She may be on crutches but that won’t stop Ciara being involved

WHILE Andrea Moran will be head, neck and shoulders into preparing for Sunday’s All-Ireland final, this coming week could not be more contrasting for Ciara Burke.

At the media evening on Tuesday Ciara’s knee was encased in plaster and she could only get around with the aid of crutches.

“Look, I’m just glad to have any part to play. I tore my ACL in training just after the Leinster final, but look, it could be a lost worse. It was just one of those freak things that happen, an exercise we had done already five or six times that night. Bad an all as it is I’m just still glad to be here.” Like her captain Ciara too missed out playing for Laois for a number of years when travelling.

“I was in Australia for five and a half years, in Melbourne all through Covid. I loved my time there and there was no point in coming home at that stage. Then I made the decision to come home and play a bit of football before it became too late.

Ironically, Ciara’s time in Australia has given her insight into the Trone team.

“I used to live with Niamh O’Neill in Melbourne, she’ll kill me if I don’t give her a mention. She’s strong, she’s accurate, she’s fit – I think she’ll be one to watch.

“We know their number 11, Sorcha Gormley is quite strong.

“Cara McCrossan as well. She’s back from AFL in Australia. She’s their full-forward and, while I wouldn’t know her that well, I know they have a lot of power in the forwards and they will take a lot of watching.” Ciara admits she is not the best of supporters, she can be tetchy.

“I’d be nervy enough. It’s hard to keep your mouth shut at times. I don’t think too many would like to be sitting beside me. I’d be better on the sideline walking up and down getting rid of that nervous energy rather than just sitting there.” Is she still enjoying it?

“Yeah, it’s the build-up, the whole day. While I won’t be playing, I’ll still have a role to play. I’ll want to rev up the girls and then bring a bit of calm when I’m on the sideline.” Watching from the sideline what does Ciara see in this team that they have an All-Ireland in them.

“On from the Leinster campaign, there is such a drive in them over the past few weeks. I think they are realising, god we can do this. While the league and were Leinster was poor, it all seems to have clicked that little bit more. This injury was very hard to take and I was never going to step away from that kind of a team.” Like so many of the others, Caira finds it strange to be now part of the centre of attention,.

“It’s great to see all the young people here. You forget that back in my days you had Tracey Lawlor and the Caseys that we wanted to be like, and now it’s mad having kids coming up to me asking for my autograph. It’s a nice turn of events.” “Ciara Crowley is fantastic. She will give until her legs will give no more. She’s one of our youngest player, in at wing-back, a big position. It’s her first year in with Laois and she has just taken it in her stride.

“So too Ciara Malone. There could be six people chasing her down as she races up the sideline and it wouldn’t faze her.

“But look, there’s not only one you could highlight, it’s the whole 15 and more. We’ll need the whole panel against Tyrone.”