Different sport, same impact
Katrina lost love for camogie before turning to soccer
KATRINA PARROCK is building quite the scrapbook of important goals in her first full season with Wexford Youths, and none have been bigger than the strike that won the Continental Tyres FAI Women’s Senior Cup.
‘Hanz (Emma Hansberry) is a right one on the wing to whip ‘em in,’ the Youths attacker said. ‘Rianna flicked it on, as she does so well all the time and, em, look, I didn’t even think about it.
‘I was just so determined to get it in the back of the net cos we had so many chances.
‘We have to take chances on big days like today when your playing in such a big stadium and such a big title (is) up for grabs and, look, it went into the back of the net and thank God for that.’
In double digits for the season, Parrock identifies being able to hit the net as a vital part of her game, much as it always has been, wherever she plied her sporting trade.
‘I probably wouldn’t be the greatest at tracking back or defending but I like to get on the end of them and get them in the back of the net, and as long as we’re winning we’re all happy,’ Parrock admitted.
The former camogie All Star and four-time All-Ireland Senior medal winner talked in the lead-up to the game about losing the love for that sport.
She expanded on that after this cup final success and talked about how her soccer dreams are only starting.
‘Through my years of camogie and playing eleven years with Wexford, we achieved a lot and I was very lucky to be on such a successful camogie team,’ Parrock explained.
‘Maybe I just lost the appetite, I probably ticked the boxes that I wanted to tick in that sport and I suppose looking at soccer now I’ve more boxes to be ticked and I’m achieving them well, thank God.’
International football doesn’t seem like the pie in the sky idea it might have when she came into the Wexford fold, and 28-year-old Parrock is not giving up hope of adding to her Under-19 cap.
‘Ah look, sure you’d never say no to an Ireland jersey being handed to you, at the end of the day it’s your country and that would be an amazing achievement for me.’
Next is a well-deserved break and a bit of time to assess the season, though one tournament might linger in her mind through the winter.
‘Playing Thor and Ajax and Linfield was a great experience for everyone but, look, you’re always looking to achieve and to go one step further so we’ll work on that for next year.’
One thing is for sure, if Wexford do achieve that goal next season, with her improvement continuing week after week, Parrock will be a vital component to anything Youths will accomplish.