Bronagh’s flying with the Stars

Damien Donohoe

Amongst the cream of Irish women footballers assembled at Dublin Airport yesterday (Tuesday, March 11), preparing to they jet off for Hong Kong for the TG4 All Star Tour, was Cavan’s ace forward Bronagh Sheridan.
The Belturbet footballer of course shone en route to Cavan’s memorable Intermediate All-Ireland win last year, and was acknowledged with an All-Star nomination.
The players, picked from the 2012 and 2013 TG4 Ladies All Star teams, will arrive for their nine-day tour to Hong Kong later today, Wednesday. The touring group will be based at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in preparation for the traditional All Star match this Friday, March 14, at the Hong Kong Football Club. A highlight for Bronagh and her fellow squad members will come on Saturday when they are guests of honour at the annual St Patrick’s Day, Society Ball in the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Saturday, March 15.
On St Patrick’s Day itself the players will visit a selection of schools in Hong Kong where they will talk to the students and host training and skills sessions with all of the children.
Speaking of Bronagh’s success, Cavan Ladies football team co-manager Gerry Sheridan told The Celt: “It’s a tremendous achievement for Bronagh, for her family and also for Ladies football in Cavan.
It’s a good reflection on the team and their success in the All-Ireland final last year. It’ll act as an incentive to other young players as well - it shows that if you work hard at your game, you can be successful and that you can reap the rewards at the end of it.”
Bronagh was nominated for an All Star in 2013 but was very unlucky to not get a place on the final 15.
The tour only happens every second year and in 2012 Cavan’s Aishling Doonan became the first Cavan Lady to make the tour after her All-Star nomination from 2011. Cavan Ladies have no fixtures to fulfill while Bronagh is away, so at least she can relax in the knowledge that she’ll not miss playing for her beloved Cavan.