Episode 10: Aisling Brennan

In this week's episode of the Pod I'm joined by current Offaly player Aisling Brennan in the second of our player profile epsiodes. Aisling talks bravely about when she suffered a cardiac arrest last December and how it was like in the aftermath, and then her return to playing with Offlay. We also talk about how she became involved in the sport as a youngster, and playing alongside both her sisters and also against one of her sisters in an inter-couty game. Aisling also discusses what it was like to be part of the St Cillian's team that won the club's first ever county championship in 2024, and what how the year has been going so far for Offaly in 2026. And she also gives us the best five players she has played aganst and with throughout her career.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hi, and you're very welcome back to the newest episode of the Talk and Camogey podcast. And today's episode is another profile episode. And we're joined now by a current Offline Claire Ashley Brennan. Ashley, you're very welcome to the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:14

Thanks very much, Joe.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

So look, I suppose we start off to here back go back to last December, I suppose. And I thought not maybe some people would have heard what happened here, but not everyone would would have heard what haven't you? Well it was back, I think it was the 29th of December, you were ready to go off like climbing the mountains or something, and you suffered a cardiac arrest, like so look obviously wasn't a great supposed for you. Like you could just talk about it maybe for a minute, like and what it was like, like maybe what you remember, if you remember anything, what it was like when you came to then.

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Yeah, I suppose the the last kind of memory I have is as I said, it's it's a couple of days before nearly. All I know is that I I basically had planned to go and do a hike, the the devil's bit down in Tipperary, and we planned to go that morning at about 11 o'clock. So like that I don't remember, but by all accounts I was I was fine. You know, I was up and I was about to go out and have a coffee or something like that, and yeah, just all of a sudden I I just collapsed. You know, I was at my it's my now boyfriend's house, and I suppose he was able to recognise straight away that that I it was very serious. I obviously wasn't breathing and he had to start CPR. I suppose I was lucky that his his sister and his mother were were at home at the time as well. So they were able to do kind of two-person CPR. They they called an ability straight away. I suppose again, just lucky with the circumstances, it was around Christmas. All my family were at home, they were off work, so they were able to, they were there within five or ten minutes of it happening. And I suppose had the presence of mind to call into the local pitch. No GA, they had a defibrillator there. So they they actually brought that with them on the way up. And it was it was my family that actually administered the first shock using the the defibrillar before the paramedics even got there. So yeah, basically, a couple of ambulances came came down to to Balangari, and I actually ended up being airlifted then to Limerick. So I think I was I was in Limerick then within 15 minutes, and I was in ICU then in a coma for for about three days. I woke up just in time for for New Year's. So woke up New Year's Eve after three days, and luckily, yeah, I was I was okay, thank God.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

Yeah, uh like I remember you saying before you when you're on News Talk, you said you were no, you showed no signs or anything, and you were fit and healthy and everything. And so like it must have been kind of completely shocked to you then, you know, when you kind of came to when you found out that you had went through it, like yeah, like I I had actually I was meant to be running a marathon in Rome just March gone.

SPEAKER_01 2:55

So I was training for that. I was I was doing a lot of running, a lot of long distance running. I was just back in with Offley, so we were doing pre-season since kind of the the start of December. So was working away at that. We had a gym program we were doing, and we were back doing a bit of training as well. I'd only trained maybe the weekend before. So, like I've said it before, but like I would have felt for especially around Christmas time, you're probably a lot of people wouldn't be at their most fit, but like I was in, you know, in in good shape coming into that that time. And like that when when I initially woke up and they they told me that I'd had a cardiac arrest, like I didn't believe them. It took a it took me a couple of days, I think, for it to actually sink in. It was just, I think I was in absolute disbelief and shock, obviously. You know, I just I obviously felt fine the couple of days leading up to it. And and that that morning as well, I suppose I didn't have any any signs that I was unwell or that this was going to happen. So it just came as a complete shock, I think, to me, and obviously to to my family and friends around me. You know, it's not often that you know you hear of a 27-year-old having a cardiac arrest. So yeah, I think it was just the the shock of it for me. It was it was unbelievable. Like I definitely I think it it didn't really sink in really until a couple of months later, you know, when you're thinking back on it. But yeah, just complete shock.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

Yeah, and look, I was can only imagine like what I was like, but when you did like kind of when it kind of dawned on you, like what were your first thoughts then, like in terms of I suppose look, you're probably relieved as well, like and you know, you're probably feeling lucky like as well that you got through it, like because like the luck as well there when it happened that it happened in the house rather than if you had already maybe been up the mountains, like could have been a completely different story. So, you know, that's so you're obviously going to be mightily relieved, like, and that's going to be the first thought supposed in your head that you're lucky, it's supposed to be still be around, maybe and all that, and that you can still see your family, like in that, you know, they're yeah, I think like I've talked about it a lot, obviously, uh with f friends and family, and I think it's just when it's your time, it's your time, and that wasn't my time.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

Everything kind of just happened in my favour. The fact that I was with people, the fact that they they called for help so quickly, the fact that they thought to get a defibrillator, you know, it was the response of the people around me or the reason that I'm here. I've no doubt about that. I suppose just the circumstances, as you said, I could have been off halfway up a mountain. And I probably probably wouldn't be here talking to you today. But um, yeah, it was just the way it happened, and obviously, look, the way that the people around me reacted as well, because that's obviously huge, is you know, not to panic and they done everything right. And you know, they're they're the reason that I was able to to to come through it, I think, and and they're supposed to be as as okay as I am. Yeah, I was just really, really lucky with with how it happened and the timing of it all, I suppose.

SPEAKER_00 5:47

And did it all what caused it or anything, or they figured it out yet? Because I know at one stage, when you were on New Talk before, did they hadn't figured it out that stage and they're still like investigating it and all that? Had they figured it out yet?

