Munster Rugby v Connacht Rugby Match Programme

then after a couple of years in college, I joined
Highfield and had a good couple of years with
them. When I went to UL to do a Masters, I
ended up joining UL Bohs. I had a great start. I
was very lucky.”
Acknowledging the huge role the close-knit
community of volunteers who work tirelessly in
the women’s game have played in her career,
Sheehan is extremely grateful of being subject
to the wealth of knowledge that was on offer
from her time in UCC, Highfield and UL Bohs.
“In UCC I had Helen Brosnan and Fi Hayes as
my coaches who were both internationals,
had serious careers and still do. They’re both
coaching now and progressing through that
pathway. They were massive. At the time when
I joined UCC, it was just before they went to the
World Cup, so they had Ali Miller training with
us just before she broke onto the scene and had
her hat-trick against England and stuff.
“They were people like Zoe Grattage as well that
broke onto the Irish team. We saw her pathway
through Munster as well. Similarly, when I went
up to Highfield, Nicola Scully who is a legend
for Munster women’s rugby, she put so much
time into myself.”
Sheehan concluded: “Yeah, plenty of people. It
was a great little bubble we had back in Cork in
my formative years in rugby. Lots and lots of
brilliant people.”
Although biding her time for the next opportunity
to pull on a green jersey, the establishment
of the fixtures for 2021 Women’s Six Nations
championship is a real boost. Her progression
to the international arena is a testament to her
determination and work-ethic but it’s also clear
that the passion for women’s rugby in Munster,
driven by hundreds of volunteers, had a major
impact on her development.
MUNSTER v CONNACHT | 05.03.21 | THOMOND PARK
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