GERALDINE Callaghan says it didn’t take her long to rediscover her competitive edge once again after starring with the Termon ladies last season.
Callaghan (née McLaughlin) missed the 2023 campaign as she was pregnant with son, Seán.
However, she was happy to get back into the swing of things and played a starring role as Termon won the county title once again.
“Last year was just a matter of getting back playing with the girls,” said McLaughlin as she collected the September Sports Star of the Month award in conjunction with Brian McCormick Sports & Leisure.
“Sometimes you forget about winning and trophies and all of that, but you don’t be long getting back into the competitiveness of it.
“But it’s just enjoyable and a bit of craic. We had a good year and we can’t complain.
“It was never a question of whether I would play. I was dying to get back.
“Even the year before when I wasn’t playing, I was still nearly at every training.
“When you are away from it, you do miss it, so you want to stay involved.
“The girls there are my best friends, and it’s great to play with them again.”
Callaghan likes to keep in good shape and she got stuck into the hard pre-season training.
“I went back at a good time. It was still the start of the season and they were only back a couple of weeks.
“I’m very competitive anyway and nobody wants to be last, so you’re always pushing yourself.
“When you think you might be behind, you push yourself a wee bit further.
“It worked out for me and I was injury-free which was the main thing.”
Termon cruised through to the Senior Ladies Final, where Moville were appearing in their first final in six years.
The Burn Road side were rampant on the day as they won by 7-13 to 1-8 with McLaughlin supplying 3-5 in a phenomenal player of the match display.
“We probably feared them a bit at the start, and we knew we had to go out and play a strong game if we were going to beat them.
“When you have that bit of fear, you are focused on playing as well as you can and everything seemed to go our way.
“We know Moville are a top-class team with brilliant players.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and maybe the scoreline reflects differently, but it felt like a tight game the whole way through.”
Termon had high hopes in the Ulster Championship and took care of Tyrone side St Macartan’s in style at the Burn Road.
However, they were off the pace in the provincial semi-final and lost by 2-14 to 0-5 against Lurgan. It was a frustrating day in Cavan for McLaughlin and her teammates.
“It was one of those days when you’re glad you’re playing away and not at home.
“It was just one of those games when anything that could go wrong did go wrong, and it was probably the same for Moville in the final.
“We just didn’t turn up and that was disappointing as we know we are a better team than we showed.
“I don’t know if that makes it any easier, but that’s football and some days it doesn’t go for you.”
Callaghan got married over the festive season and she is part of the elder echelon of players in the Termon dressing room.
Evelyn McGinley, Shannon McLaughlin, Jodie McFadden, and Ciara McGarvey are now their county stars.
There are different priorities for Callaghan and some of her teammates these days but they are looking forward to the 2025 campaign.
“We still have a very strong team.
“We’re not back training yet whereas in the last two years, we were back a wee bit earlier.
“It’s a long year if the county do well, and you’re not out until later.
“We would be hoping they will do well, so we won’t have championship until July or August time.
“You can play all the league games and get players back into it but it’s all about the championship.”
It’s an exciting time for the Termon club and their fabulous new clubhouse is almost ready and will provide a hub for the community for generations to come.
“It’s class.
“It’s something you’d see on TV and knowing that it’s at our back yard is just brilliant.
“Credit has to go to everyone who has put in so much work.
“It’s what everyone wants to have a top class clubhouse and we will have that, and it will be fantastic for the club.”
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