Women’s GPA helping to get better deal for its players

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

THERE is one day Galway ladies footballer Lorna Joyce will never forget. On route to their All-Ireland semi-final clash against Kerry in Birr in late August 2012, Joyce, a qualified doctor, and the Galway bus came upon a horrific motorcycle accident. First on the scene, the Clonbur native jumped into action.

“It was one of those situations where you genuinely weren’t prepared to be called upon from a work point of view as you were focusing on the game at the time,” recalls Joyce, who is one of those the Women’s GPA is using in their ‘Behind the Player’ campaign in promoting their stars as role models.

“We dealt with what we had to do. Geraldine was excellent and Annette Clarke and Johanna Connolly – two guards – were also involved. They jumped right into work mode. Unfortunately, the man didn’t make it. We did go and play the game after that and it was tough but look that’s life, and unfortunately those things do happen. It was a very tragic situation.”

Joyce, along with team-mate and nurse Geraldine Conneally and physio Therese Leahy, had stayed behind with the man until the emergency services arrived, and only made it to Birr’s GAA grounds a half-hour before throw-in. Galway lost the semi-final 1-13 to 1-7. In the game of life though, the result mattered little.

For the most part, Joyce endeavours to keep the demands of her work schedule and sports career separate but on days like those, one must supersede the other. “As a doctor I would always have my medical bag and that with me but that obviously wasn’t the case when I was in my Galway gear on the way to a match.

“So, you just have to deal with the situation as it happens and use your expertise as best you can. Luckily, the ambulance crew came quite quickly and there was a paramedic involved as well. In general though, I would try to keep my work life separate from my sport life.”

However, the 2004 All-Ireland winning forward, who will be hoping to feature against old rivals Mayo in the Connacht senior decider this weekend, admits these two strands of her life do often become intertwined. “A lot of the patients are now beginning to cop that I have a sporting side as well. They would often be asking me about it. In general, it is good banter and a good topic of conversation.”

The other side of it is that her team-mates in the Galway set-up would also seek her medical advice at times. She is not the only one. “Aoibheann Daly is a physio as well. I suppose, it is all a bit of banter more than anything. The odd bit of consultation does come into it but I never seem to get the cheque in the post after. A bit of pro bono work,” she laughs.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.