Putting juvenile soccer in the frame
At the side of pitches across Cavan and Monaghan, Ellen Tinnelly is a familiar face. Whether she is capturing goals on camera, posting live updates from finals, or interviewing young players after matches, the Kingscourt mother of two has become one of the driving forces behind promoting underage soccer in the region. Her dedication has now been recognised after she was named Press Relations Officer (PRO) of the Year at The Anglo-Celt Community & Sports Awards.
For Ellen, the award is not about personal recognition alone. It is about highlighting the growth of soccer in an area more traditionally associated with GAA, and ensuring young players feel valued and celebrated.
“I think it’s massive to put the clubs, the kids, soccer in this area on the map, and just show the scale that has grown over the years,” she said.
Ellen’s involvement in soccer began through her eldest son, Kelvin, now 19. When his team in Kingscourt risked folding due to a lack of coaches at U13 level, Ellen stepped forward.
“I decided I’d do a few courses,” she explained. “I had played county football with Cavan Ladies, so I knew a little bit about football, but not so much about soccer.”
Alongside other volunteers, Ellen completed safeguarding and coaching workshops and helped keep the team alive. The effort paid off, with the Harps going on to win some silverware.
From there, Ellen became increasingly involved with the Cavan Monaghan Underage League, first representing her club at meetings, before taking on the demanding role of fixtures secretary. Last year, she added PRO duties to her growing list of responsibilities. Now, through Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, she documents the stories and achievements of close to 3,000 young players across the league.
“PRO is very enjoyable, just being out on the pitch where all the action happens, and just making memories for these kids in years to come.” Her content has had a real impact. Ellen believes the visibility created through social media coverage has helped players attract attention from academies and scouts. Following last year’s Galway Cup, several CMUL players, including her younger son Ryan, earned opportunities with Dundalk Academy.
Ryan, 13, balances academy soccer with lining out for Kingscourt Stars’ U14 Gaelic football side, reflecting the sporting mix that exists in the area.
Meanwhile Kelvin has just graduated in sports exercise and coaching as well as barbering. He leaves for Spain this week, where he plans to combine barbering work with soccer opportunities after arranging football trials there himself.
Ellen says the biggest reward is seeing the excitement her coverage creates among players. “Every match I go to, the kids all know who I am now,” she laughed. “They’ll say, ‘Make sure you get me if I score a goal.’”
For Ellen, those moments are exactly what it is all about: creating memories, building confidence, and helping young footballers believe that bigger opportunities are possible.