Irish Daily Star - Inside Sport
SLEVIN’S A REAL GAL’-ROUNDER!
Kate Slevin has always had a strong passion for playing multiple sports.
Currently in her third year on the Galway Senior ladies Football panel, Slevin grabbed headlines when she posted 1-7 for the tribeswomen in their allireland Under-16 ‘a’ final victory against Kerry in 2018.
Having parents from Kilkenny ensured she also tried her hand at camogie, but another sporting code proved to be an even bigger lure for Slevin.
after shining in the underage ranks of local soccer outfit Cregmore Claregalway FC, she joined Galway WFC in 2018 before transferring to athlone town last July.
there has also been international recognition along the way with Slevin playing up to
(and including) Under-19 level for the ireland.
Family
this very much runs in the family, as her twin sister emma was the first irish female gymnast to qualify for a senior all-round final at the european and World Championships, with both feats in 2021.
While moving into the elite phase of Gaelic Football and soccer has led to her taking on a more controlled schedule, Kate was always on the go as a youngster.
“Since i can remember, i’ve always played both of them. every week, you’d have two games in a day nearly. i just got great enjoyment out of it, playing both of them. it was good craic really,” Slevin recalled.
“When you’re younger, you don’t even think about burnout.You don’t even think about injuries.You play every day and you don’t second guess it.
“now that the intensity is higher and the level that you’re playing at is a higher level, you do have to think about it. it’s just communicating with your coaches and all that. if you’re not feeling 100 per cent, you just let them know.”
Stages
Whereas Slevin started all seven of Galway’s games in the group stages of the lidl national league, she has made just four appearances thus far in 2023 for athlone, with their Women’s Premier Division campaign still very much at its infancy.
although things will become more hectic in the coming weeks, Galway joint-managers Mághnus Breathnach and Fiona Wynne will be able to call upon Slevin’s services later on this summer.
Due to ireland being at the World Cup in July there isn’t expected to be any domestic league fixtures from June 11 to august 18 inclusive.
Given the tG4 allireland Senior Football Championship is set to get underway on the weekend of June 17/18 and will culminate in the finals day at Croke Park on august 13, the 19-year-old University of Galway commerce student will be free to offer her full commitment to the inter-county cause.
“it actually worked out really well, if you look at the fixtures. i think the Championship runs through exactly when the World Cup is going on, so we won’t have that much going on in the soccer while the championship is going ahead,” Slevin said.
Slevin has a big day out at Croke Park next Saturday in the lidl nFl Division 1 decider against Kerry.
While a number of her team-mates have played at Gaa HQ before, it will be a first for the Claregalway attacker.
“i’m looking forward to playing there the next day.”