Maria Reynolds

Team:

Shamrock Rovers Women’s Under 17s

Age:

17

Position:

Centre Back/Centre Midfield

Where are you from?

I’m from Bray in County Wicklow.

Were you playing football before you came to Shamrock Rovers?

Yeah, I started off at Enniskerry when I was about ten years old and I played there for a couple of years. I then moved to Greystones for just one season because our Enniskerry team broke up and then I went to Peamount with my manager Sean (Kelly) who I have now at Rovers and we stayed there for three years. We had loads of success there and won plenty of trophies and then we came to Rovers. I have been here for the past two years.

What sort of year did you have this year?

It was a good year, obviously we didn’t finish it the way we wanted it, going out in the semi-final but it was a year full of like great fun, loads of memories and we learned loads.

You were obviously very satisfied to get a full year in this year because you didn’t last year?

I was really very happy to get a full year in because obviously we missed out with Covid last year. I was just happy to be playing football week in, week out.

How do you think the team did this year compared to last year?

This year I think we came on loads, we learned a lot more, individual girls got better. I felt I was learning loads, I got better, the team got better and we were playing together for much longer. I think we improved and we got closer as a whole and got better as a whole so it was much better this year.

What about your yourself personally, how do you think you developed?

I came on loads this year, definitely, from being at Rovers my confidence has gone back up. I have been having so much fun, I have just been enjoying my football again.

Tell us about playing for Ireland?

I have played for Ireland since 15s, 16s, 17s and now I am playing with the 19s as well.

What was your most recent game for Ireland?

We played in the Euro qualifiers a couple of weeks back. We played against Switzerland, England and Northern Ireland. We ended up qualifying which is great so I can’t wait for the Elite Rounds in April.

Do you know what other countries Ireland will likely face at that stage?

No, the groups haven’t been made yet.

Where did you get your interest in football from?

Just growing up with four older brothers who all played. We used to play out on the green the whole time. I didn’t join a club at the time until much later. I have been playing since I was about four years old.

Growing up, who would have been your favourite players?

My favourite players definitely would have been the likes of Roy Keane and Steven Gerard and then female would have been Aine O’Gorman or Lucy Brame, players like that.

There wouldn’t have been a lot of coverage of women’s football in this country until more recent times so how did you find any information you wanted on that side of the game?

A couple of years ago it was near enough to impossible but nowadays with stuff like Twitter and everything like that clubs are putting out way more information about their women’s teams. It’s definitely easier this time around.

Do you think interest in women’s football has increased in this country?

100% yeah. This couple of years it has definitely come on loads and I’m just happy that it has really.

Would you consider yourself along with the other girls at Rovers and in the National League as pioneers at the moment because it is all kind of new?

Yeah, 100%. I want to show the women’s game because it is a good game; we don’t really get the credit we deserve so it’s definitely nice to get some credit.

Would you watch much women’s football yourself on television?

I watch the Super League in England and all the international games I like to follow, it’s just as good as men’s and I like watching women that are playing and I just want to be like them when I am older.

Your friends obviously know you play for Shamrock Rovers but how does somebody new react when they learn that you play for Shamrock Rovers?

They are actually quite surprised. All the people I have met and I say I play for Shamrock Rovers they say ‘oh’ because it’s a huge club and it’s the biggest club in Ireland so when you say you play for them it’s obviously a big deal and then I’m a girl and I play for Shamrock Rovers is even bigger so the reaction is quite funny actually.

Do you find any negativity or cynicism along the line?

Yeah, I have since I was young. I just ignore them; I use it as motivation to get better and prove them wrong.

You were obviously disappointed that the team didn’t qualify for the league final?

Yeah, it just wasn’t our day in the end. I think we can just take it into next season and make sure we get to the final and bring some silverware home.

Education-wise, what are you doing at the moment?

I’m in my Leaving Cert year in Loreto in Dalkey. It’s obviously a lot with football but I am balancing it well at the moment.

What do you hope to do after school ends?

I’m actually not sure yet. I want to go to college and I want to continue football as much as I can and hopefully go into the professional game and keep my education going at the same time whether that’s in sports science, physiotherapy I’m not too sure as of yet.

What does it mean for you to play for Shamrock Rovers?

It’s class; it’s an honour. I’ve always known the club is the biggest in Ireland so just being able to say that I play for them is an absolute honour and I love it.