‘Big crowd, TV cameras... they say to ignore the cup final hype but I relish it’
PEARL SLATTERY’S name was dropped a lot during Tuesday’s FAI Women’s Cup final media day. The Shelbourne captain arrived a little late to the get-together, but her presence was felt as all her younger teammates singled her out as an inspiration in the Reds dressing-room.
When Slattery leads Shels out onto the Tallaght pitch this afternoon, it will simply feel normal. She has been involved in so many of these showpiece events for women’s football that she has lost count. Asked on Tuesday, what number will this cup final be and the Shels skipper had to pause for a moment. Seven or eight? She wasn’t sure.
‘I think this is my seventh. Ah Jaysus, maybe it isn’t!’ she sighed with a smile. ‘Let’s see! I won it three times with Raheny, and twice with Shels. And we lost twice to Wexford. So, that means this will be my eighth. I am getting old,’ the 34-year-old Rialto native says goodnaturedly.
And as much as she has savoured the build-up, as much as her skin will tingle at lining up and meeting the President this afternoon, Slattery insists that she doesn’t remember a whole pile about the games, apart from the results. Time and again, her family have to remind her that she scored one of Shelbourne’s two goals in last year’s cup final against Athlone Town.
‘I was asked a while ago about the goal from last year’s final and honestly, I completely forgot that I’d scored in the cup final. I am more concerned about the clean sheet,’ Slattery says like a true defender. ‘My family mention the goal but even the week after the game, I didn’t think about it. For me, I don’t care who scores as long as we win. It just went out of my mind.’
And while some feel that the best course of action is for younger players to treat the final as just another game, Slattery insists that they should enjoy being part of it.
‘I tell our girls that despite what people say about not over-thinking it or getting caught up in the hype, the FAI Cup week and the game itself is special and you must enjoy the build-up,’ says Slattery, who works in the coaching department of the FAI.
‘Every other club around the country would love to be here and it is a date that you put in the calendar and I am always hoping that we are in it and delighted we are here for a third straight year. Of course, once you are warming up, it is like another game and you just go into match mode. But before that, you should savour being part of it.
‘I have always loved the build-up and that started the minute we won the semi-final. For me, it is about playing in front of a great crowd, with family and friends in it. A lot of us have played in a lot of cup finals but every year, there are some girls who it is their first, and I try to enjoy it with them and tell them to enjoy the day. It’s on national television. I know certain managers say don’t caught in the hype, but I relish it.
‘I always try watch the game and coverage back, especially if we win. You don’t do that as quick when you lose. I probably do it more than the rest do. Once you’ve won, you get dragged from pillar to post, doing the next thing. Finally when you’re in the dressing room, you know that you’ve done it. The night itself is a blur. You have fun with the girls. You have to enjoy it after a long season.’
Shelbourne have the same routine for every cup final. They will meet in Clayton Airport Hotel this morning, familiarise themselves with the room they will go to after the match. ‘It’s exciting seeing everybody at the hotel, the pre-match buzz and you’re dying to get to Tallaght and be out on the pitch.’
With youngsters like Hannah Healy and Rebecca Devereux having their first taste of cup-final day, will Slattery feel an extra responsibility to them this afternoon?
‘Not really. The young girls are great personality wise. In fairness, these girls have played in cup finals at their age-group. The likes of Hannah and Rebecca, they came to Europe with us. We don’t need to say anything to them. They’re just as professional, top players who keep us going. I’m really excited for them and they’ll have many more cup finals.
‘They’re internationals too, so we won’t have to worry about them. They’re buzzing to be part of the media day. Some were saying they were nervous doing interviews but I was telling them about Jess. When she started with us, she wouldn’t speak a word. Then I saw her on RTE one day talking after an Ireland game. I posted a tweet saying five years ago Jess was dreading interviews and look at her now. They’re fearless and help us as senior players.’
Slattery has been the guiding voice for Shelbourne on the field and Noel King’s on-field lieutenant for the past three years. The veteran coach is stepping aside once the final whistle goes in Tallaght this afternoon after a successful three years that saw them claim a league and cup double, and another title and cup — and possibly another today.
‘He’s been brilliant. When I heard he was coming in three years ago, I thought it was class and didn’t expect it. I never played under Noel. I’d known him a long time through the FAI, all that he’d done with the Under-17s, so knew he was a decent manager.
‘The first year he came in, we all went up a level. We were the fittest we’d ever been in pre-season, trying to impress him. He set high standards.
‘Looking at the three years, we won the title and made the cup final.
‘Then won the double. This year, we were five points off top, and it was the fine margins. I’m sure every team looks back but there was a game or two in it from swinging your way.
‘Noel has brought us to a third cup final in a row. He’s a good way about him. For me, a manager can have every coaching badge you want but players have to want to play for you. Managers get to know you as individuals and a group and himself and Joey [Malone] have been brilliant in that respect. It would be lovely to end it with the cup.’
Indeed, it would. Not just a happy ending, but also fitting.
As Pearl Slattery and Shelbourne have proven themselves to be the cup specialists, as we may discover again this afternoon.
‘YOU JUST GO INTO MATCH MODE. BUT YOU SHOULD SAVOUR IT’
‘NOEL HAS BROUGHT US TO A THIRD CUP FINAL IN A ROW’