SPEAKER_01 5:59

Yeah, so I I was in with my cardiologist, it would have been about maybe a month or two, it would have been maybe February, March time. I have a cardiologist in Limerick, and basically he said to me they they have no idea why this happened, that there's there's no kind of underlying heart condition, no defect that they could see at that point. They even said when I came into hospital and they're obviously still doing tests when I was in a coma, like my heart function was actually really good. My all my ECGs were normal. Like since then, I've I've had a cardiac MRI. So I had that done up in in the matter in Dublin. And like that, they're still doing tests, I suppose, to try and see if there is anything, but they just they still don't know to this day why it happened like that. I just had, I suppose, an abnormal heart rhythm that caused an cardiac arrest, but they don't know why it happened. I suppose that's the reason that I was in when I was in Limerick in hospital in January, they decided to to put in the ICD, so it's an internal cardiooverte defibrillator. They they made that decision. I suppose some of it was based on the fact that they didn't know why my heart effectively stopped. So this is, I suppose, a measure that that they put in place so that if if this was to happen again, that you know, you I would get a shock from the defibrillator internally to kind of restart my heart if needed. So that was kind of the the reasoning behind that was that there was there was no reason. I suppose you hear stories about this happening, especially with young people, and they might have something undiagnosed, you know, like a birth defect that they they never knew about, but that doesn't seem to be the case for me. They they just don't know why why it happened.

SPEAKER_00 7:38

Yeah, and look, it said you just spoke about and I suppose like people and the importance of people knowing CPR, like you know, and PED, like it's it, you know, having them in in the it look area and like and it is like a few years ago, I suppose they wouldn't have many of them around. Like I suppose it you see stuff like that, like obviously goes back to Dylan Kirk there, Tipperary Hurler, when he died on the field to play, like you know, so there was obviously none around it. That's it, but like it's just it is important to have it because, like, as you said, look, it can happen to anyone, like I suppose, like you know, as I said, when the scene happened to you there, so like it it is important that for a many people, I suppose, to know CPR and uh be able to use it like in that, like if you could train in it and all that, you know, it's very important.

SPEAKER_01 8:19

Yeah, like it was it was brilliant, like within my own club. So my my club be St. Killian's were Carrigan Riverstown, just here on the border between Offley and Tip, and our club secretary, Sarah King, like she actually organised CPR course within our own club, and there was you know, there was good numbers turned out to to do that and to train up in in CPR. So she actually organised that in in kind of early February, kind of around that time, just within the local community. And like that, it's just supposed to raise awareness of the importance of it. Like it is a life-saving skill. I think it's something that maybe you you might take for granted. And especially when you're younger, for young people to know, like how often are we hearing now of the likes of you know, young people having these sudden cardiac arrests, like it happened, a young girl running the the corks half marathon last year. You know, she she she had a cardiac arrest at the the finish line. I think she's only 24. So it you know, it it doesn't just happen to, you know, older people, it can happen to anyone. It doesn't discriminate and and you just never know when you might need something like that and need to implement it. So I think it is really, really important. Like, you know, in Ireland here, you're you're never that far from a GA pitch, like like if there's AEDs in every GA pitch, you're never that far away from one. And like every GA club could organize to have, you know, CPR courses. And there is interest, I think, in in completing them as well. So I think it is important that that it it is, you know, that there's awareness raised. I think what the Dylan Quark Foundation are doing is brilliant, like you know, the the testing that they're doing for for underage, it's like I I remember reading about it, I think it was a Mayo ladies footballer, and like she she found out she had some sort of a defect from the screening that they done through the Dylan Quark Foundation, and she had surgery on her heart and she's back playing, so like they're they're doing brilliant work, and you know it's a great charity and they're raising great awareness as well.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

And look, as I said, with you folks, when you came through your first thought and that first file, I thought it would have been, will it be all right and all that? But you also think of your career like in the commode, and would you be ever I suppose would you be able to play sport again or hoge again? What was do you think of there? Like what how was that going through your mind and all that? And how soon? What was the good can you think about that? Like, would you be able to how did that feel like? Uh what were you thinking if you weren't able to play it? How were you feeling? How would that have affected you? Do you think?

SPEAKER_01 10:47

Or yeah, I suppose look the first couple of days, it was just I think I was more so in shock and a bit of denial about it all. And I think once I got over that, you know, like it was long days spent, like my family and friends were great to come in and visit me, but yeah, spend a lot of time there on your own. I have a lot of time to think, and uh to me there was never any doubt I was I was gonna go back and play as soon as I could. You know, like Komogi is is my life, really. Anyone that knows me kind of knows that. And to be honest, there wasn't really a doubt for me, you know. Obviously, with advice from the doctors and everything like that, but you know, I was always determined that that I would get back playing in some capacity anyway. Obviously, county level, maybe I I didn't think that I'd be able to go back, but in my mind, there there was never a doubt that I was going to go back playing and and try to get back to doing what I was doing before. And I think I've just been very, very lucky I've been able to do that. I think my family were were a massive kind of inspiration in that sense that you know they always instilled in me that you know I I'd be able to to go back and play, and they always kind of supported me through that when they could have maybe, which maybe they were right, to to tell me to slow down and to take it easy, but they always they always kind of supported me in in going back to play, and they never they kind of took any doubts away that I would be able to get back on the pitch and get back hurling.

SPEAKER_00 12:11

And then like when you did go back, like you went back training, I think January were off and you you made an appearance. I think the last 15 minutes was it the Wexford game in the league. When you first came back like to training, maybe in that how what was it like? You know, were you cautious, maybe, or was it just full steam ahead, maybe because straight back in it and or were you like maybe just a little bit cautious, like going back into it, or was it just so steady buildup and then get into it, or it was just as I said, full steam ahead, straight back in?

