'At this time of year, we see each other more than our families'

For Aoife McGough, the shock defeat to Glen back in September was the best possible thing to happen to Steelstown.

The 2-6, 0-11 loss was Steelstown’s first championship defeat in the county since losing to Ballymaguigan at the semi-final stage back in 2019, and was a huge surprise at the time. Showing the attributes of any champions, they responded to that shock positively, winning a fourth success Derry title and are now on the cusp of an Ulster final, but it was that evening against Glen that may well have been a blessing in disguise according to co-captain Aoife.

“It was just what we needed probably,” she admitted. “Every year the league is where you’re putting the work in, you’re not going out to absolutely win matches because you don’t want to peak too soon. Maybe enough didn’t change between league and Championship, we didn’t really up it enough, so it was kind of like a wake-up call which we welcomed. It was probably the best thing which could have happened to us because ever since, we haven’t looked back.

“When we played Glen the second time it was night and day; just the attitude of the girls and the work rate. Even the attitude in training was black and white. The girls have dug deep since and we’re hopefully going to peak at the right time.”

In recent years, Steelstown players have faced big game after big game, but despite her collection of medals to this point, Aoife can’t help but get nervous as yet another final arrives.

“Our management don’t like changing so myself and Ciara have been lucky enough to be co-captains now for four years,” she explained. “We’re so proud to captain such an amazing bunch of girls. Each year does feel more special. With the county title, you obviously want to keep winning but each year you get more nervous and it feels even better every time you win.

“It’s probably about getting older too. When we won junior in Ulster in 2015, I thought ‘aww, this is great, the craic’s good’, but I now fully realise that you’re not going to be doing things like this all the time, so it does feel special this time around.”

Autumn weather is not for the faint-hearted at all, but regardless, the girls are out every Monday night at Pairc Bhrid in all sorts of conditions. And it is that bond, that determination to see it through, that may well have got them to another Ulster final.

“What we have been through as a team and the journey we have been on, the bond is stronger now more than ever,” Aoife continued. “Obviously, it was a disappointing end to the year last year and we’re so happy to be in a better position this year, so fortunately we can just go all the way this year.”

“We’re like a family. At this time of year, we always joke that we see each other more than we see our families, and we talk to each other more than we talk to our families, and if we’re talking to our families, we’re talking about the gaelic team. We are so fortunate for our management to be with us through all this too; James, Thomas and Seb, they all know us inside out now because we’ve all just been in that group for years and years. Thomas has been my coach the whole way through and I would say he knows a lot of what has happened outside gaelic too, so it’s a real bond.”

Support

The girls were surprised by a breakfast by their Mothers & Others group on Sunday morning, just another small recognition of their achievements and another sign of support from within the club ahead of a huge day for them all this Saturday.

“The buzz in there with the breakfast with the Mothers & Others was unreal,” Aoife agreed. “We’re so grateful that they club is behind us and they are all just so proud. I was talking to the girls and you just feel, even in training, that it’s just another match. We’re all focused and we’re all grounded by our management that it’s just go out and enjoy our football, enjoy the build-up, but it’s just another 60 minutes of football.”

St. Joseph’s, Glenavy are the opponents at Carrickmore this weekend, but no matter who it is, Aoife has learned to focus on what she and her team mates can offer, instead of worrying about what others can do.

“Playing in Derry and playing against teams for years, you could be thinking, ‘she can shoot off her right, she can shoot off her left’, and you’re in the house thinking she can do this, and she can do that, and you kind of forget what you as a team can do,” she explained. “Whereas in Ulster, our focus more switches to what our strengths are, how good we’re good at things and just go out and play our football and don’t really worry. If we work hard as a team and as a unit, it doesn’t really matter who we’re playing. If we play our football then the result will look after itself hopefully.”