns for our customers. It’s a great job, I love it. It suits me down to the ground too.
“No day is the same, and they are excellent about me playing sports as well. Last weekend we were shooting on the Sunday, but I had training that morning. With it being Championship week they insisted I went training. They fully support me, which is brilliant.”
Tomorrow, Deeney will hope to help Wicklow back into the All-Ireland junior final for the first time since that win in 2011. Since that promotion, Wicklow competed at the intermediate grade until their relegation last summer. For Deeney, memories of scoring a key penalty in their replayed victory over New York at Croke Park are still precious.
A fresh face on the panel back then, she was called into the starting team for the replay – sister Caoilfhionn missed a late free to win the first game – which gave her the chance to shine the second day out.
“I was very lucky because it was my first year with the panel. It was brilliant, playing with my older sister Caoilfhionn as well. It was a massive career highlight.
“I even remember after the final whistle blew in the first game I was just delighted that we had gotten the draw and that we’d get to do it again. I was just chuffed to get another go at it.
“For Caoilfhionn, she is a brilliant player, but that day she was disappointed in her performance. I thought we did alright but we hadn’t really shown what we could do as a team. I was delighted that we’d get another chance to showcase that and that we managed to finish the job on the second day.”
And all focus is now on Antrim as the teams get set for a last-four clash at the home of Donaghmore/Ashbourne in Meath, a game that viewers can watch live on the LGFA Facebook Page. Deeney knows they face a tough challenge, following their recent wins over Carlow and Fermanagh.
“We watched a bit of tape the other day, and that’s all we know about them at the minute. They will be dangerous, even watching the first few minutes against Derry I though they looked very strong.
“I think coming up into Division 3 has helped us massively ahead of the Championship. You are playing big teams and I think we held our own there this year.
“We’ll be up against it, definitely, but we have had a good two weeks since playing Fermanagh. We have worked hard and the competition is there for jerseys. I think everyone is really pushing hard at the minute and we’ll be going into it with one thing in mind. We just want to come out on the good end of it.”
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One of the greatest players ever to come these shores and he was right to do what he did, McCarthy was wrong.
He’s a bum for walking out on his team and country.
He is a legend, up there with McGrath, Brady and Giles. Dragged us almost single handedly to Korea and Japan and ended up playing the villain for demanding (as team captain) a bit of professionalism. Will the Players fly to the Euro’s in Economy class this summer while the FAI suits sit in Business or First Class? Will the training camps be played on Sunday Pub Team standard uneven pitches with dangerous divets? Keane has achieved a lot more than just honours and medals, and that is from a Liverpool fan!
Paul he just said it wasn’t anything to do with the professionalism of the setup. Suppose it depends which of his personalities is talking
He didn’t walk out, he was sent home by McCarthy…
Still a bum.
Then he is a bum who has achieved more than you ever will Ken and if someone accused me of faking injury after dragging their sorry arse to a tournament and a reputation then I’d blow up and leave just the same!!
He has achieved stuff but you don’t know me and what I’ve achieved. So I’d keep that to your self.
No offence Ken but if you’d won a european cup, a world club cup, 7 premier leagues, 4 FA cups, a Scottish league tittle and a Scottish league cup I think I may have possibly heard of you!! As this is a thread about football, your point is?
It is about football but because I’m no celebrity doesn’t mean I haven’t achieved stuff. He won medals? So what. Bottom line in all of this is he walked out. Ireland could’ve done really well that year but his ignorance and ego got in the way. Probably from years of listening to brandy nose alex ferguson.
Yes, I’m sure you have Ken but in context? This is a debate on football which is an arena where if you are successful and have achieved you are known!! He did walk out, but so would I as a proud professional if I was accused of feigning injury! Yes they could have done well with him there, but without him would never have made it, try to remember his performances away in Holland and Portugal in particular,they were right up there with the one away against Juve in the European cup semi for United
Great player but not as good as Mick McCarthy at management.
Ya stuck to your guns but you let your country down, for what?? Great player but too head strong, god knows what would have happened if you had stayed that year
Indeed. They’re far better ways to stick to your guns than walking out on your country in the world cup.
Imagine the Impact his voice could have had for change in the shambolic FAI had he stayed to be captain of an Irish team that got to the semi-final of the world cup. Instead he devided the country and lost a lot of credibility with his team mates by throwing a teenage girl style hissy fit about the pitch etc
Today the FAI are still the comedy outfit they’ve always been and his way of managing teams has proven to be a failure.
Hoho.. Keane advising us to “respect” a manager’s decision. Ah the sweet irony of it. (….and we’re off….!!)
10 years? Nice one for making me feel old
One of the last true footballers, now a days there are too many footballers that consider themselves part of the entertainment industry. Gave up watching football shortly after Roy quit and stitched to Rugby where you can see true passion and a game that weeds out cheats.
Like Leo Cullen on Sunday? Oh no wait… Boring game!!
Do you mean rugby is a boring game in general or Sundays game was boring ?
Whichever, Keane wouldn’t have lasted a season playing rugby with his thuggery, foul play, sledging and backchat to referees.
Dublin naas, u really are an idiot.. Do you have any idea what you are talking about?? Empty vessels spring to mind!!
They’ve censored part of my ‘empty vessels’ rant which was directed at Dublin Naas… Suffice to say I’d happily put money on the fact he’s never played either sport and thinks by jumping on the anti football bandwagon makes him sound intelligent and hard… Your comments say otherwise but then I’ve read quite a few of them and they all say the same thing about you Dublin naas.. I bet you are neither of the above, intelligent or hard that is!! Go back to you PS2!!
