Guess who's signing my jersey? Kerry girls savour post-match moment with footballing hero

'When she signed my jersey I almost screamed because she’s my icon. I look up to her because I play in the forwards and when I see her play it inspires me so much'

Mon, 08 Jul, 2024 - 15:30

Adam Moynihan

The two young Kerry fans captured in a magical picture alongside footballer Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh say meeting their hero is a moment they will never forget.

Friends Blathnaid O'Sullivan (10) and Ava Grace O'Shea Joy (12) rushed onto the pitch to get an autograph from the forward after Kerry’s All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Meath at Austin Stack Park on Saturday.

When the reigning LGFA Players’ Player of the Year signed Ava Grace’s jersey, the Laune Rangers youngsters couldn’t contain their delight. Their emotion was captured beautifully by local photographer David Corkey of Radio Kerry Sport.

“Meeting Louise was one of the greatest moments of my life,” Ava Grace told the Irish Examiner. “I had been waiting the whole match for it. The second the final whistle blew, we sprinted up to the forwards, but we had to re-route because Louise was with the subs.

“When she signed my jersey I almost screamed because she’s my icon. I look up to her because I play in the forwards and when I see her play it inspires me so much. Later, she gave me a high five as I left the pitch, so it really was the best night ever.”

Blathnaid also got an autograph and a coveted high five from Ní Mhuircheartaigh. “I play for the Laune Rangers U12s and my dream would be to someday play for Kerry like her,” she said. “Meeting Louise made my day!”

Unsurprisingly, the eye-catching image went viral on social media.

On Twitter/X, the popular Irish language account The Irish For (@theirishfor) shared the snap with their 77,400 followers and said: “Incredible photo – like a painting by one of the old Dutch masters.” Photographer Corkey has been blown away by the response to his picture.

“Sometimes in that situation you see a kid getting an autograph but by the time you get the camera up, the moment has passed. This time once I pushed the shutter the reaction happened, so I didn’t see it coming beforehand. It was just luck. I kind of spotted the girls and saw they were excited, but it wasn’t until I got back to the car afterwards that I saw it properly.

“Of course you’re always hoping to capture an image like that. A similar kind of thing happened last year (when Kerry beat Meath in the All-Ireland quarter-final at the same venue). The supporters and the parents ran onto the pitch and there was a big crowd around all the players.

“So I knew this time to be prepared. I said to myself if I get out here and get as many photos as I can, I’ll get something.”

Corkey, who has separately been nominated for a prize at the World Sports Photography Awards for an action shot of another west Kerry footballer, Tom O’Sullivan, is full of praise for the Kerry ladies’ team and the way they engage with fans.

“It wasn’t just Louise; every player stayed out on the pitch signing autographs and taking photos. You probably could have got a similar photo of kids reacting like that to a lot of the players.

“I left about half an hour after the final whistle and they were still all out there. Louise was still in the same spot with a crowd around her. They’re very nice to the supporters, in fairness to them.”

Corca Dhuibhne woman Ní Mhuircheartaigh added: “When we wear the jersey we are representing so much more - not just a football team, but all the young players that dream big.”

As pleased as Corkey is with the plaudits, he is prouder still of what his photograph of Ava Grace, Blathnaid and Louise represents.

“I think it sends a really nice, positive message about the ladies’ game. These moments were happening all over that pitch the last day. It shows that young girls have positive role models they can look up to."