Jane Adams | Veronica Curtin | Claire Doherty | Mags D'Arcy
Aisling Diamond | Shónagh Enright | Jessica Gill | Fiona Hahnefeld | Mary Lacey Ciara Lucey | Therese Maher | Mairin McAleenan | Eimear McDonnell
Sinéad Millea | Niamh Mulcahy | Eileen O'Brien | Mary O'Connor
Una O'Donaghue | Una O'Dwyer | Imelda Kennedy | Catherine O'Loughlin
Jen O'Leary | Joanne Ryan | Marie Dargan | Sinéad Cahalan
Tina Hannon | Trish Jackman
Seventeen-year-old camogie star Niamh Mulcahy comes from one of Limerick's best-known hurling families. Her granduncle was the famous Mick Mackey, her grandfather was John Mackey, her father Ger lined out for Limerick and her mother Vera also wore the green and white with pride. The Limerick camogie team scaled new heights this year, winning the Division 1B final with victory over Cork. They then added the All-Ireland Senior B Championship after a replay win over Cork and Niamh was named Player of the Match. Indeed, it was a late free from Niamh in the first match against the Rebelettes that drew the match and gave them another shot at the title. At just 17, Niamh also finds time to play for the Ireland Women's U-19 soccer team! A proud Ahane woman, Niamh's sisters Ruth and Claire also play camogie.
Limerick had an amazing year, doing the Division 1B League and the Senior B Championship double. What was your highlight?
Winning the Championship was the tops. It was a long time coming and I was delighted for the more experienced players like Rose Collins, Vera Sheehan and Eileen O'Brien. They have been around a long time and they were finally rewarded with a Senior title. It also made the younger players realise that you might not get to many All-Irelands and to cherish it.
Who was the toughest team you came up against?
Every team is tough but Cork were difficult to beat this year.
Who was the toughest player you faced?
Every player has a different style and approach so you just have to concentrate on your own game and the person you are marking.
What player do you admire?
Vera Sheehan. I always admired her attitude towards the game when I was underage, so to be playing on the same team is something I'm very proud of.
What is it like being managed by Limerick legend Ciaran Carey?
It has been a great experience to have a top-quality hurler like Ciaran around. He brought a new freshness this year and had the respect of everyone from day one.
You play soccer at a very high level. How do you balance school, soccer and camogie?
I try to just focus on one thing at a time. If it's school, you focus on that and your homework; if it's camogie or soccer you have to be ready to train or to play. I am lucky in that my teachers and my managers all work together.
What are your hopes for next year?
We want to compete with the best teams. We are Senior A team now and we've come a long way. We have had very good underage sides and we were used to being beaten but now we are putting it up to the best teams and that's an inspiration for the future.
What is the most important skill?
All skills are important but you must improve your weak side and focus on your fitness.
Even though you are only 17, what advice would you give young players?
Enjoy it, play as if it's your last game, train hard and try to learn something from every match.
Name: Niamh Mulcahy
Age: 17
Team: Limerick
Position: Forward
Club: Ahane
Honours:
1 All-Ireland Senior B title,
1 National League Div 1B title,
1 Munster Intermediate title,
1 Munster Gael Linn Junior title,
1 All-Ireland Féile U-14 title.
Fav food: Beef Stirfry
Fav book: Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Fav band: U2
Fav film: Bridget Jones films
Fav TV: Prison Break
Culfact:
Niamh's mother Vera was on the only ever Limerick Senior team to reach Croke Park on All-Ireland final day in 1980, when Cork beat them after a replay © December 2007
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