Emma Dineen on why she is ‘so happy to be back’ in the Kerry fold after a spell away
EMMA Dineen needed to try something different.
She was called into the Kerry senior panel as a seventeen-year-old in 2017, but by the time 2021 came along her enthusiasm had waned. A student teacher back then, she needed a break from the hot house atmosphere of inter-county football, and Chicago on a summer J1 visa came calling.
“I just took a break. I was playing football in America. It’s nice to get different experiences, and it all comes together then coming back. Obviously, my heart is playing with Kerry, so I’m so happy to be back,” said the now twenty-four year-old primary school teacher.
“I was in Chicago, playing with the Brigids on the south side. A few of us played with them, it was good craic. I was there two years and this year I was in Denver, so it’s pretty good to be seeing new places. I was just there for the summers. I was working up near Dublin last year, but I’m working in Cork now.
“There are a few girls that work in Cork, so we kind of take turns sharing the lifts. It’s actually nice to be in the car together, so we can be discussing training, and things like that. There’s a nice camaraderie.”
Dineen’s comeback to a Kerry senior jersey was nothing short of sensational when she plundered 1-3 against Dublin in the first round of the National League this year under the lights of Parnell Park.
The TG4 cameras were there as well, and they rightly awarded the Glenflesk girl the player of the match. It felt like Kerry had gone to the transfer market and signed up a new wonderkid.
““I guess it was more the fact that there was no pressure, I was just so happy to be back playing football so it kind of liberated me,” admitted Dineen, who also happens to be a keen guitar player when she has a bit of spare time.
“Obviously a lot had happened since I played my last game for Kerry in 2021, the girls had been to two All-Ireland finals, people know more now about what the Kerry ladies are doing. There is more popularity with it now.
“Within the management team, we get everything that we could ask for, so there is really good support. Nutrition, strength and conditioning, things like that, tactics, and then just regarding external support, in general ladies football in Ireland has just been supported much more, with TG4, Lidl, things like that, also in Kerry as well.
“We got some sponsors, All Real Bars, they’re Kerry-based as well, which is good, and iHerb vitamins, and things like that. It’s pretty good.”
It’s safe to say that Emma Dineen has been one of the real stand out success stories for Kerry in this year’s National League. Combining strength, speed, balance and great hands, she has bedded in seamlessly with her colleagues in the full forward line, whether it’s been a combination of Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Hannah O’Donoghue, Katie Brosnan or Danielle O’Leary, and she’s plundered 2-10 from play already.
Her movement and ability to find space in even the tightest corners is no doubt helped by her years as a top class underage basketballer and she played a season at National League level with St Mary’s after initially starring with both them and St Paul’s underage sides.
She is also as comfortable on her left and right legs, something that she puts down to the work she put in during lockdown.
“I kind of worked on my left leg more, I had the time, so it was good,” she says modestly.
“Growing up I would have seen Louise [Ní Mhuircheartaigh] playing games, and now I’m playing with her. That is so nice. Lorraine Scanlon at midfield, I would have looked up to her as well growing up. It’s great playing with them now.
“Everyone is so good at communicating. We have our style of play, and we’ve all bought into the style of play. When you have that, it kind of works seamlessly. Communication really is the big thing as well, so we’re all good for that.
“Maybe what I bring to the team is I like catching the ball and giving it off the shoulder, and things like that. It’s hard to beat a team when they play at pace, so I think that works well, the long ball in, so I think I can bring that support play to the team.”
Dineen finds herself back at Croke Park for the first time since she and her teammates were blown out of the water by an emerging Meath powerhouse in the Division 2 final of 2021, and she’s determined to make up for lost time.
“We’re really excited to be playing in the final again,” he said.
“We’re happy to be back. For me personally, I haven’t played in Croke Park for over two years, so I’m super excited. Just for the team in general, training was really good tonight, so I’m really looking forward to the game.
“There is nothing better than being an underdog, so I’m really looking forward to going back, and obviously it’s a privilege to go and play in Croke Park.
“We go straight then into the Munster Championship afterwards, and winning the National League is nothing to be frowned upon, so that would be great. I don’t have a National League medal either. A lot of the girls from last year have that.
“I really would like it as well!”