Joey,
-don’t bet, just keep your money in your pocket or you will lose it.
-I think football is a great game, its RK I have the issue with.
-I am very intelligent if you use the standard measures
-A hard man ?? Thats for others to decide.
Stick to the argument Joey, and to use a football analogy, play the ball not the player.
@DubinNass I mean rugby in general, it has promise when they start running and chucking the ball about but they spend far too long pilling up on top of each other on it, no wonder the ball got warped into an egg ;).
And as for rugby being cleaner than clean that argument always got on my tits, it’s posh boys judging the proles from their castles of sand! Cullen on Sunday got away with alot more than Keane was sent off for against Shearer all those years back, remember players such as Danny Grewcock and Dylan Hartley who are basically just animals and that’s not to mention the noteriety of the rugby boys on tour!
Ten years later, who gives a shit what Roy thinks. He failed as a manager. Enough said
Sorry, don’t really give a shit what you think…
Irregardless of his managerial career his status as the most successful Irish player of all time allows his opinion on football to be deserve much more attention than anything you will ever say!
And he’s from Cork!
He’still an opinionated clown, who let his country down thinking he was more important than the team
But if he was from dublin……….
He’d still be an opinionated clown who let his country down thinking he was more importand than the team
A bit like you and most of your posts it seems.
When I read a whole article one the rte sites devoted to how good the facilities are for une Irish team now, including hotel, training ground, extra activities I could not help but think that such good treatment of the players, not to mention reporting about it is a direct result of keane standing up to the FAI. Some of his mouthing off annoys me as much as anyone but you cant take that away from him.
We needed more people at the top in this country to say enough is enough like Roy did instead of just sticking our heads in the sand, because the people who cause and create the system of corruption, cronyism and some truly shameful essential services to our citizens in this country deserve our disdain a hell of a lot more than a young Cork man who has always been honest both on and off the pitch.
Aw ya didnt just drag politics into it too…
Brian! That’s the first sensible statement I’ve read on this Roy Keane issue! He had the guts to stand up for what the other players in that squad were complaining about. and not one of them was prepared to stand by him when he needed them. It’s at this time Ireland, more than ever could do with a few more Roy Keane’s!
Brilliantly put Brian. Only one who had balls, something we are devoid of in this country. Shame he was from cork is the only thing. A legend tho, and dead right
I’d say it’s because he was from Cork that he had the balls to do it!
Great player, crap manager, wooden football pundit. Abandoned his country in Saipan. Arrogant and devoid of conscience.
Roy has high standards. The FAI didn’t meet his standards…. (no surprise). What’s the problem? As far as I’m concerned he’s the best ever player to don the Irish shirt. Pity the fools in the FAI.
Great player. But let us all down.
A gentleman and a scholar ..
What was wrong with economy class anyway? I use it all the time. Nothing a twenty minute jog and some stretches wouldn’t sort. These guys are supposed to be in peak physical condition.
Unless of course you happen to have a big ego!
It wasn’t the team being in economy per say that he was annoyed with, it was that they were there, whilst Delany and his mates were up front sipping the champers, and they had to play in the match.
Slow news day….move on from Saipan
Lot of people talking about Keane abandoning his country or walking away. Whether you like him or not, the facts are straight forward: he was sent home. I don’t know why this has gotten lost over the years. The argument over whether he’s a hero or not should at least be informed by the facts.
Sent home after throwing a tantrum. If you remember, there was an olive branch extended.
fact he walked out came back then was sent home HE DID WALK OUT
McCarthy accused Keane of faking an injury infront of the whole squad at the team meeting, would you blame Keane of throwing a fit, what good is an olive branch then?? Keane has done wonders for Irish sport, his self belief has rubbed off on countless Irish athletes, not to just accept second best and mediocrity, plus he got the players bumped up business class on all flights
Keane has always had too much to say for himself. He was a good footballer but was never great because his mouth and his temper always got the better of him.
George Best was the best player to come from this island of ours. Keane isn’t even fit to shine his boots.
What would no
Empty vessels
Rot in hell keane we could of won that world cup if u hadn’t deserted us or at least made it to the final
Rot in hell, what planet are you on
Some people!! Who got us to that world cup single handedly? Where we over achieved in a band of brothers kind of way. We had no more chance of winning it than you do of making an intelligent comment.
the word egomaniac was invented for roy k yesterdays man fu%& off.as for his pundit skills alan partridge.
Not sure about the rest of the country, but he let me down big time.
Ditto
To this day I don’t think people fully appreciate just how good a player Roy Keane was for Ireland. If you look back and examine it, he was the man who dragged us to WC2002 by the scruff of the neck. We had a joke perpetration, poor facilities and no footballs (!!) so he spoke out against the FAI. For me, instead of having a team meeting in front of all staff and players to single out your best player in front of the lads, McCarthy should’ve had the sense to deal with him 1 v 1. McCarthy was no fool so I suspect that was somewhat calculated on his part. Nobody benefitted when Keane left, but I doubt we’ll ever see preparation for a major tournament by the FAI that bad again so I suppose at least that came out of it all. Can’t believe it’s 10 years!!! The debate goes on….. :-)
Jack charlton ,,,,, Leim Brady jack never played him over something the same ,,,we are never talking about that one …. Roy was a great player ,,,but had to much to say it’s just a pitty he will always be remembered for this
An olive branch was extended to roy though. Even after he disrupted the camp. Shows some resolve on mccarthys part.
Na na nananananaaaaaaaaaaa Keano!
I heard on local radio this morning poor old triggs passed away
‘one of the last true footballers’..he admitted to trying to break a fellow professionals leg!
star newspaper today roys words I DID WALK OUT