The sporting life of Ballymackey's Clodagh Daly

Republic of Ireland Under 16 soccer player Clodagh Daly, from Ballymackey, captained the national side in a game against Wales earlier this year. The Nenagh Guardian fired 20 questions at the 15-year-old Shamrock Rovers player, who reveals her future ambitions in the sport, and oh, how she is definitely not a fan of Shepherds Pie!

1 What’s the highlight of your sporting career?

Winning the Bob Docherty Cup in Newcastle in April with the U15 Irish Team, beating England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

2 Your favourite position to play on the field?

Probably midfield because you get to score and make a bigger impact on the game, but I usually play as a defender.

3 How many days a week do you train?

I train two to three times during the week and then I have matches every Saturday. Sometimes I have training days with the U16 Irish squad on Sundays depending on the week.

4 Does training with Ireland necessitate a lot of travel?

Well, there is roughly two training days during the month in Dublin and then training camps every couple of months and they can be anywhere. In August we went to Carlow, in September we went to Wales and in November we were in Dublin playing Switzerland. Pity we didn’t get to go to Switzerland.

5 Do you play any other sports?

I play a lot of Gaelic Football in the summer with the Silvermines. We got to the All Ireland U15 Féile this year and Kilmacud 7s. I also used to play Camogie with Toomevara.

6 Do you think girls teams are treated differently than boys teams?

I think that’s a difficult question to answer. I’ve played with both and I think that there wasn’t much of a difference in the way we were treated. I think playing with the lads improved my game a lot though, because they are obviously stronger and faster.

7 What's your favourite TV programme?

Friends

8 Your favourite food?

Difficult one - probably stir-fried rice or a spicy chicken curry

9 The yuckiest food you ever tasted?

Shepherds Pie

10 Who are the people you most admire in sport?

Katie McCabe (Irish Captain) and Cristiano Ronaldo are my two favourite soccer players.

11 What's your favourite song?

I don’t have one favourite song - it depends on what mood I am in.

12 What is the thing that most annoys you?

My brothers Paddy and Dan.

13 Where do you go to school and what year are you in?

I’m in Third Year in St Mary’s in Nenagh.

14 Do you know want you want to do when you leave school?

I think the dream is to be able to play soccer professionally, but I would also like to go to college. I’m not sure yet what I want to study.

15 Best Christmas you ever had?

A couple of years ago we went to Wales for Christmas to see our cousins over there. I think that was the best Christmas because it was exciting going on the ferry and it was different than our normal Christmases.

16 Your favourite Christmas present ever?

My piano that I got two years ago.

17 The best holiday you ever had?

Probably going to Canada last year or going to the Women’s World Cup in France in 2019.

18 Has your local soccer club played a big role in your success so far?

Yes, a massive role. Ballymackey helped me fall in love with football and without Ballymackey and all the encouragement from the coaches there, I wouldn’t have reached any high level. The club is still very supportive of me even though I now play with Shamrock Rovers.

19 What’s the next big test ahead in your international soccer career?

I think the biggest test is really to just stay competing at a high level. And continuously getting the call up to the Irish camps.

20 What would be a dream come true for you in your sporting career ahead?

Ah sure, I suppose it is making the Irish senior team. That is the aim.