From Corinthians to Colosseum - Megan Connolly loving Roman reign

Republic of Ireland's Megan Connolly poses for a portrait at their team hotel in Istanbul ahead of their UEFA Women's Nations League League B match against Türkiye on Friday. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Getting barracked by scowling supporters wasn’t what Megan Connolly envisaged, especially in the land of His Holiness.

Nothing the Corkwoman had encountered in her career at home, America or England prepared her for the hostility awaiting in the Rome derby.

Lazio against Roma is a big deal regardless of gender.

Fans from both sides attend men’s and women’s clashes, applying equality in their approaches to goading opposition players.

Connolly was soon exposed to the Derby della Capitale on her debut last August, a feisty 2-2 draw.

Playing in the English Women’s Super League for Brighton and then Bristol City had brought pressure but this was far more overt.

“You hear so much about the derby but I didn’t know what to expect and it was quite a shock,” recalls the Ireland defender.

“There are rivalries in England but it is just a bit different here. Among the Roma fans, you have grown men shouting at you. I still enjoyed the atmosphere and hopefully we can beat them twice next year.”

Connolly has reason to be confident. Lazio finished the season strongly by winning seven of their last eight games, albeit it was in the lower half of a split from midseason.

She’d snapped a six-year spell in England to try the Continental route. Contractual uncertainty accompanied her on the trip and there was the language barrier but she’s content with how her maiden season unravelled.

So too were her employers to the point they granted a two-year contract extension.

“While I took quite a big risk to go there, I look back on it as such a great decision for me personally and for my career,” said Connolly.

“At the start it was quite difficult. It was quite a big change moving from England, going to a new culture, a new everything.

“But once you immerse yourself in the culture, learn from it and your Italian teammates, it helps.

“However, the language is quite difficult. That was never my forte in school. I’m doing lessons but I’m not sure if it’s making much of a difference for me!” 

This time last year, the sister of Cork GAA footballer Luke was back home surveying her future options. Yet the wait until August for the Italian job was one she reflects on fondly.

“At that point of my career, there were certain things that I value quite a lot,” she explained about her mindset.

“I’d been at Brighton and then captained Bristol City.

“I had some great relationships and great experiences but knew what I wanted. For the next move I wanted to go somewhere playing football where I could kind of develop my football and also have that feeling of being a key player; someone who could implement their leadership, my style of play, and everything I bring to the pitch.

“I waited for a bit and Lazio came in. As soon as I got the first phone call, I knew straight away. It’s hard to put into words the feeling but it was exactly what I was waiting for the whole time.

"I got that feeling of a club who were ambitious, had a style of play, and a manager who valued me.

“Looking back on it now, it panned out how I had hoped for. The waiting paid off.” 

Besides an injury which also kept her out of the April international camp, Connolly has been a mainstay at Lazio. She even chipped in with a sublime goal against Napoli to further endear her to the fanbase.

“It was disappointing to miss out on the top half by just one result and I’m glad they’re adding two teams next year to remove the split,” the 28-year-old says.

By then, she’ll have broadened her knowledge of the Italian capital. Connolly is based in Formello, a brief 25 jaunt from the centre, and she doesn’t pass up opportunities of exploring the famous city.

“In the first few months it was more a case of trying to survive, adapt and get the football stuff sorted,” she outlines about the transition.

“Once things on the pitch were going well and I was settled in, I went out a bit more to experience the culture. It’s been quite nice, such a beautiful place and city.

“You can turn any corner walking through the city and find a new landmark that you didn’t even know.

“You won’t get to see everything you want food wise. When I go into the centre there’s so many food places, even places you wouldn’t think are restaurants. Then you go into the back of them and it’s a proper cultural experience.

“Being there for the next two years it will be nice to get out and experience new cultures and restaurants. It’s been fantastic and not the worst place to live. Bristol and Brighton were lovely in different ways!”

She’s in Turkey for Friday’s penultimate Uefa Nations League fixture before returning to familiar territory next week.

Páirc Uí Chaoímh for the visit of Slovenia on Tuesday evokes happy memories, the most recent her assist for Anna Patten in last July’s 3-1 win over France.

There’ll be droves of young girls in attendance, idolising locals Connolly, Denise O’Sullivan and Saoirse Noonan for their exploits.

“I know that my former club Corinthians have a great underage programme in Cork, so having an international game right around the corner from where they're all training is fantastic.

“The club did a great gesture after the World Cup by putting the banner up on the main pitch. That’s always there. Recently one of the teams won the league and got their picture in front of the banner.

"It’s always nice to see; reminding me of where I come from. I try to give back whenever I’m home by going up there.”