SPEAKER_01 12:39

I think I initially I tried to be cautious. I went back for for a training session midweek, and obviously I was just there with the hurl and doing you know, pucking around. And look, I was I was feeling grand. Like once the the scar healed from the surgery, really, I I I fell back to to how I was before. So yeah, look, I I I found it difficult to to stand there and watch when I was feeling okay. So I just joined in gradually and done a bit of running and you know, done a bit of training, a bit of non-contact, then got back into contact. And look, like that, Barney and Jeff Maher, like they were brilliant to me. They never in any way pushed me or, you know, they they were near trying to pull me out of drills half the time. They were absolutely brilliant in supporting me to come back. There's not a lot of management teams, I think, that would uh take the chance of bringing me back and what would I really have to offer after everything that happened. But you know, they they were brilliant to me and they kind of naturally integrated me back into the setup. And yeah, I I had no expectation really of playing in the league, to be honest. I was just happy to to train and to be involved and still be in around the panel. But yeah, I suppose when once league came up, I was after training, I trained for a couple of weeks and yeah, got on for about 10-15 minutes against Wexford. I said I watched more of the match now on on the field than I did off it. I didn't do a whole lot, but yeah, I was just delighted, like delighted to be able to run back on the field and to be back back as part of the team and the panel. Like it was it was brilliant. It was more than what I could have expected, really, like that. You know, a month before I was lying in a hospital bed and I didn't know if I'd be able to go to work or go back to to kind of my normal routine and normal life. So to say, you know, six weeks later I was I was able to go out and pick up in a sleek. I was delighted. And yeah, it was it was full see my head really from then. Like, you know, I was nearly begging them to let me go in full contact train and I had their heads wrecked, I'd say, but you know, I was I was feeling okay, and I just look, I just wanted to to push on and and try and offer something to the to the the panel as well. So yeah, I was delighted to to get back into training.

SPEAKER_00 14:47

Yeah, and look, in fairness, like it's some remarkable like that you were back so soon. Like, I don't know if look, half many people would do that. So I think that's credit to yourself, really, as well, like knowing maybe your strength and your character, you know. So look, fair play at you, like you know, because I'm sure it wasn't easy, like you know. I would like I don't know if it was me, I definitely won't be saying about that quick. I've already just given up probably altogether, but like you know, as I said, look, fair play, and it's a remarkable achievement, like you know. Well, look, anyway, so look, we move on now, anyway, a bit more to maybe talk about your career. Like when you were grown up, you said it already, it was cloggy is your life. So you're grown up, like, was it you how young were you when you started playing with Cloggy like as a youngster? And who would have been your biggest influences like when you were younger and uh grown up and who would you have looked up to like?

SPEAKER_01 15:34

I suppose my earliest memories of of hurling were you know, I think uh mum and dad tell a story that I think my older sister Rachel, she she was four or five, and she was going down to Carrick Hall to to play under sixes. And you know, I think it was on Friday nights maybe they were going down and just you know doing ground hurling down in the in the hall. But I think I used to cry every Friday. I think I was three, maybe I was nearly four, and I used to cry every Friday when she was going off because I didn't get to go. So I think they they finally relented and and let me go down with her. So that that's my earliest memory is being down in Carrick Hall and playing ground hurling down in the hall with the girls under sixes. I suppose look, my family were massive influence on me. Like I'm lucky enough to say I hurl with both my sisters, both brilliant comoge players, they they'd be a huge influence on me. Like, you know, getting to go down and and play with your sisters is is special. And you know, I'm you know, obviously it's it's brilliant to be able to say that you're you know you're you're winning and losing with your family. But yeah, they they probably were my biggest influence. My parents, my mom and dad were involved in nearly every team since I was under 10, under 12, all the way up until senior level. So you know, they they were involved in nearly every underage team down in down in Carrick. They would have been part of the management, which was you know, it came with the positives and the negatives, I suppose. But yeah, they were always they were always there over the three of us as well. So it was just bred into us, really. Like we're we're a hurling household. Hurlin always came first, like from when we were babies, I think we were only a couple of months old, and mum and dad were bringing us around the country to every tip match if the it was league championship we we were at. So I think it's just it's what we grew up with is Harlin was just instilled into us. We just absolutely loved it. You know, would have played with with the boys as well, and you know, that was brilliant. Like that. I played with my older sister Rachel. We would have played with the the lads up until under 12. And yeah, that that'd be kind of my earliest memories is is going down and training with the lads and and training with the girls and down in Clarig. But yeah, look, it was it was great.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

And as you said, you played for St. Killian, I suppose. And look, the club I think formed in 2006, so like you were you weren't even born, I suppose, then when the club had formed. So it's like, but like you've been playing for themselves for years now, and obviously you won the county championship there a couple of years ago, and up that first won it. So if you just what was that like, you know, when it winning the county championship with the club? And like obviously, sisters on the team as well, like it must have been a great feeling, like you know, at the end of the pitch when the final whistle went with your sisters, like you know, on the celebrations and that just and being part of the club when they win the first ever county championship, like yeah, like it's it's mad.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

I don't think the camoe club was it was only set up when we went in under under tens. So the camoe club was only set up. That's why we actually all the girls were hurling with the lads because there wasn't a camoe team. So yeah, like it was it was special to to be part of the the first adult team to win a senior county title. Like that, that's history made within our club. Like that, we only have the the one the one senior county final, and look, it was unbelievable. It was back in in 2024, and like that, yeah, to to win it with with both my sisters and look the rest of the girls as well. Like we're all hurling together since we're literally seven or eight years old. Like Kira, my younger sister, actually came out on the field after she she broke her collarbone in the last five minutes of the county final. She tried to play on, they had to drag her off the field. I think most people would be gone, but they I think they had to force her to go off the field. But yeah, to look around and and see the two of them, yeah, it was an unbelievable. It was one of the best days of my life, definitely. When in which your club is just it's indescribable, really. It's it's the best feeling in the world. And like that, to to do it with with people that you've you've grown up with, you've gone to school with, you know, they're they're your neighbours and your friends. It was an unbelievable day, day for the club. We we got a picture after the match, and you know, it's it's probably my favorite picture that we have. We we took a team photo, and then I think half the parish got into the photo, and it was anyone that that had been involved in the setting up of our club that trained us underage, that was in any way involved with the club since it it kind of was set up. So it's a it's a brilliant picture to have. And look, the the memories that we have from that day, and maybe maybe the couple of weeks after as well. We've done a fair bit of celebrating. Yeah, look, they're they're unbelievable, and it's something that I'll I'll never forget, you know. But yeah, like that to to to win it for the first time, it was special. But look, I suppose we're pushing on. We we we're we're mad to to win more. So look, we'll be hopefully we'll get there the next couple of years as well.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

Uh and look, suppose the year before that in 2023, you were beaten in the final, it weren't you by board. So that must have played like a big part in you coming back down in 2024 and pushing on to get over the line this time. Like, must the hurt from that must have really pushed you all to get the job done in 2024. So, like, what was it like then after the 23 final losing there? Like, must have been like massive disappointment for you all.

