Kerry soccer star Eabha Maguire says it is ‘a privilege' to captain her county in Gaynor Cup
From kicking a ball around her house with her family, to donning the green and gold in national competitions, Maguire's journey has been one of dedication, passion and continuous development. Now, as she prepares to lead Kerry in the University of Limerick, she is ready to inspire her teammates on and off the pitch.
An attacking-minded midfielder with a sharp eye for goal and the ability to pick out that decisive pass, Maguire has never shied away from challenges. Remarkably, she was representing Park's under-13 side when she was just nine years old.
'I first began kicking a ball at home with my dad and little brother Oran. We are a sports mad family, there is always a ball being played in the house! I started playing soccer with St. Brendan's Park in the academy when I was seven. There was no girls team at that age so I played with the boys group up to under-11.
'At nine, I played with the Park Girls under-13 team and eventually we got an under-12 team together. Myself and club mate Eve McEvoy went on a recruitment drive and with girls from school and younger girls in the academy we formed the under-12 team.'
A privilege is how Maguire described getting the chance to captain her team in this competition. A balance between competitiveness and camaraderie is a key part of the team's identity.
Maguire and many of her teammates have represented Kerry with distinction across multiple age levels, collecting silverware at under-12 and under-13 level. While an under-14 title has so far eluded them, she hopes this could be the year that changes. She watched last year's Gaynor Cup campaign from the sidelines, but this year she captains the group as the next instalment is now just around the corner.
'I was selected for the Kerry Inter League under-12 team and we won the All Ireland final that year and the league. The following year we again won the All-Ireland under-13 final and the league and cup double at under-14 level with The Park.
'This year we got to the under-14 All-Ireland Cup final against Galway but were beaten.
'It feels good to be in the squad this year, and it's competitive, and it's fun as well like. I watched the Gaynor Cup last year. They didn't do very well, but we might.
'I love having fun with my friends and winning. I love learning new skills. I am looking forward to the Gaynor Cup in June and it's a privilege to captain this great bunch of girls from all over Kerry, we are not just teammates but friends.
'We're kind of all together as a team, we include everyone, and we're all friends with each other.'
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