Darcy predicts bright future for Longford’s new kids on block

AFTER four months away from her classroom in St Mary’s in Clondalkin primary school, Longford footballer Aoife Darcy returned this week.

The detritus of half-made St Patrick’s Day decorations was scattered around deserted lunch boxes, maths copies and stray belongings, but at least next week she’ll get to say goodbye to her third class students.

“We thought we were only going to be out for two weeks but we haven’t been back since March 12. It is a bit odd. I don’t know what the story will be in September and what way we’ll go back, but we’ll have to wait and see I suppose,” said Darcy (24), who is facing into her ninth inter-county campaign.

It has been a difficult quarter for teachers and students alike, and Darcy (below) still isn’t sure what a return to school will look like. But one thing’s for sure, she’ll be ready for inter-county football at that stage.

For the first six months of 2020 Darcy has battled her way back from shoulder surgery. It was a heartwrenching – but timely – decision to go under the knife after six years of dealing with a dislocating shoulder.

She knew she’d miss all of Longford’s Lidl National Football League Division 3 campaign.

Her participation in the TG4 Intermediate Championship was touch and go, while playing for her beloved Clonguish was also put in doubt due to the surgery.

“It all started when I was playing for my club in a league final against Killoe, our rivals. I dislocated my right shoulder. It has been at me ever since, it pops in and pops out again.

“It only ever came out twice and I couldn’t get it back in and I had to go to Mullingar hospital, but all the other times I could just do it myself. You get used to it, I could pop it back in and out.”

The 24-year-old is one of the more experienced players in the Longford team and was named joint vicecaptain last season by new manager Enda Sheridan.

“We have a lot of young girls in from the minor and U-16 that they won last year. I felt sorry that I wasn’t there to help them settle into the team. There is a core group of us: myself, Michelle Farrell and Emer Heaney. We’re the oldest on the team and we’re only 24. Hopefully now our gang can stay together, and we can help the younger girls to come through the next couple of seasons. They are serious footballers.”