This much I know: Noelle Healy, footballer

I have always been competitive. When it comes to sports, I always want to win.

Ever since I was a really young child, I have loved sports. My sister was a very good runner. Sonia O’Sullivan was the big star when I was growing up and my first love was also athletics, then basketball. Then, there was a lovely green in front of my parent’s house in Castleknock in Dublin where we used to play soccer with all the boys. GAA was the only sport I knew locally that had a girl’s team, which is why I opted for Gaelic.

I think I was a shy child. Being involved in sports was good for me on so many levels. It meant I had no choice but to become more outgoing.