SPEAKER_01 20:37

Yeah, yeah. I suppose we we had been kind of uh getting to the the kind of county semi-final stages nearly every year since we we'd been up senior, like we won the junior county final, and then we were nearly in consecutive senior semi-finals, could never really make that next step to get to the final. I think we got to maybe one or two finals before that we were beaten by Sean. Again, we would have been very young. We would have our oldest player was maybe 19. So back in 2023, got to the final obviously against Burr. Yeah, look, massively disappointing. We didn't perform, we weren't happy, obviously, with with how the game went. Burr just blew us away, to be honest. I suppose I'd toured my ACL, so I wasn't much of a help to the girls in full forward. But yeah, I suppose I just focused on personally focused on, you know, I got the surgery then in November, kind of nearly two weeks after the county final, and then focused on recovery kind of from a personal level as well to get back for 2024. So I think that made it extra special on a personal level was to come back from my ACL and then to win the county final in the one year was brilliant. But I think I think 2023 just refocused our minds. We had the same management. My my dad actually came in then for 2024. And yeah, I just think we'd a great year, like definitely a turning point for us. We got a practice match against Klan Lara, who had been in the the senior All Ireland club final the year before. I think that maybe we drew where they bet us by a point. And it was a a huge turning point for us in the year, just instilling that bit of belief. I think it was always something for some reason we we lacked. Maybe it was because we we had so much success underage and we that just never translated to senior level for us. We we would have won a fair few county f finals underage, but just senior level we just weren't getting the the same success. Like you know, we were playing against uh I suppose teams with a lot more experience and maybe a bit more belief than than we had. So yeah, no, it was it was brilliant. You know, the the management team stayed on for 2024 and we went back at it again. And I think there was just no doubt in our our minds in 2024 that we were going to win that final one way or another, and thank God we did.

SPEAKER_00 22:42

So that's the other and like obviously we played for Offly as well. You enter W was it I think it was 2019, I think, against Dublin, and you would have played off the underage, and I think you were part of the off the under 16 team that won the 16b All Ireland back in whenever well I can't remember here now, but like off look, obviously haven't had much success at Camogey. So to be part of like success like an underage, it was part of history, I suppose, like get off the camoe like, and so that must have been a big achievement. I think was Kira on the team with you at that time as well, or she played underage with you for offre anyway as well, didn't she?

SPEAKER_01 23:15

She did, yeah. So the the All Ireland under 16 that that I would have won that with my older sister, Rachel. I was lucky enough I I played my bow with them at different stages, but we we would have won a minor Lenster A as well. I would have won that with with Kira, and there was five or six other girls from our club involved in that. So like that, I think that was only Offley's second ever. I could be wrong in saying that. I think the last time it might have been Alain Darmodee when she was minor. That that was the I think there was only ever two Lenster A titles, and yeah, we we would have won one of them. But other than that, like you said, we we didn't have a whole lot of success, I suppose. But I suppose it's credit to the the girls that they they stay going, and you know, it's a big commitment, obviously. Playing playing county, it's huge commitment, and you do have to make sacrifices, I suppose. But yeah, we wouldn't have had too much success under age, or I suppose when when we did go senior, look, we were we were competing, but we just never really got over the line. We we would have played a couple of Lencer finals. I remember one in in bar, we we were playing Kilkenny, and we actually lost that only by a point. Um, so look, we were we were always competitive, but just we we just never took that kind of final step of getting a bit of silverware. But look, I suppose I still it was hugely enjoyable. Like anytime you're you're playing the game you love against the best players and with the best players, you look, you you can't really complain, and it's only gonna improve you as an individual going back to your to your club. You're you know, you're you're bringing that that bit extra, maybe to to your club, and you're able to drive on harder for them. So it's benefiting you either way. I suppose we were just we were unlucky at times that we we didn't kind of push that bit more and and get a bit more silverware, but look, you still enjoy it and the the memories you make, and you know, like that, there's there's games that you play that you you won't forget. So it's still great to be involved and to be able to play.

SPEAKER_00 25:05

Look, obviously, you mentioned it there about your ACL. And look, I suppose you missed the last couple of years, but Awfully, like, and you missed 2025, you know, for the one-day league and the All-Ireland intermediate. But you must have been delighted for the team going winning it like that, and just for the team, like I know you missed it, but it must have been great for you to see Afflee winning that. Like, and obviously now you're back up senior this year and you're part of the panel again this year, and it's been so look, it's the league you set up in the vision 1B. So that was probably a big plus for you as well. And in the championship going out the first day, and look, you bet Wexford, which maybe not a lot of people are expecting, but like that was a huge win for you, you know. I know you've two defeats since then, but like it's you've been going well, like you're competitive against Imright, and then look at Kirkinny there on Saturday for that the game now on Saturday. And I thought you'd done well for last part, just Kirkinney got goals at key times, like you know, and that was the difference really in the end. But you how how do you how are you feeling the year is going so far for you? Like, and what was the aim for you as a team coming into the year? Like, was it just stay up maybe in the league and be competitive in the championship?

