Football

Ladies football star Emma Kelly: My Top 20

Emma Kelly (Antrim) moves in to close down Limerick's Loretta Hanley in the Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 4 Final at Clane, Co. Kildare on April 30 2016. Picture by Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
Emma Kelly (Antrim) moves in to close down Limerick's Loretta Hanley in the Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 4 Final at Clane, Co. Kildare on April 30 2016. Picture by Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE Emma Kelly (Antrim) moves in to close down Limerick's Loretta Hanley in the Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 4 Final at Clane, Co. Kildare on April 30 2016. Picture by Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE

Ladies football star Emma Kelly, who has played for Derry, Antrim and Ulster University Jordanstown picks the best she has played along with over the last 20 odd years....

EMMA Kelly’s inter-county career has spanned over two decades and the original Derry girl is still going strong although nowadays she plies her trade in the saffron colour for Antrim.

She kicked a ball for Desertmartin when the game started up in Derry in the early 90s.

She played a while too for Watty Graham’s Glen when Desertmartin folded but with work life in Belfast she made the permanent move to St Paul’s in October 2011 having returned from Australia where she played some AFL.

Incredibly, she hasn’t lost a club league or championship game in all her time with St Paul’s winning eight successive Antrim county titles and still has hopes they can make it nine in 2020 despite the current uncertainty.

The move to St Paul’s was followed by the switch to Antrim, with whom she has played since 2012.

The full-back missed out on All-Ireland glory with Derry in the junior final in 2008 but she does have that elusive winners medal following Antrim’s triumph in the 2012 final.

From her playing days with Derry, Antrim, UUJ, St Paul’s and in Derry, there are few the 34-year-old doesn’t know in ladies footballing circles and similarly, few who don’t know her.

Kelly might not play at the top level in the country but there are players in those lower grades and leagues that are as talented as those who get the chance to play at the top of the game; she recognises that as she picks her top 20.

1. Ciara McCoy (Antrim) – It was a close call between Ciara and Derry legend Breigeen Cassidy but I won the All-Ireland with Ciara and her ability to ping he ball and play outfield swung it in her favour.

2. Aileen Toner (Derry) – Aileen was a key defender with my club Desertmartin and Derry. She was someone I looked up to when I started playing and I picked a lot up from her. A real leader.

3. Gemma Gibney - Lawlor (UUJ) – Gemma was the fullback in the Donaghy Cup winning team in 2007, I was corner back and having her beside you just gave you that extra bit of confidence. Gemma was a giant in there, tall, athletic and with a booming kick. She is now a key Netballer with NI.

4. Catherine Mullan (Antrim) – Catherine is small but tenacious, speedy and leads by example. Antrim has missed her presence the last couple of years due to her commitments as a doctor and niggling injuries. Top player.

5. Sinead McCleary (UUJ) – I was lucky to have played under a lot of inspirational captains whilst at UUJ. Sinead was one of them. Her commitment, drive and attitude to give everything to the cause was top class. She never stopped.

6. Neamh Woods (UUJ) – Another captain who doesn’t need any introduction. Meabh Moriarty, Sinead and Neamh all were captains of UUJ during my time and they all led by example. Fight, attitude, fitness, desire to win and the ability to motivate others all key attributes which they had.

7. Saoirse Tennyson (Antrim) – Saoirse is still a new kid on the county scene to a lot of people but she plays club with me and captained Antrim last year before the dreaded injury ruled her out in August. I have seen this girl improve year upon year and she is a game changer who would make any team. She will be back in September and she will be even better as that’s the type of girl she is.

8. Sarah Donnelly (UUJ) – Sarah was the engine in UUJ she never stopped running and hounding people. She was always an outlet for myself especially for kickouts as for a few years I was UUJ goalkeeper so I loved having Sarah to target.

9. Clara Fitzpatrick (UUJ) – Clara aka ‘Tree’ took over from Sarah in the engine room and also as my target person. Clara’s ability to read the ball was immense and she never seemed to get tired. I managed to rope Clara into playing AFL and I was so happy that she got signed in the AFLW league by St Kilda this year.

10. Kathy Conway (Derry/UUJ) – Kathy was the superstar of Derry football for years. She had speed to burn, was able to shoot, defend; she had it all.

11. Aoife McDonnell (UUJ) – Aoife Mac could try her hand at any sport and be good. She was and still is full of energy and enthusiasm, she could pick a pass and always got a few scores. She kept others calm when the pressure was on, great motivator.

12. Michelle McAteer (Derry) – Michelle aka ‘Casper’ was a player who could turn a game on its head. Her driving runs, high catching, kick passing and long distance scoring was second to none. A star of the game.

13. Gemma Begley (UUJ) – Gemma was part of a marquee forward line which UUJ had during my time. Aileen Pyers, Aisling Moane, Edel Gallagher, Alisha Wilkinson just to name a few were all involved . Gemma’s ability to win her own dirty ball and get scores was class to watch. Not so good having all of them shooting at me in training though but they taught me a lot.

14. Aisling Kealey (Derry) – Kealey was the dream forward, our go to player in Derry for years. She loved a dummy, could take scores off both sides, you hated marking her. She was ahead of the game then with her ability and was capable of pinging over 45s which now would be worth two points in the ladies game.

15. Mairead Cooper (Antrim) – Mairead was a player who when I was playing for Derry we hated seeing on the pitch. Her speed, the wee jerk dummy she does. Her ability to get scores and win frees is unbelievable. Her temperament is something which amazes me; she gets battered on the pitch (in training too, usually by me) but never reacts and just gets on with it. She is a true role model to any young forward coming through.

16. Clare Timoney (UUJ/Antrim) – Tims is a one of a kind player. Vision, finesse, hardworking, the ability to pick a pass or take a score. Her free taking under pressure was always good. Another great leader on the pitch who captained Antrim when we won the All Ireland in 2012 just eight months after I transferred from Derry to Antrim.

17. Sinead Fegan (UUJ) – Shin and her twin Orla weren’t the tallest but by God they didn’t lie down. Sinead’s workrate, tackling and running off the ball was second to none. Always driving the team on, maybe getting a couple of sinbins for too much heart at times but we definitely preferred having her on our team than against us.

18. Laura McGillion (UUJ) – Laura was one of the many tough tackling, fast and relentless defenders on the UUJ team who all loved to roam forward and have a pop at goal. Maria Donnelly, Roisin Raff, Naomi McMullan, Christiane Hunter to name a few but Laura gets the nod simply for her game winning point in the O’Connor Cup semi-final when she left her full back berth and pinged a long distance beauty over the bar.

19. Kirsty McGuinness (Antrim) – Kirsty only played a couple of years in county with me but she too is a clubmate so I get to see her ooze class more than most. When she is in the mood nothing can stop her, speed the ability to win the ball and her goal scoring rate is immense. You can sometimes see her tracking back to help out an odd time too. Her two younger sisters are now piling the pressure on her to perform as some would say they will be or are better than Kirsty. She is a massive loss to Antrim but with soccer commitments she just couldn’t fit everything in.

20. Lara Dahunsi (Antrim) – Lara is a young gun, still only 18 she has shone in Antrim colours. A bit like Kirsty when she is in the mood she can destroy teams by herself. Her scoring ability is just one of her skills, she can field the high ball, tackle and carry the ball at speed. She is definitely someone to watch in the next few years alongside a few other young starlets coming through the Antrim set up. Ciara Brown, Maria Hanna, Orla Corr and Ellen Morgan to name a few.