Former Players - After the Final Whistle

As a player, Ladies Gaelic Football may form an integral part of your day-to-day life; whether it’s structuring your days around your training schedule, the sense of belonging of being a part of a team with some of your best friends or even, being seen as an integral part of your own identity. As you begin to come towards the end of your playing career, the thought of stepping away from the pitch may cause nervousness and raise internal questions around what to do next. When beginning to contemplate retirement from playing the game, it’s important to know that there are thousands of players across the country who have been in your boots so whilst the thought may cause initial fear, solace can be taken in others sharing the experience.

 

After the Final Whistle

The LGFA have launched a 5-part series called ‘After the Final Whistle’ to hear from players that have been in your boots and this is hosted by former Armagh legend Caoimhe (Marley) Morgan. The series is supported by Sport Ireland Women in Sport Funding. After the Final Whistle focuses on stories from retirement from the game with former intercounty players. Ciara O’Sullivan (Cork), Marie Crotty (Waterford), Marion Hayden (Carlow) and Maeve Quinn (Leitrim) alongside Caoimhe discuss various themes including first contemplating hanging up their boots, transitioning away from the field of play, maintaining a support network and other avenues to staying involved.

After the Final Whistle – Episode 1: When is the Right Time? (Released June 18th)

Sense of Identity

For years, your team can nearly be an extension of your family and sometimes, being seen as “the footballer” or even, the routine of training can become part and parcel of your lifestyle. That connection and identity can provide a balance and stability that retirement can upset, however, others have paved this journey previously.

 

After the Final Whistle – Episode 2: What Will I Be Known For? (Released June 25th)

Feeling of Belonging

Your teammates will always be your teammates and the support network that you have created through your time playing will continue despite, hanging up the boots. Connections to others through the game can permeate throughout your life even after your playing days or time on a certain team is over.

 

After the Final Whistle – Episode 3: The Connections You’ve Made (Released July 2nd)

Remaining Involved

Just because your time playing may be coming to an end, that doesn’t mean you need to step fully away from the game if you don’t want to. There are several avenues available that can support you to remain involved with the game you love.

 

After the Final Whistle – Episode 4: A Role for Everyone (Released July 9th)

The Next Chapter

Your playing experience can give you a unique insight and expertise that can be hugely beneficial for other roles within LGFA. We strive to have a place for everyone within our sport and this could be as a coach, match official, administrator, in PR, returning as a player and much more. Scroll down to the ‘Further Opportunities’ section for further details to support you on your next chapter.

 

After the Final Whistle – Episode 5: We All Contributed (Released July 16th)

The Wider Contribution

Often, football isn’t just an outlet for ourselves, but provides connection to others and is a source of pride for our family and friends also. Being a part of a team can provide connection for your wider support network and as you retire, stepping away may have a knock-on effect on others. Family & friends all contribute to our role as players and that contribution can continue as we step away from the field of play. Equally, you can continue your own contribution through other avenues in the years to come.

 

After the Final Whistle Bios

Caoimhe Morgan (Armagh) – Host

Former Armagh All-Star defender Caoimhe Morgan (Marley) represented Armagh for 21 seasons before hanging up her boots. From the Lissummon club, Caoimhe won numerous provincial and national titles with Armagh as well as captaining her county. Since retiring, Caoimhe has further cemented her involvement with the game through various coaching roles with counties and universities as well as completing the LGFA Learn to Lead programme and delving into the world of media.

Ciara O’Sullivan (Cork)

Ciara recently retired from intercounty football with Cork. Winning 8 All-Ireland titles, twice captaining the team to glory, Ciara is synonymous with the recent history of Ladies Gaelic Football in both Cork and her club, Mourneabbey. Playing for Cork for 16 years, Ciara picked up 5 All-Star awards along the way and is currently an ambassador for the LGFA BUA programme. She continues to play club football with Mourneabbey, having won multiple county, Munster and All-Ireland club titles also.

Marie Crotty (Waterford)

At inter-county level with the Déise, Marie Crotty won five All-Ireland Senior medals, eight Munster championships, a Junior All-Ireland title, and a Munster Junior medal during the course of a glittering career. Marie is also the proud holder of five All Star awards and she made history in 1986 when she became the first lady to score a point in Croke Park, during the 1986 All-Ireland Junior Final.

Since retiring from football, Marie has served in various coaching roles with Westmeath, the Coralstown club in the Lake County, underage teams in Ballymacarbry and, most recently, the Round Tower Club in Clondalkin. Through the years, Dublin-based Crotty has also overseen mid-week training sessions for Waterford players in the capital.

In 2018, Marie also worked with the Dublin U16 team and she is renowned as a selfless volunteer who has worked at many national LGFA events, including the All-Ireland Club 7s, National Development Days and the Gaelic4Mothers&Others Blitz Day. She was inducted into the LGFA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Marion Hayden (Carlow)

Beginning her refereeing career in 2017, Marion Hayden is a renowned LGFA referee and a valued member of Éire Óg club. Her application of the rules, communication with players, and expert handling of the game have led her to officiate numerous significant occasions, including the Leinster Senior Ladies Football Final.

