Rosie Landers' family persuaded her to go for Waterford ladies football trials last winter. She wasn't keen on the idea but went along to Stradbally anyway.
"Dad, Mam and my sister Hannah really pushed me on. I kept saying 'no, I'm not going to do it' but they pushed me on anyway. I went down for a trial in Stradbally and decided that I wanted to come back and earn that jersey."
In her first year on the senior panel, the Ballyduff Upper netminder was named on the Division 2 team of the league as the Déise returned to the top flight and saved a late penalty against Kerry in the Munster championship. Last Saturday night, she won the Kevin Casey Emerging Young GAA Player award at the Granville Hotel.
Her sister Hannah previously wore the white and blue jersey. "Hannah introduced me to county football, she won the 2015 All Ireland intermediate with the girls. When I saw her in Croke Park, I was like 'I want to be like that, I want to play in Croke Park, I want to be on that pitch'. It was a great experience to see her. She supports me as well and all the family."
She will miss the presence of Michelle Ryan around the panel this season. Michelle is one of Rosie's teachers at Blackwater Community School. "I made my debut against Cavan in the league and she was the one who gave me the pep talk before the match in the dressing room. She really encouraged me. She was definitely one of my sporting role models when I was growing up."
Listen back to the full interview with Rosie Landers from Lár Na Páirce with thanks to PWC Waterford.
https://www.spreaker.com/user/11231943/rosielanderswaterfordladies
