Mariana Birdthistle '19 Recruiting Profile

I want to be the best I can be if that is being the best in the world or not, I want to reach it. I would be a good candidate for the team because I work well with any team I am put on. I went into my first year of Secondary school and my school was not known to be good at hockey, but we went on to win the Munster (province) A league and came second in the Munster A cup, which is making history for my school twice in our first year. We then went onto compete in the A division for the next 6 years which was unheard of in our school. We got to several finals but just missed out on our chance to be champions and that hunger to win shows when I play. I always put my team first and will help them any way I can to win.

I think I'm different from other recruits because I doubt that you get many from Ireland in the first place, and also I am very stubborn. So if I want something I will fight to get it. I trialed for the Munster team for two years against girls two years older than me and didn't get on. But that didn't stop me, I went to the next trial, the next year, in my final year at that U16s I got on. Now, after three years of playing with them, I was starting keeper for my last year playing U18 Munster girl's field hockey team.

I think what makes me different from other goalkeepers, is that I have been playing basketball as well for a large part of my life, so my hand-eye coordination is better than others. I also played soccer for a while, as the goalkeeper as well, so I have power behind my kick. I have confidence and that is what I think is key to being a good goalkeeper in any sport, is seeing the ball and saying that it shall not pass. I will go to the top of the circle if it is to clear the ball from entering. I want to win everything at the conference, I want to get the opportunity to help the team achieve the highest goal obtainable. I want to work with a team, and help others develop their game as well.

I'm different to others keepers because I have been playing women's hockey since I was 14 years old. So I have been playing with some of the best players in Ireland for years, and watched them develop into Silver medal winners. In Ireland, we play hurling, which has to do with hitting a ball as well but something the girls gain is their upper-body strength and power, so I am well used to getting/ stopping a big, hard shot. I have trained on numerous occasions with Davey Harte at several camps, and he has given me personal rips and little tweaks that have helped me become the player I am today.