SPEAKER_01 26:07

Yeah, look, I think you know, like the the girls obviously they had an unbelievable win last year in the intermediate, but look, like I think that that them girls that they should be playing at a senior level. I think the that there's talent within the county to to to play and compete at senior level. I suppose we were underwhelming in the league. We would have been disappointed with with a lot of our performances, and I think that was something that we were focusing on in the league was just to get performances and the results would follow after that. Um look, we we were disappointed, I think, with with kind of a lot of the games in the league. But again, it's it's some girls had never played senior county Herlem before, and and that's uh there's a lot of young girls involved, but it, you know, that maybe there wasn't that experience there yet of playing at senior level. It's still a huge step up from intermediate, no matter what. And and like I said, there's a lot of girls that haven't maybe played at that level before. So yeah, look, we we would have been disappointed enough with the league, but I suppose job done in terms of staying up in in 1B and look for the championship. As you said, we were probably completely written off against Wexford and and managed to kind of get the win against them, you know. Again, with Limerick beaten by, I think it was four or five points in the end, disappointed with the performance. We we just didn't bring the kind of work rate and the effort levels that that we had against Wexford, we just weren't able to bring them against Limerick. And I think that's ultimately what bet us in the end like that with Kilkenny. Look, they're they're an incredible side. We knew you know it was it was always going to be a you know huge contest for us. But yeah, goals win matches, they got five goals, you know. We probably we we let them in too easy and just weren't able to convert at the at the other side. But look, we're we're just kind of taking the learnings. You you learn more in defeat than you do from from your wins, and we're just taking the learnings each week and and taking that to the next match. Like we're looking forward to to Dublin Claire. We have them both at home in the next two weeks. So we'll just we'll look at them matches and see if we can get a result from from them. Like, I suppose, in terms of the the championship, like our group, it's you know, the the results are are mixed, you know, you can't really predict any match. Like, I think Dublin went out and and they bet Wexer could, you know, quite convincently. So I don't think you know you would have said that looking at their performance in the Leinster Championship, winning the Leinster final, that Dublin would would go out and beat them. So I I think it is wide open. I think on any given day, uh, you know, there's there's there's no teams in the group that are million miles away from from each other. So it is it's really competitive. And look, we'll we'll look at Dublin now as is our next opposition, we'll look at them and try and try and take a win from that if we can. Like I said, it's it's down in bar, so it is its home advantage for us. And look, hopefully we can we can get a performance together like we did against Wexford, and you never know what will happen on the day then.

SPEAKER_00 29:00

And look, you said it there a minute ago, like there is a big gap between like intermediate and senior, like so. And I suppose the player the new players that are playing senior for the first time, they're just learning that now and what it takes, you know, to step up and maybe physicality and all that. And look, it's gonna take maybe a year or two for them maybe to adjust to it and guess all. So it's important then that you do stay senior, you know, this year and don't end up getting relegated, like just stay up there and get another year and the more year of experience then of playing the top teams, like you know, which would be key. Like, because the more you play the top teams, then the better you're gonna get, and the more improved you're gonna get so for the future that is all, like you know, because there is, as you said, there's a lot of good good young talent there in offering as well. So, like, you know, it's not if they can just, as I said, stay senior, which is supposed to key now for you at the moment.

SPEAKER_01 29:44

Yeah, like that. I think the Jack and Barney have have integrated a lot of younger girls into the setup this year, but like that, it it's girls that that went and got a win in Crow Park last year as well. I suppose the difference in maybe between intermediate and senior is like you said, the physicality and the speed of the game. Like you're you're coming up against girls that have played senior for the last 10, 12 years, you know, they've a lot of experience at that level. So it's it's just about kind of adapting to that as well. And I think slowly that we are. Like you said, it just does take time. It takes getting a few meetings. Like I said, you sometimes you learn more from that than you do from the wins. But like I've no, I've no doubt, if if we're able to stay up senior, it'll definitely stand to to the panel going into next year to to compete in senior championships. You know, that that you want to be playing at the top level. It's where, you know, I think Offley should be. It's where we we we have been for the last couple of years since since the you know, Mikhail and Elaine and all of them, they they won the junior and the intermediate. So they we've been senior since then. So look, we we'd just be hoping to retain that, and as you said, just be competitive and and get performances in and and kind of blood new girls into into the senior setup as well and get them experienced playing at senior level and and playing in bigger stadiums. So yeah, look, I suppose it will take time to maybe make that step up. But I think it is, I think there is you know, performances in us that that shows there's girls well able to compete despite their age and kind of how young the group is as a whole. I think that you know that we definitely do have the the players with the the skill level and the talent. It's maybe just that that bit of belief we might be lacking at the minute. But look, as I said, we'll we'll look forward to Dublin now and and going out against them. And again, they're they're a great team. But look, we'll we'll go out against that and hopefully give a good account for ourselves.

SPEAKER_00 31:30

Like this year with uh All Ireland the way the new format, like we like the two groups, one group of four teams, and obviously your group of six, like two teams come out with the other group. I just want to get your opinion, and maybe off the opinion of the camp, like what do you think of the group the way it is this year? Like, because maybe if you look at group one, like all four teams come out with the mark what and like they could lose, one of the teams could lose all three games. So a team like yourself could maybe you've won one game already. If you win one of your games, if you've won two games, you know, maybe team, and then you'd be out you could be out with those still, like so. Where what do you think of it like from that perspective? And overall is the way the championship is this year. Can I just get your feelings on it?

SPEAKER_01 32:07

Yeah, I think uh I suppose I don't know if the cogie association are doing it to to maybe make the the matches a a bit more competitive. Like if you're being realistic about it, a team like Offly ourselves, who have come up from intermediate, going out and playing the all-iron champions, it might be daunting. There might still be, you know, obviously there is going to be kind of a gap in standard there, coming from from intermediate level straight up to senior and going again going out against the all-iron champions and maybe your first round of championship. So I can I can understand to an extent why why they have done that. But I suppose, as you said, uh I I think with Camoge and the way results go, I think on any given day, there's there isn't a huge gap between any of the teams. Again, as you said, you could lose all your matches, all your all all-iron championship matches and still be in the all-iron quarter final. You know, like that, our group is competitive. I don't think there is that much between us, but you're nearly relying on other results at times. You know, we we obviously have a win against Wexford, but even if we were to win maybe against Dublin or Clare, depending on how other results go, it might not go away and we might still not qualify. Like there's only there's only a chance for two teams to go through. So look, it's it's highly competitive. I would say that. I think it is it's very competitive. And look, maybe it it's good in terms of the matches are closer. But I don't know going forward, you know, is is that the the best way to do it? I'm not I'm not sure really. I don't really know.

