Waterford defender Laura Mulcahy got the best football education in Ballymacarbry.
"I started in St Patrick's Hall, I was probably about five or six years of age. It was Brigid Grant that was over us and Brigid was with us for years. Michael Ryan has always been there, Mike Guiry and Michael O'Sullivan. At club level, I've been very lucky to be trained by the best. You develop a love for football at a young age. It's something that I really enjoy, it's nearly an addiction at this stage!"
All her role models were close to home. "One that sticks out in my head is Rebecca Doocey. She was a fantastic footballer. She even came back to play in goal when I was coming into the senior panel. That shows how versatile she was as a player. Michelle Ryan is still my club mate and, to this day, I still look up to her."
She was delighted to rejoin the Waterford senior panel in 2019. "I was on the panel with Pat Sullivan for a year and then Ciaran Curran made a call about three years ago asking would I come back and I think it's one of the best decisions I've made to come back. You don't know what you're missing out on until you're back in the dressing room. You sacrifice a lot, you sacrifice your social life but I don't regret it. We're very lucky that we have a very close team. I have to say I always enjoy going to training. Even though the training is very difficult at times, it's always very enjoyable."
Waterford will take on Cork for the third time this season in the All Ireland championship on Saturday evening at O'Moore Park. A win will send Pat Sullivan's side through to the quarter finals.
Listen back to the full interview with Laura Mulcahy and Kate McGrath from Friday's Lár Na Páirce.
