Ayeisha McFerran: ‘I have utmost respect for what Naomi Osaka did’

Now official energy drinks partner to the Irish Women’s Hockey Team, Red Bull has announced goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran as the latest Irish athlete to join the Red Bull family. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Ayeisha McFerran doesn’t do a whole pile of interviews when it comes to the day job. “An Irish girl in Holland,” where she plays in goal for SV Kampong, isn’t exactly huge news but she knows what it is to face the media via her duties with the Irish national team.

Now 25, she was one of the Ireland players interviewed after their 6-0 loss to the Netherlands in the 2018 World Cup final in London and she looks back now and rues the manner in which her emotions coloured the Q&A.