This article by Seamus McAlleenan, about the two O’Neill sisters, appeared in the Irish News last weekend. I am running this to use a couple of AI posters i created of the girls.
Meet the O’Neill sisters, Maria and Sarah, daughters of ex-Antrim footballer Ciarán, who also dabbled in hurling, and Sinéad, one of Cargin’s lauded GAA McCann family.
A fortnight ago Maria, the older of the two siblings, scored the winning point with 15 seconds remaining as the Saffron footballers edged out Carlow 1-13 to 2-9 to take the LGFA junior title for the second time in four seasons.
Both sisters played in the 2022 decider that was won in a replay against Fermanagh in the Box-IT Athletic Grounds.
Last year, Sarah featured for Antrim in both codes, playing alongside her sister in Croke Park when the Saffron footballers lost by two points to Louth before the pair went on an All-Ireland journey with Moneyglass.
This year 20 year-old Sarah has focussed on camogie. It paid off with an All-Ireland under 23 title in May, a first for Antrim, and an intermediate medal last Sunday when she came in to centre half back at half time following an injury to Katie Molloy.
The Antrim club football championship begins this Monday with Moneyglass playing St Brigid’s while the pair are hoping to spearhead a first Antrim Intermediate camogie championship challenge for Cargin with an opening round game against Tír na nÓg next week.
Séamas McAleenan’s caught up with the sisters before club training this week.
Sarah O’Neill:
“Watching the football final was bittersweet. We had camogie training that morning and I travelled down to Croke Park with [Antrim camogie manager] Elaine Dowds to join my family.
“I was absolutely buzzing for the girls. I knew what they were going through, step by step, because I was there last year.
“I was really delighted for them all, but I couldn’t help thinking if I could have been there too.
“You can’t help watching Maria, she’s my sister and I was so happy how things worked out for her.
“It’s great that she got the recognition at the end because there are so many games when she gets the key scores, makes the key decisions and doesn’t get the recognition, sometimes because people aren’t there or don’t see enough games.
“Lady footballers and camogie players are really only seen in one game every year – and that’s in Croke Park.
“Maria is one of those players with the talent to score from away out on the side-line. Then she might miss a 20 metres free. Something like that was happening in the first half.
“I could see she was on edge going in at halftime, but I knew the Devlins and Orlaith Prenter would lift her again for the second half.
“When that last ball came in to her, I knew she was the best person on the pitch to use it. I was so happy for her.
“For us in the stand it was just pure relief. At one stage, my mum turned round and asked daddy what he was looking for. He said “Nothing, I can’t watch!”
“I was a regular in the camogie team last year. So it was difficult coping with the injury and then not getting back into the team. At least the under 23s gave me games and the management was the same as senior.
“It’s hard to prepare yourself when you know you could be coming on as a sub. You want to get on, but you don’t want to be doing it in a situation like Sunday with Katie (Molloy) injured.
“I was absolutely gutted for Katie. She has such a presence in the team and is a lovely person. But her injury gave me the chance.
“It was at half-time, so there was time to settle myself and for the team to reset. Gooch (coach Conor Gillan) told me to do the same as Katie and hold the centre. Then he told me to do what I do in football!
“The forwards were really flying and that took the pressure off the defence. I know we were winning well, but the time seemed to have slowed up. I looked at the clock a few times. It felt like a long half.
“Finally the whistle came. It felt so great, the first time we had won in Croke Park. My fourth time playing there.
“We are right into the club football championship this weekend and there is a bit of pressure because we are Antrim and Ulster champions and everyone is out to beat us.
“The last few months I haven’t trained for football at all. We had a game on Wednesday evening and I know I have a bit of catching up to do.
“I don’t know what next year holds. Do I go for both teams? One team? Which one? I don’t know.”
Maria O’Neill:
“I went to as many of Sarah’s games this year as football games and training allowed. She was a regular in half back last year but picked up a groin injury early in the season and was out three months. When she got back, someone else had stepped in and claimed their place in the team.
“That probably shows the competition there is in the camogie team. She played both codes last year, but with us going all the way to Christmas with Moneyglass, I understand why she chose just one this year and that was camogie.
“It must have been frustrating not getting into the team when she was a starter last year. I am biased of course and thought she deserved to be in. When she came on in Croke Park, as with the other games, she definitely didn’t weaken the team.
“I would be nervous for her, particularly in Croke Park where every move is analysed, every mistake blown out of proportion. I thought she did very well.
“I am one of those players who is far more relaxed watching a game than playing in it. You knew 10, 15 minutes before the end that Laois were not going to stop Antrim.
“During the last few minutes of our game, with Carlow drawing level, I really felt the stress on the pitch, hoping we didn’t make a mistake, that I wasn’t going to be the one to make that mistake.
“I am glad Sarah got a full half.
“I thought the U23 team this year helped Sarah when she wasn’t starting senior – especially when it was the same management.
“Overall she has improved a lot under Elaine Dowds. Her distribution, touch, on-field management is very good although we haven’t seen much of that at club level because she has not been available to play often enough. But we are looking forward to seeing more in the championship.
“I had been asked into the county camogie panel too. I played under-age county up to under 16 with some of the girls on the present panel. I don’t know.
“I see myself more as club camog where there is no pressure. I enjoy it at that level. My main focus is football. I feel more confident on a football pitch.
“I know Sarah played both last year. So it can be done. But I don’t know if I could do it.
