How did your educational journey shape your career trajectory or prepare you for your career? Or do you think it did in any way?

Massively.

Massively.

Again, it was a difficult thing coming into education.

I can't stress that enough in terms of the pathway.

And I was very well supported in the access course.

which is a phenomenal course.

do that and just the organisation of getting that family across and I do agree listening is a really hard thing to do like even in first or second year if I got an assignment back and there was feedback that I just did not like I'd be like oh they don't know what they're talking about they don't know this that the other but just listening and understand where it's coming from it's a really important skill to learn and I don't think some people ever get it.

But your players showed the character and tenacity that they have done all season to get back into the contest.

It's probably what we say every week.

Teams are only going to be as good as we allow them to be.

And I thought the first 15.2 minutes we allowed Cork to get into the game, which is disappointing considering I thought large spells against that loan last week were probably... as good if not the better team so it's getting that consistency over time but you know again there is also multiple changes and that's not by no means I'm saying those are the reasons we started slowly but I think when you're changing teams at times and making changes it can take players a couple of minutes to get into the game and you know to be fair to young looms I actually thought she as the game continued she grew a bit you know so yeah look I think it was one of those that we just didn't we weren't strong enough defensively in the first half and we weren't aggressive enough or proactive enough with our communication with each other a lot of backwards and sideways passes as well so we just had a conversation at half time and changed it and looks to be fair I thought once we got the second or third was coming and probably Cork were lucky that we didn't score a fourth yeah

must be very happy with all the midfielders, including Ballotich, who ended up being on the score sheet.

Yeah, and to be honest with you, probably, like, I think you're doing Abby Catlin a disservice.

Just a small bit on her.

There was times this year where she wasn't in the matchday squad.

And after that devastating shootout loss, Jonathan Higgins was speaking to the Galway United women's manager, Phil Trill.

Unbelievable, Jonathan, unbelievable.

So proud, so happy.

I think the energy, the work rate, the enthusiasm.

Obviously being without our top scorer was a difficult one for us again and I'm not sure how...

You know, the men's rules transfer across our league is crazy.

A yellow card, two yellow cards in different games.

And that period after the second period of normal time was just phenomenal stuff.

Unbelievable, Johnson.

Unbelievable.

So proud.

So happy.

I think the energy, the work rate, the enthusiasm.

Obviously, being without our top scorer was a difficult one for us again.

And that period after the second period of normal time was just phenomenal stuff.

Yeah, I agree, John.

Do you or the players look at those and say, "Do you know what? We've got nothing to be afraid of"?

Oh, we definitely have no fear there, John.

I think, uh, I think the last time we played Athlone, being honest, I thought their goal was very much against the run of play, and especially when we reflected on the game and we analyzed it, it was very much against the run of play.

And, um, obviously our two goals were fantastic towards the end, um, of it, and, and the red card, you know, was, was, was part of that game.

But, um, you know, I, I...

Yeah, definitely, there should be internal belief in that, John, in that, like it's, it's nothing we haven't conquered before.

And, uh, you know, if anything, it'll probably give Athlone a bit more impetus to come at us a bit more on Saturday, you know? And, um, that's something we need to be prepared for, but we've, we've firm belief in this group, John.

You will need good traveling support on Saturday night.

It could have been easy for the players' heads to drop but what is it and what is that mentality that the players have because they continue to keep fighting for the cause?

Yeah, well, we've said it since we've come in.

You know, the players have incredible belief and internal belief in themselves.

And more often than not, what it is, is it's someone else on the pitch usually that calms things down or refocuses people and makes sure that you know, we're in a situation that we do maintain composure.

You know, DLR made it really difficult earlier in the year for us.

I think we scored in something like the 70th minute and probably had more chances on that day, to be fair.

So, you know, they're experienced enough now to understand that, you know, if you're going into a game at that moment and have that confidence, we just need to keep playing the way we're playing and make sure that we're in a position that we can continue to see games out as well.

What is the task at hand for not only the starting XI, the bench, but also those reserve players from now to the end of the season for Galway?

But what is it and what is that mentality that the players have? Because they continue to keep fighting for the cause.

Yeah, well, we've said it since we've come in.

