Fit-again Roisin McCafferty back with a new lease of life guarding Donegal’s goal

Roisin McCafferty called it a day in 2021, but she’s back with a renewed feel for sport again.

A persistent hip injury had her inter-county career shelved.

She was content with the decision; the body, effectively, made the call.

And, yet, retirement was brief.

A visit to a specialist in Belfast helped to remedy the injuries that, in her own words, ‘hampered’ her last year. A subsequent call from Maxi Curran, the Donegal manager, asking if she’d consider returning as a goalkeeper lit the spark again.

The Termon woman has played in goal and outfield for club and county.

On Saturday night, McCafferty wore the number 1 shirt again as Donegal began Division 1A with a 0-10 to 0-7 win over Galway in Ballybofey.

“I can sleep again,” McCafferty says,

“I am enjoying it. Last year, I knew the hip injury was holding me back. I played the club championship and was maybe only three-quarters fit.

“I’m still not 100 per cent, but I’m enjoying it. And, look, when you have the likes of Nicole (McLaughlin), Geraldine (McLaughlin), Emer (Gallagher) and Evelyn (McGinley), my best friends, up there, sure it makes it easier.”

Injuries easing, but Donegal won’t risk Michael Murphy

Donegal manager Declan Bonner expects to welcome some more players back from injury lay-offs for the weekend's trip to Kerry

She played at midfield last year when her fitness permitted, but has donned the goalkeeper jersey again.

The position has changed immeasurably since she first had the number 1 on her back.

It was with the under-14 boys at the Burn Road. Harry McGlynn put her in goal one day and there she stayed.

“I got in then to Donegal teams when Kenny Griffin called me in,” McCafferty recalls. “Sharon McGlynn was the ‘keeper, but she was away for one of the finals and I got in.

“I ended up in goals by default. I went in one day at training, made a few saves and Harry kept me in.

“I played outfield then in Gaelic football and soccer - I played for Bonagee and played a bit over in Coventry, too. I knew that I could be fitter and could kick scores so I wanted to get fit to play outfield for Termon. We had Laura Gallagher to play in goal and I got myself geared to play out.”

When Termon hit the mountain top in 2014, winning the All-Ireland club championship, McCafferty was at midfield.

Roisin McCafferty playing for Termon in the All-Ireland final in 2014

She played in goal when Donegal won the All-Ireland Intermediate final in 2010, beating Waterford at Croke Park.

She says: “I remember when goalkeepers used to just stand there, hope to block a shot and lump the ball as far as you could.

“The game has changed so much. In that 2010 final or in the minors, I don’t think I took a short kick-out. It’s faster and sharper now. The ‘keeper is more of a link player. You have to be an option on the ball too.

“It’s a big change in terms of the training, but I really enjoy it. I’m pushing myself in a different way.

Memory of Dunfanaghy ABC founder Mickey Durning lives on in Donegal boxing

The Mickey Durning Memorial Plaque will be presented to the best Boy 1 boxer at the annual Donegal Championships.

“I won’t say that it’s ‘easier’ as such, but it’s easier on my body and it suits me more. It’s been an adaption. It suits me, though. I feel comfortable on the ball and can be used as a 15th player.”

Working as a physiotherapist at the Killybegs Community Hospital, McCafferty feels herself improving.

Paddy Kelly, the goalkeeping coach, takes high praise as McCafferty gets ready for this weekend’s trip to Westmeath.

“For someone like me who has been out for a while,” she says, “Paddy is brilliant. He’s very good at breaking things down. Paddy is very on the ball. We played a challenge match a few weeks ago and I woke up to ten or twelve clips that he broke down. He’s very encouraging too. I’m probably not as sharp in the one-on-ones as I was maybe eight or nine years ago.”

Curran made some changes to his back room team in this off-season, adding 2012 All-Ireland winner Mark McHugh. Barney Curran and Paul Fisher were recruited and McCafferty has been impressed by the work so far.

“It shows that we’re not just here to make up numbers,” the 30-year-old says. “Maybe we have under-performed at times recently but I do believe that we can beat anyone on any day.

“We have had a lot of young ones come in. We have a good core of ‘middle’ ones and then there’s a core of older girls who have been about a long time. If we can join those dots, we’re not far away.

“It’s about working hard and trusting each other.”