SPEAKER_00 33:33

Time is hell, I suppose, how it works out. But as I said, Jeff, from a competitive point of view, it's probably made the championship better, like in that, and there are some great games, like you know, and in your group, the games are close, most of the games are close, like, and any team's capable of beating any on the day, like so and see how it goes. But anyway, just go back actually to what you were talking about. Your sister Cara, I suppose she would have come up played for Office Unreal, but when it came to other levels, you know, she chose Tipperary, like then she I remember 2021-22, I can't remember which year was, but offly pet Tipperary, and there was sister versus sister battle, like you know, and I know Tipperary won the game, but I believe you got a pipe in the game. So if individual battles between the two with scores, you came out in hot ball. What was that like, you know, in the family building up to that? And but they're much of the library like there, but there much thought there was a bit of slagging going on as well.

SPEAKER_01 34:22

There there was a lot of slagging going on. Um my my family is roaring tip, like all my obviously my mom, dad, you know, all my cousins were we we'd be we definitely be tippery, there'd be no doubt about that. But yeah, we we ended up playing with Offley because our our club, Hurlson Offley uh commodity championship. So that that that was how we we ended up playing with Offley. But yeah, Kira declared for tip and and she's been in with Tip for the last couple of years. Yeah, we we played them in the league down in in Tipperary, and I think most people would think, you know, we might be taking it easy on each other, but that's not the case in our household. Kira actually got a yellow card for coming in and and hitting me, and she was saying to the rest, that's my sister. I said that should be allowed, you know. That's only justified. But yeah, no, she she hit me a dig off the ball and she got a yellow card in that match. But no, she she actually had a storm in that match. I think she scored two points, she ran straight down the centre. I nearly got dropped after the match, so but no, the look, it's it's healthy rivalry, I would say. Look, she she won a an all-arn final there with with Tipperary in the junior down in Crow Park. And look, it was an unbelievable day. A lot of uh the kind of girls from the club would have traveled up and and supported her, and yeah, we were absolutely, absolutely thrilled for, absolutely delighted for her, and look, it's great for her to to be involved in and playing at a high standard with them as well. So yeah, I would say a healthy rivalry, definitely. Obviously, my my older sister, then Rachel, like she's in with with Affaly with me, so we're kind of the black sheep of the family, you know, playing in with Affaly. But um, but look, it's it's it's great. Like we all just want to to play, I think, at a high standard and and better ourselves for the sake of our club as well. And so I think there's there's no harm that really.

SPEAKER_00 36:04

And did you ever come close yourself to maybe joining Tipperary when you got off the other level, or was it always going to be Offly? Did it was there a choice to be made, or did to come close?

SPEAKER_01 36:15

Yeah, yeah, look, I I definitely did. Like I I would have, I suppose, loved to have played with with Tipperary, but it just wasn't possible. After playing with senior with Offley for the couple of years, I I just wouldn't have been able to transfer. The only way I could is if I if I moved club and that that was never going to happen. Kira just was able to to transfer to Tipperary. So look, like I said, like we, you know, we we grew up supporting Tipperary. We we live in Tipperary, we you know, all our families Tipperary, we'd be roaring Tip. So it was a natural choice for her to go to Tipperary when when she kind of got the opportunity. And like that, I'm delighted for her. And we, you know, we went to we'd go to all our games and and and support her. But look like that. I'm just delighted to be able to be part of a county setup and to be in playing senior. And you know, you can't improve and better yourself if you're not playing with and against the best. And and that that's what I enjoy. I just want to play as much Komobi as I can, and I'm not overly fussed about who that's with, even if it's with Offley or if it's with Tip. Um just delighted to be able to play really.

SPEAKER_00 37:20

And look, I suppose as an offly man myself, glad to have you out here playing for Offly. And just from like I said thing in the game, and you're playing centre back now to say for Offly. What's that playing their position like? Like I thought you actually played really well on Saturday actually against McKinney. He had a good game yourself, like, but how you find him playing centre back there at the against like some of the best teams in the country like it. How are you finding it?

SPEAKER_01 37:42

Yeah, look, I suppose I'm finding okay. I suppose centre back wouldn't be a new position to me in terms of I would have played there a good bit underage, waffly. And with the club, um, I would have played centre back a good few years like that. I think it's it's the girls around you who who make it easy. You know, I obviously have Amy Byrne is our full back and Marie Teaton's midfielder. I think she plays more centre back than I do. She's everywhere. But um, you know, when you're playing with with girls of that caliber and you you know that there's you have great girls around you, it does make it that bit easier. Like that gets get a lot of guidance as well from from the lads from the the management. Obviously, you're you're always going to come up against a a very good player, the centre forward, the opposite team is always always going to be good. So look, yeah, I'm enjoying the challenge of it. You know, it is, it's it's look, I'm just delighted. I I'd play in goals if I was if I was named to play there. I'm just delighted to be to be able to be part of the team, really, and and to be selected. So you can't really have any complaints after that. But like I said, uh centre back wouldn't be, I suppose, uh that new a position to me. And yeah, it's just about going out every day and giving it your all and you know, playing for the team and and doing your job. And I suppose that's what they've kind of put the emphasis on, is is just go out and do your job and and win your position really as much as you can. But yeah, no, I'm enjoying it so far.