Marion made history by becoming the first woman to referee a men’s football championship game in County Carlow. This milestone occurred during the summer of 2023 when she officiated the match between Kilbride and Kildavin-Clonegal. Previously, Marion completed the LGFA Learn to Lead programme and is currently the lead on the county development committee for match officials development.

In her playing career, Marion represented Carlow for 24 years as well as being selected for Leinster.

Maeve Quinn (Leitrim)

Maeve’s longevity in terms of a playing career is pretty unparalleled. At the age of 58, she is still continuing to play both first team (as goalkeeper) and second team (outfield) football with St. Brigids (an amalgamation of Aughawillan, Maeve’s home club, Aughnasheelin & Drumreilly). Additionally, Maeve currently volunteers as a coach within the Leitrim Minor set-up and is also a Connacht council delegate amongst taking on various other volunteer roles over the years. Maeve joined the LGFA Management Committee in 2025 as National Culture and Language Officer. Her family is intertwined in LGFA history with the Intermediate All-Ireland Cup being named after Maeve’s mother Mary Quinn.

On an individual basis, the awards are no less impressive as Maeve is a three All Star winner in 1984, 1985 and 1994 while also picking up seven replacement All Stars down through the years.

Whilst Maeve’s County achievements are clear to see on the pitch, her vibrant club playing and volunteering career highlight the various avenues to remain involved in the game following county retirement.

 

Further Opportunities

Coaching

Your playing experience can give you a unique insight and expertise that can support a potential journey into coaching. For coaches across Gaelic Games, the Gaelic Games Coach Pathway (https://ladiesgaelic.ie/lgfa-hub/coaches/gaelic-games-coach-pathway/) provides a route map for coaches to gain their qualifications relevant to the various stages of the Gaelic Games Player Pathway that they wish to support.

Additionally, for former (and current) intercounty players, the annual Level 1 Intercounty Player Coaching Course provides a direct opportunity to kickstart your coaching career.

If you require further support in relation to getting started in coaching, please contact Head of Coach Development, William Harmon on William.harmon@lgfa.ie.

 

Officiating

Officiating, including refereeing, umpiring or being a linesperson or 4^th official can provide another opportunity for players to remain involved in the game in a different capacity.

To become a referee, the LGFA Grab Your Whistle Referee Pathway provides a clear direction on how to gain the relevant qualifications and experience needed to referee at club, provincial and national level.

Grab Your Whistle Referee Pathway: https://ladiesgaelic.ie/lgfa-hub/referees/referee-pathways/

Referee Courses: https://ladiesgaelic.ie/lgfa-hub/referees/referee-courses/

If you require further support in relation to getting started in officiating, please contact Head of Match Officials, Lizzie Flynn on lizzie.flynn@lgfa.ie.

 

Volunteering & Administration

Away from the pitch, there are multiple strands that former players can get involved in to remain involved in a more behind-the-scenes capacity. Governance aspects such as committee roles are integral to ensure our games can take place. Additionally, volunteer development committee roles at both club and county level can help safeguard the future of our games. At any level of the game, volunteers are the lifeblood to facilitating all aspects. To get involved in volunteering, contact your local club or county as your first port of call. If you wish to volunteer on a national level or require further information on volunteering or administration, please contact Head of Volunteer Development, Niall Mulrine on niall.mulrine@lgfa.ie.

 

Developing Your Skills and Knowledge

As you step away from playing, there are programmes to support your development into potential leadership roles across the aforementioned areas.

Learn to Lead

A bi-annual year-long programme to support the next generation of leaders in the LGFA. Over four days, and six evenings, the LGFA will examine diverse leadership skills and focus on the skill-sets and techniques required to master each of the four strands – coaching, officiating, administration/governance and PR/Media.

Further information is available here: https://ladiesgaelic.ie/learn/learn-to-lead/

Leading Provincial Females

The Leading Provincial Females programme is designed for females aged 18+ interested in developing personally and also leading teams potentially through their role in Gaelic Games. There will be four programmes running consecutively – one in Connacht, Leinster, Ulster and Munster.

All participants will attend two days, one at start and one at end of programme, which will examine their leadership skills. They must also attend a mid-point evening session again focusing on their leadership skills. Finally, participants must complete at least two modules from themes across the four strands of coaching, officiating, administration and PR/Media between each of those dates, minimum four in total.  Participants may attend more than four modules in total if they wish but it is a minimum of two between each date.

Further information is available here: https://ladiesgaelic.ie/learn/leading-provincial-females/

Getting Back to Playing..

If you have stepped away from club or county football for a while, you may want to return to playing after a year or two but in a more relaxed capacity. That’s where Gaelic4Mothers&Others comes in. The Gaelic4Mothers&Others initiative sees women playing Ladies Gaelic Football in a fun, non-competitive and social environment. Gaelic4Mothers&Others provides an opportunity for women to get their recommended weekly exercise in a fun way while meeting other mothers in the area.

For more information on Gaelic4Mothers&Others, please contact Head of Growth & Participation, Vinny Whelan on Vincent.whelan@lgfa.ie.