You know, the players have incredible belief and internal belief in themselves.

And more often than not, what it is, is it's someone else on the pitch usually that calms things down or refocuses people and makes sure that, you know, we're in a situation that we do maintain composure.

You know, the alarm had a really difficult earlier in the year for us.

I think we scored in something like the 70th minute.

And probably had more chances on that day, to be fair.

I remember you did an interview after the full-time whistle last week and you said that you wanted to focus ahead of next week and you know get back to working and that's what the players exactly did and even when it didn't go there all their own way they still found the answers you must be incredibly proud of the way that they responded to not only last week's heartbreak but also to the challenge that DLR Wave set them because DLR Wave played like a team that you know they're towards the bottom end of the table but they didn't play like that they played like a really good primary division side

Lions person

that gave that call.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And look, credit to her.

She's making her path in the game, but this is an All-Ireland Cup final, Mike.

We should be having Premier Division officials here.

Far too often it seems like a third league when they're appointing officials, unfortunately.

You still have so much to play for.

gave that call.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And look, credit to her.

You know, she's making her path in the game.

But this is an All-Ireland Cup final, Mike.

We should be having Premier Division officials here.

Far too often it seems like a third league when they're appointing officials, unfortunately.

today

Satisfied with it.

Terrible stuff, isn't it? To be in July unbeaten is okay, you know.

I don't think we're ever truly satisfied, being really honest.

And Sunday probably epitomises that.

We were probably 25, 30 minutes into the game and I thought we were probably going to be 7-0 winners.

But that also proves, I think, and it shows... a sharpness and a freshness in the group that you know it doesn't matter how well you think it's going it's about what's next and we I think that's the growth that we've taken over the last two or three days game against Treaty I thought were really really good and then I suppose we've probably learned a bit more about ourselves Mike in that In May previously, it was always thrown at us that, you know, we struggle or falter.

Again, I think we're in July now and we're showing really good progress.

Yeah.

What was the main reason for Rovers getting back into the game? Was it the side of Doyle goal going into halftime or was it just a collective effort from everyone, kind of maybe the heads dropping, a bit of human nature getting involved? I

thought the goal in the first half was outrageously sloppy from our perspective.

We just kicked the ball to her and allowed her to finish and that, no more than the second goal, was very sloppy and defending for the third goal was very sloppy as well to give away a free or foul if it was a foul.

Poor, like poor things to look at and things to reflect on but... like look the other side of it is I think we're probably 16 games unbeaten this season and if you add in last season it's probably a hell of a long unbeaten run we've got a final to look forward to on Saturday so you can lick your wounds as long as you want but you know we have to think progressive and have to think okay very very simple fixes and hopefully we can fix them for next week

What will you do in terms of reviewing the game and just break us through that kind of midweek routine leading up to that cup final? What are you going to be looking at?

We'll reflect, we'll watch the game this week.

We're back in.

We'll try and choose a bit of media obligations this week and we'll try and try and just prepare for the game as normal.

What would you do in terms of reviewing the game and just break us through that kind of midweek routine leading up to that cup final? What are you going to be looking at in particular from mainly the second half when the kind of all came crashing down for Galway?

Yeah, I think the hyperbole there was a bit much.

It came crashing down.

We conceded two goals.

One of them was a penalty.

I think we had enough chances to win the game.

So, like, I get the feeling is that it feels like a loss.

Trying to look ahead and look again at the positive for that What are you aiming for in terms of the weaknesses of Shells coming into next week? I haven't even looked at them yet, to be honest with you.

You've got a rather... busy time in the league as well just looking at some of the fixers that are coming up it's pretty much non-stop and you've even got a midweek game to worry about which I don't say you're too impressed about but it is what it is there's going to be a lot of management shall we say of players minutes now for this

yeah look credit you know I think one of the biggest things we've always said is there's strength and depth here and you know it's moments like this I suppose that given the academy players exposure earlier in the season might come into fruition that you know they're more of an option obviously in these busy periods but yeah like the midweek one John is a bit of a crazy one and we'll have another midweek game scheduled as well the scheduling is absolutely baffling in that you get punished for making it further rounds in the cup and which is a bit of a misnomer for me.