SPEAKER_00 39:00

I would get on to the part now where we've asked everyone when this type of episode to pick the five best players they're fed with and the five players they've fed against. And look, I've given I've gave you enough time to pick right now. I said I won't leave it to the last second to ask you this one. So I'll give you I'll give you enough time prepared to pick the money and not leave it to let you know now. So if you can get so we start with the five best players you played against throughout your career. So you can go in other orders, go on, just or you just want to name five players, you can do that either. So go ahead there now with that anyway.

SPEAKER_01 39:29

That I've played against against first. Yeah, so played against. Have to say Beck Carton, obviously, from Waterford. I would have marked her, had the unfortunate mark in her in the that with that with the Ashburn. I mean in college, yeah, she's just an unbelievable player. Like, what can you say? You can't you can't praise her high enough. She's an unbelievable player, definitely, probably that the the toughest person I've ever marked. She's just magic on the ball, and it's what she does off the ball. That's you know, maybe the unseen stuff that she does off the ball, the runs that she does. She is such a hurling brain. So she's definitely, I'd say she's probably the best forward I've I've ever marked. Probably most box would tell you that in the country. Like again, Karen Kendi for Tip Rary. She's an unbelievable hurler. She she, I suppose I would have played even underage against her, she would have been centre back for tip, and she's just a joy to watch again, so talented and such an athlete as well. Like she could she could run for days, and she brings savage aggression and and energy to the game. So definitely another one that that you never really want to come up against. Like that, I suppose Denise Gall as well for Kilkenny and Megan Farrell, I would have came up against them with awfully marked Denise Gall. But look, the two of them as well. Uh I can't Denise, obviously, she's got player of the year. I don't know how many times I would have played with her in college as well, down in Waterford. So I I kind of knew what she was capable of, but she's just an unbelievable player. Great, great ball winner, very good at winning kind of primary possession. She's a grey hand, so yeah, nightmare to mark as well. And say Megan Farrell, like that, she would have been kind of centre back against Kappenny, but she's just a real, I suppose, leader on the field. And again, her work great and tackling. I just I was always in awe of her playing against her. That's probably watching her more than I was hurting against her. As well, I suppose the the last person on two is probably Laura Tracy. She obviously would have been the centre back of Cork the last couple of years. Again, I would have actually played with her in in college as well. But just think she again, another unbelievable player. You know, she she's steadied that uh Cork kind of half back line for the last number of years, and I think she she's the reason behind a lot of their success. And obviously, she's a huge loss to them this year. She's she's not involved, but yeah, just a stalwart radio of Cork Moge. So they'd probably be the best players we've played against.

SPEAKER_00 41:58

Not bad choices there now, in fairness. So yeah, and I agree with Sean Beck there now. Yeah, watching her play like humans watching her, she's a joy to watch, like it's that everything to do, like you know, some of the ball I game earlier on a year, what I've been playing, and I was just watching it, and she got ball at one side, just cross-field ball straight to whoever was. That was a brilliant ball. Just she's just a joy to watch, like you know. Now we go on to suppose the five best players you've played with throughout your career.

SPEAKER_01 42:24

Yeah, they're tough now. I because I I have to give an honorary mention to my two sisters, obviously. But I suppose I'll I'll I'll pick someone else. Um, but probably I suppose in terms of with Offley, obviously Marie T, and again, she's a magician with her. The things I suppose that she does, uh, you know, it's on and off the field. She's she's such a leader within the panel. Whether you're you're the centre back or your number 30, she she gives everyone the same encouragement and time. And I think she just leads on and off the field and leads by example. I always think great players are are the ones that when everything's going wrong, they're able to come up with something, you know, to turn the tide and and build a bit of momentum. And Mirada's that player for us. She got two goals there against Kilkenny at the week. And and if you saw it in the the Cork and Limerick match in the Munster final, you'd be saying there's some scores, like she's she can kind of just create chances out of nothing. And yeah, she's she's an unbelievable player, and someone I'd always, you know, it's an honour really to to play with her, to be honest. And I'm delighted she's on our team and I'm not hurling against her. Then I suppose Michaela Morkin, again, like I was quite young going into Offley, the senior setup, and was just in absolute awe of her. She would have been someone that you know you you'd be trying to to hurl like even what she's done with with Shinron with her club. Like again, she she's the reason behind a lot of them county titles going back to Sean. She's just an absolutely brilliant player, and again, she's she's a match winner, she's that kind of player. She Can kind of again create something out of nothing. I think again, sign of a great player. Um I suppose in terms of maybe with college, I'll say Lorraine Bray, again, another water for a girl. I play with Lorraine for for three years in the Ashburn competition, and uh just phenomenal player, phenomenal work rate, you know, and again real leader on the pitch, and and she's quiet. And I suppose to look at her, she's not physically imposing. She she's only a small bit of a thing, but you know, she's she just creates havoc for the other team. She just never stops. And yeah, I think just her her work rate inspires others around her. And you know, obviously she she's a great player for for Walford like this year as well, as she has been the last number of years. I suppose then for I I can't go without mentioning my own club. So I thought the two from my own club would be meet Megan King. So I play with Megan, obviously, with Offley this year, and she was part of the the All-Irland winning team last year with Offley as well. But she she's been fullback nearly, I'd say, since she's eight years old for for our club, and she just looked, she's a phenomenal player. She epitomizes, you know, putting your body on the line. She ruins her own game to to stop someone else hurling. And she's a very selfless hurler as well. You know, she she does anything for the team, and I just think she's probably one of the best fullbacks definitely in the county, if not the country. You know, I'd have I'd have her on any team, and having her in behind you when you're playing out centre back, I think you have to have a lot of trust in your fullback. And any day that she's behind you, you know you're in safe hands. So Megan's definitely definitely one of the best players I've ever played with. And then again, Claire Hogan, Claire would have been in and out with the tip as well. She's only like that, she's only young, but she's absolutely magic on the ball. Like she's her skill level is off the charts, like things she'd be doing in training, just poking around, you'd be watching her, and oh, she's an unbelievable hurler. And again, she she hits the freeze for us, a brilliant free taker as well. Yeah, and she's just an unbelievable athlete. So she she definitely be one of the best players I've ever played with as well.

