Winning ways: Karen Atkinson

“Everyone was really committed.
“We knew we had the players to put in the performance. Everyone really pushed — the effort was amazing.”
Of her own performance, the 25-year-old says: “I started off a bit nervous. Things didn’t run my way but things got better coming into the second half.
Karen has a degree in business and accounting and her aim is to be a teacher. She lives with her parents near Enniscorthy. Her boyfriend, Michael Sinnott, also plays GAA — he’s an intermediate goalie and subgoalie for his club Oulart-The Ballagh in Wexford.
I’d like to think I’m in good shape. I do three training sessions every week and I try to go to the gym at least once a week.
I tore my cruciate ligament 13 minutes into the 2010 All-Ireland final against Galway. I got tangled up with another player and fell heavily on my right knee. I knew the minute I hit the ground something was wrong. I was told I needed an operation but I’ve done lots of training and exercise to build up the muscle. I was heavily strapped for this year’s All-Ireland final but that was more as a precaution than anything else. Thankfully, my knee’s good now.
I like fruit and vegetables and I eat lots of protein — chicken, ham, eggs, cheese. I eat nuts — almonds, cashews. I’d have just one slice of bread a day and one potato.
Biscuits and crisps would be my worst habits. When you’re in the championship season, you don’t eat much bad stuff. I find foods like these give you false energy — after a while you go into a lull and it can really bring you down a bit.
I’m probably an anxious person so any little thing niggling away – like a job interview. My sister’s getting married soon so I’ll probably be awake the night before. And the night before an All-Ireland, I’d be thinking about it, going over it in my head.
Being on my own, whether in the living room or my bedroom, and taking deep breaths.
I’d love to have a conversation with Katie Taylor – she’s a great role model for women.
Fantasy — the perfume by Britney Spears. I love that really sweet smell.
I cried a little when the whistle blew on All-Ireland day. I was so shocked that we’d won three times in a row and that I was captain. I couldn’t believe it so I had a little cry to myself.
I’d like to have nice sleek hair. I’ve got kind of frizzy hair — when I get out of the shower, it’s like a frizz-ball.
Falseness, saying things behind someone’s back while being nice to their face.
People probably think I have an abundance of confidence but I can get very nervous doing interviews so I’d like more confidence around that.
I go to Mass every weekend. If I miss it, I feel guilty. It’s not often that I’d miss Mass – it’s usually because I’ve had a match or I’ve been out late the night before.
Knowing I’ve helped somebody else have a happier day.