Stellar year
McCabe enjoys stellar year with club, school and county
Few young players in the country can match the remarkable rise of Knockbride and Cavan star Gia McCabe over the past 12 months, with the teenager establishing herself as one of the brightest talents in ladies football and a deserving nominee for Young Sports Star of the Year.
Still only 16, McCabe has already produced a list of achievements that many players would struggle to match over an entire career. Her performances for club, school and county have marked her out as a player with exceptional ability, composure and leadership beyond her years.
The Knockbride player enjoyed an extraordinary 2025 with Bailieborough Community School, helping the school claim an All-Ireland Senior C and U16 C double.
That success proved to be only the beginning.
This year she again starred for Bailieborough Community School as they completed another All-Ireland schools double, this time at B level. McCabe captained the U16 side and delivered a sensational Player of the Match performance in the All-Ireland final, scoring 2-6 in a display that underlined her huge attacking ability and influence on the game.
Her exploits with Knockbride were equally impressive. McCabe played a central role in the club’s Intermediate Championship success and produced one of the standout performances of the season in Croke Park when Knockbride defeated Caltra Cuans in the All-Ireland Intermediate final.
On the biggest stage in Gaelic games, the teenager scored 1-1 and was named Player of the Match after an outstanding all-round display. At just 16 years of age, she showed remarkable maturity and confidence throughout the game, helping guide Knockbride to All-Ireland glory.
Her contribution throughout the championship campaign was immense. McCabe delivered a superb performance in the county final and was one of Knockbride’s standout players during a strong Ulster campaign.
What makes her achievements even more impressive is the fact they came after recovering from a broken collarbone. The injury ruled her out of the early stages of Knockbride’s Intermediate Championship run, but she returned in outstanding fashion and quickly became one of the team’s key figures again.
The statistics alone are extraordinary. Since returning from injury, McCabe has won three All-Ireland titles in just a matter of months and five All-Ireland medals across the last year.
At county level, she was also part of the Cavan U16 side that won the Ulster Platinum title in 2025 and featured this year for the county minor team, who reached the Gold final.
Those achievements only tell part of the story. McCabe has consistently shown the qualities that separate elite young players from the rest - skill, composure, leadership and a willingness to deliver when the pressure is greatest.
For somebody so young, her impact has already been extraordinary, and there is little doubt that Gia McCabe has a huge future ahead in the game.