SPEAKER_00 46:11

Very good. Not a more great pick, so I know just a couple more questions for you. No, if you were to pick any other intercounty player from any other county that's played currently, the transfer into offly, if you're just given the one transfer, which player would you pick from? It can be from any county in the country, but you already log to one now, so which player would you like to have you play longside you there with offly this year and come forward for next year, maybe?

SPEAKER_01 46:35

Yeah, well, if I could clone Marie T and I I'd pick her, but have a few of her, but um, I suppose if I had to pick from another county team, someone I I I just think again they're they're a match winner, and someone I I'd love to play with is uh Ifa Donahue from from Galway. Oh just think she's she's a phenomenal player, brilliant forward. You know, she she works as hard off the ball as she does when she's on it. She can score, she can defend. She's kind of just an all-rounder. You could probably play her anywhere. She's definitely someone I'd I'd love to play with. I'd love to have playing with us this year, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 47:07

She won't be bad now. All I have to have there. And just who was the best manager you've you've had throughout your career like? And who maybe the best who's had the biggest influence, maybe as a manager on you, like through your career.

SPEAKER_01 47:20

I suppose like that, I I would have had my own father over me for a lot of my career. Um, obviously had a lot of I suppose different management teams that I've been involved with just in terms of the county and club. But I think I think the one that that had the most influence on me was was Tommy Shefflin in with when I'm when I was down in in Waterford. He was over our Ashburn team for for three years. And look, I just got on really, really well with him. Obviously, he's he's Henry Shefflin's brother, uh, but he was a brilliant manager. You know, I suppose like I said, he he gave the same same attention to to the last up on the team as he did to the star player, and just his his commitment to to the team was was unbelievable, and the management teams that he he brought in as well. I suppose we were unlucky in college, really, for for the talent that we did have. Like, you know, like that I was lucky enough to play with Laura Tracy and Denise Gall and a lot of kind of big names, and we probably didn't have the success maybe that we we probably deserved, just given the talent that was there. But um, yeah, Tommy was I still be in contact with Tommy to this day. You know, he he uh he was just a brilliant manager, and yeah, like that just just always got on really well with him and took a lot of kind of lessons, I suppose, from him. Obviously, he's a Kilkenny man, but I won't hold it against him. Um, but you know, he'd he'd always be be giving out a lot of advice and just on a personal level, just was always very sound and very down to earth. So yeah, probably would have been one of my favourite managers to ever work with.

SPEAKER_00 48:50

And just look, obviously, you're still played now, and you're still young enough, so you're probably hoping to have another few years left playing at the top level. But when you do finish playing, but do you see yourself going into coach? I mean your management yourself-like, or is it something you've thought about at all, really? Or would it be something you thought about going forward?

SPEAKER_01 49:07

No, I don't I don't think there's too many people that listen to me now. I think I I do enough talking now on the field as it is. By the time I retire, there'll be girls sick of me. But no, no, I don't think it'd be it'd be a route I'd go down personally, no. I think I'd be very stay off it now. When when I'm finished, I'll I'll stay out of the pitch, I think, and stop giving out.

SPEAKER_00 49:29

Be giving out from the crowd, then I suppose that'd be it. Exactly. But I think another thing before games, do you get nervous much before games like and if you do, what way how how do you deal with the nerves like and all that? And what would be your pre-match routine in the build-up to a big game like that in the week leading up to it and even the night before and the day of the game, like what would you be is there a do you have a set routine or is it just something different maybe every time or that?

SPEAKER_01 49:51

Yeah, I d don't definitely don't really have any any set routine. I find just coming into big matches and I suppose it uh it goes against what a lot of people say is I I can't stop thinking or talking about the match. Like my family here would tell you before we played the the 2024 county final with the club, I talked about it, it's all I talked about for the week, maybe two weeks before. I I just go over the game, go over and over it in my head, and and like that I can't stop talking about it the week leading up to it. I don't like I would get very nervous, you know, before a game, but I just find going into the dressing room and chatting and having a bit of a laugh and not being too serious before a match is actually what helps me. I think the more in my own head and and maybe if I'm quiet and and I suppose what some people do is focus in on the game. Uh for me that that actually makes me more nervous. So I think the more relaxed that that I can be before a match, that that that works best for me. The more, you know, having a chat and and having a laugh with the girls, that's that's probably the best mindset for me to be in before I'm going out for a big game, just to kind of take my mind off it for that couple of minutes before. Because I would, I would get get very nervous. So I suppose that that'd be my way of kind of coping with it is chatting to whoever's beside you or around you and just try not to think about it until you're out in the field and then you're you're zoned in and ready to go. Like that. I wouldn't really have any, I suppose, pre-match routine. I'd I'd go down to the pitch and go for go to down to the ball wall down here in Carrig and go for a few pucks by myself, and that that'd be it, really. That's my only kind of pre-match thing. I'd like to have a few pucks definitely before just by myself. Um other than that, really, I don't really have anything specific I do.

SPEAKER_00 51:31

We'll probably wrap it up there now soon, but just before we go, just like to remind everyone of our social media where you we're on Instagram at talking comoge podcast. You can also get us on X at talking comoge pod. And if you want to get in caught contact with us via email, you can get us at talk and komogepodcast at gmail.com. So if you want to send in anything about the at this episode or you want to if there's anything you want to discuss in future episodes or just get in touch with us. Anyway, I'd like to thank you for coming on. It looks been an absolute pleasure having you on and great to chat you, Ashley. And look, I wish you all the best for the future. And obviously this year for the rest of the year, well awfully. And look, hope everything helped wise as well, uh, goes all right for you and that there's no more major troubles for you anyway going forward and wish you all the best. So and I says it's been a pleasure having you on and chatting chat this week. So thanks a million.

SPEAKER_01 52:17

Thanks very much, Joe. Thanks for having me.