Siofra O’Mullan finds herself in a unique situation on Sunday when her home club Dunloy take on Erin’s Own Cargin in the Antrim Senior Football final. Siofra had been team physio for Dunloy hurlers for the past number of years and has also been with Cargin footballers since 2019. Over the past four years she has been with both teams during their championship campaigns and has tasted success with both clubs. During that time I’s sure she never felt the two teams would be in opposition, but with so many of the hurlers involved with the Dunloy footballers in their great run this season, she goes into Sunday’s showdown preparing the Cargin players to take on her club mates.
Because of her busy schedule it was very hard to get a face to face meeting with Siofra, so we sent her a short questionnaire to try and find out just what way she was feeling in the lead up to Sunday.
Saffron Gael
How long have you been a physiotherapist?
Siofra
I qualified from UUJ 5 years ago as a physio
SG
You played Camogie for Dunloy so I presume it has always been your club. When did you start doing physio for the Dunloy hurlers?
Siofra
I used to play Camogie but with me, the effort was there but the skills left a lot to be desired (Kevy Martin and Paudie Shivers would back me up here), but yes Dunloy has always been my club and a massive influence in supporting me through my physio career.
Initially I started as sports massage therapist around 9 years ago for Dunloy when Cameron Steele and Mary Johnston managed a lot of the physio work. 5 years ago, from the day I got my registration, I took on the senior hurling/club physio role and it’s been a whirlwind ever since!
SG
When did you start for the Cargin footballers?
Siofra
My first day with Cargin was their 2019 Ulster Championship game with Derrygonnelly under Damian Cassidy and they brought me on as Senior Football Physio after that. Thankfully they have kept me on since, so I’ve been in that role for four years now
SG
What is your different role with each club?
Siofra
Both club roles are very similar, my role is to provide treatment and rehab of any injuries in addition to prevention and general recovery work to promote not just recovery, but high level athletic performance in these players over a potentially long season. That involves an awful lot of work behind the scenes with the player/ Strength and Conditioning coaches and management. Within Dunloy I would mainly work with the Senior Hurlers/dual players and then a wider club role working with all codes when needed
SG
Where are you based in your full time job as physio?
Siofra
I’m based mainly in Elite Physiotherapy in Cookstown working with a team of really brilliant and supportive physios and recently have opened part time myself in Dunloy
SG
Have you done physio of any other teams over the years?
Siofra
Where do you want me to start!
Throughout my career so far I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with a lot of teams and had a few cameo appearances in different counties over the years supporting physio colleagues but the main teams I’ve been involved with Dunloy/ Cargin as they often have had incredibly successful seasons which carry on throughout the year. I also spent a year with NI Women’s U17/19s and most recently two years with Antrim U20 Hurlers with Paudie Shivers
SG
How will you feel on Sunday when Dunloy and Cargin meet in the county final?
Siofra
With my role it’s often a very different feeling with these games. I tend to be in full work mode coming up to the big matches, so you don’t get time to think too much about the game or feel too much about it.
However this year there’s something very exciting about this game for both teams. I’m extremely lucky that I get to see the two sides to the story which gives this game more meaning than most. When you think of what Tomas and Mick McCann have went through with multiple surgeries to get them back and ready for days like Sunday and then you have the players like Decky Smith who could be starting his first club final after a few difficult years plagued bu unfortunate injuries. The Elliott’s who’ve had an incredibly hard few weeks, topped off with the loss of their granny Mary Elliott this week, a stalwart figure in the club, there’s going to be an incredible sense of passion fuelling each of these players this weekend
With no particular club rivalry, like finals of years gone by, both teams will be playing for the love of the game on the biggest club football day in the Antrim calendar
This game will come down to two things, a team who play with freedom Vs a team who play with experience, and at the end of that who wants it more will go a long way to deciding the winner. That’s something I’m extremely excited and proud part of.
You couldn’t ask for a better match up, so my feelings about Sunday is an immense sense of pride and a sense of excitement to see both panel in action against each other.