*Louise Henchy.
Ex-Clare ladies footballer Louise Henchy has been picked for the Ireland Ladies International Rules side that take on Australia on tomorrow Saturday 9th of March.
Three Clare natives have been called up to play the Masters International Rules tests this weekend which are down to take place in Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club in Co. Mayo. Kieran Kennedy (O50’s), Michael Liddane (O40’s), and Louise Henchy with the Ladies O40’s.
Louise spoke to The Clare Echo this week ahead of the showdown against the Aussies, recalling a request from the Irish camp to the clubs of the country. Each Clare club provided a player to be put forward, in which the 2009 All-Ireland Intermediate medallist was selected as the Clare representative for the Ladies national side.
“The club’s got a request in early December to see if they would nominated a player from teach club to play for the International Rules, they put my name forward and then I found out the week before Christmas that I was selected as the Clare representative”.
“Australia requested to put forward a Ladies team this year so this first time this fixture will be played and that’s how it all came about”.
The series is a two test series in which the first test will be played on Saturday, with the second test being fixtured seven days later on the 16th of March.
“It’s two games, there’s one this Saturday which is on in Charlestown in Mayo and then the second test the following Saturday, that one is on in Cavan”.
Since the selection, the Irish Ladies have trained collectively on three occasions ahead of fixture, “I suppose it was all quite rushed really, there’s a panel of 23 so you’ve players coming from all over the country. But we had our first zoom call in January, then we had three collective training sessions in the middle of the country within the next few weeks post the first meeting and then we had our last zoom call last night. We didn’t get too much of an opportunity to meet up, but everyone’s doing their best”.
The Banner club woman notified the Clare Echo that she is named in the starting fifteen for the side, whilst admitting there will be a lot of reciprocating throughout the game, due to a different system in the traditional Gaelic Football two half’s.
“They named the team last night, I’m starting in Midfield so it’s great, but it’ll be roll on, roll off throughout the game, there’s four quarters of eighteen minutes so there will be a lot of interchange throughout”.
The four quarters will be a new challenge to the Business Cost Analyst in Organic Lens Manufacturing, as she specified one attribute in the game that will take a major getting used to. “Tackling really is the main thing, you’re allowed to tackle between the knees and shoulders, so if you manage to tackle someone while there in possession, so the trainings at the moment have been around that”.
Henchy will wear the green jersey for the first time this Saturday as she notes the special feeling to represent the country. “It’s brilliant, sure any day you get to put on an Ireland jersey it’s great, so look, it’s great to get the call up and to represent the club and county also, so hopefully we can do justice tomorrow”.
Louise received a warm welcome from her work colleagues at work this week in Organic Lens Manufacturing as her office was decorated in Irish flags as she prepares for her outing at midfield, as she offered praise to her colleagues whilst speaking to The Clare Echo “They’re brilliant inside, to be honest when I seen it first, I thought they were a week early with the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, so it was funny, but it’s a lovely thing. I suppose they’re all very proud, so it was great”.
Throw-In for the National fixture is set for 2pm in Charlestown Sarsfields GAA Club, Mayo on Saturday 9th March.
