Northern Ireland

Belfast schoolgirl (8) plays at Windsor Park and Croke Park within days

Ciara Daly pictured at Croke Park (right) and (front row, second from left) with her Rosario Football Club team at Windsor Park
Ciara Daly pictured at Croke Park (right) and (front row, second from left) with her Rosario Football Club team at Windsor Park Ciara Daly pictured at Croke Park (right) and (front row, second from left) with her Rosario Football Club team at Windsor Park

SOME footballers dream of running onto the pitch at Windsor Park, while others aspire to line out at Croke Park - but for one south Belfast schoolgirl, she achieved both within days.

It's no mean feat, but for eight-year-old Cara Daly, she can boost of playing at both major stadiums in Belfast and Dublin just four days apart.

The talented sports star's love of football and Gaelic games means she splits her time between the two disciplines.

But in an unusual chain of events, the young girl played an IFA U10 girls' football blitz at Windsor Park last Thursday then on Monday found herself in at the home of Gaelic games in Dublin where she competed in a GAA tournament at Croke Park.

In between, she was also a part of a winning camogie squad at a blitz in west Belfast.

Cara Daly pictured playing for Bredagh GAA U10 ladies football squad at Croke Park on Monday
Cara Daly pictured playing for Bredagh GAA U10 ladies football squad at Croke Park on Monday Cara Daly pictured playing for Bredagh GAA U10 ladies football squad at Croke Park on Monday

Very few players can boast of playing football and GAA at both famous venues, with former Republic internationals Niall Quinn and Martin O'Neill among the most notable stars who have excelled in both sports.

Her father Hugh told The Irish News of his delight at his daughter's double stadium accolade, which he said was "something not many people can say they have achieved in their lifetime".

A pupil at Scoil an Droichid, just off the Ormeau Road, Cara is heavily involved in Rosario Football Club, where she plays in the U10 girls soccer team.

She also dedicates much of her time to playing Gaelic football and camogie with Bredagh GAA.

"It has been a wonderful few days for her," said Mr Daly.

"She was at Windsor Park on Thursday for an IFA girl's football event with Rosario.

Cara (front row, second from left) with her Rosario Football Club team at Windsor Park
Cara (front row, second from left) with her Rosario Football Club team at Windsor Park Cara (front row, second from left) with her Rosario Football Club team at Windsor Park

"Girls' football is exploding in Belfast, especially over the last 12 months, so to see her out there on Windsor Park and being a part of that was fantastic.

"There were 150 kids who took part in a blitz and Cara really loved it.

"On Sunday, she was part of the Bredagh camogs who won a blitz at Sarsfields in west Belfast.

"Then on Monday, around 45 of us left Belfast about 6.30am and headed down to Dublin where Cara competed in the All Ireland U10 ladies blitz at Croke Park.

"It involved 64 teams from across Ireland, there were two from every county, so Bredagh and Carryduff GAC were there to represent Down.

"And again she loved every minute.

"Imagine as a eight-year-old walking out onto the pitch of an 82,000 seater stadium and because of the enormity and sheer size of it, they did just stand there open-mouthed for five minutes before it was on with the football."

Mr Daly, who is originally from Crossmaglen and coaches the U10 squad for Bredagh, said for Cara "it is just playing sport".

"As a coach, I feel it's not all about the soccer or the football, I want all of them to come off the pitch laughing," he said.

"Cara also has a different group of friends in each sport and it's the sport that's the common denominator.

"These girls have no idea that they are different to anyone else or are playing at a different place to others.

"The big thing for Cara is just playing sport, she does karate and swimming too, but to play at both stadiums is something not many people can say they have achieved in their lifetime, it's just amazing."