I think it's a bit of a scandalous.

I think clubs should be encouraged to do well in all competitions and not punished necessarily by travelling, as you said there, midweek away to Dublin or maybe midweek away to further afield, which we probably will be doing during the season.

It's a difficult one to manage, but look, I suppose we'll just have to get over it and at the end of the day we'll have to just go out and play the games and get on with it I do find it a bit strange being honest John that we're in July and we still haven't hit the halfway point of league fixtures played with a league that started in March and then all of a sudden now we're expected to go between August and October and finish it all you know to play a full half of the season within that is a bit of a mad one but yeah yeah that's where I'm at with

I mean, there surely has to be something done to make sure that you don't have something like a 48-hour window to try and get players to recover and then go into what could be a very important league game.

Yeah, yeah.

Look, and the other side of that is managing the players.

you must be really proud of your girls because you're building such squad depth as well as fantastic players.

Yeah, look, I'm really proud of the whole club.

You know, you look at, I've been here a while, like 2018, a new development is something I'm very proud of and will stay with me.

And, you know, and, yeah, It can be a difficult thing, you know, but I just felt that I would have the little knack for getting in the right place at the right time.

Probably unlucky not to score two again.

But, yeah, really proud of the whole club because we have a very aligned structure, you know.

The 17s are very, very clear on what we want to do.

Was that like, what was going through your head when she said that? Because was that agreed upon or was it a bit like, okay, we need to think about this properly? Look, the

you must be really proud of your girls because you're building such squad depth as well as fantastic players.

Yeah, look, I'm really proud of the whole club.

You know, you look at, I've been here a while, like 2018, a new development is something I'm very proud of and will stay with me.

And, you know, and, yeah, It can be a difficult thing, you know, but I just felt that I would have the little knack for getting in the right place at the right time.

Probably unlucky not to score two again.

But, yeah, really proud of the whole club because we have a very aligned structure, you know.

The 17s are very, very clear on what we want to do.

Was that like, what was going through your head when she said that? Because was that agreed upon or was it a bit like, okay, we need to think about this properly? Look, the last

Is there time obviously you've had a couple of weeks so any injuries that you may have had or any knocks that might have come to some of the players gave them a chance to recover from it so that leads to the question how are you fixed injury wise will you have a full squad to choose from?

Yeah, well, the funny thing about breaks is sometimes, you know, players come back in with niggles and stuff.

It's a strange part of it, you know, when you're going so hard and then you take a little break, sometimes you might have been ignoring a little tweak.

So we've won or two little tweaks, but it's the same balance at Acta every week, John.

You know, we have a very, very good medical team and people are getting back regularly.

And people we haven't seen in a while are coming back and they're coming close to freshness now as well, which is really, really good at a crucial point of the year and will give us a certain level of a new push and impetus in the squad going forward.

But, yeah, it's a juggling act.

Are we talking maybe a rotation of some of the squad then to give some of the players a chance or will you not make that call until close to kick-off?

So what's your reaction to that?

Yeah, a bit of an interesting one.

Obviously Linfield were the first Niffel side we played a couple of years ago in the competition.

And yeah, it's a big trip, John, you know, so they'll be coming down to play us in two weeks time and we need to make sure that we're focused for it and ready for it.

And it's a bit of an interesting one, I suppose.

They obviously beat Sligo Rover as well yesterday.

who are going quite well in our league.

Is the timing right for you overall that you have a week off then you've got Linfield and you're not back in the league again until the 20th when you're at home to Waterford so the timing is ideal would it be fair to say?

So what's your reaction to that?

Yeah, a bit of an interesting one.

Obviously Linfield were the first Niffle side we played a couple of years ago in the competition.

And yeah, it's a big trip, John, you know, so they'll be coming down to play us in two weeks time and we need to make sure that we're focused for it and ready for it.

And it's a bit of an interesting one.

I suppose they obviously bet Sligo were over as well yesterday.

who are going quite well in our league.

Is the timing right for you overall that you have a week off then you've got Linfield and you're not back in the league again until the 20th when you're at home to Waterford so the timing is ideal would it be fair to say?