By Daire Walsh

She has achieved a considerable amount in her career to date, but Cavan footballer Aishling Sheridan still regards her O’Connor Cup success with DCU Dóchas Éireann back in 2018 as one of her ‘favourite sporting memories’.

After suffering semi-final defeats to the same opposition in the previous two seasons, Sheridan and the capital college were determined to get the better of University of Limerick when the two sides clashed in an O’Connor Cup showpiece at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown a little over seven years ago. Part of a star-studded forward line that also included Niamh Kelly, Sarah Rowe (both Mayo), Aishling Moloney (Tipperary), Aoibhin Cleary and Vikki Wall (both Meath), Sheridan contributed 1-1 to help DCU squeeze over the line on a final score of 2-12 to 0-17.

Speaking ahead of the O’Connor Cup extravaganza at Queen’s University in Belfast this weekend, Sheridan described that DCU side – which also included established Dublin stars Leah Caffrey and Lauren Magee – as one of the best she has played on.

“I still highlight that as probably one of my favourite sporting memories. It was my final year in DCU and it was such a special year I think for our team. We lost the year before and I think it was always tight between us and UL or UCC was always knocking on the door as well,” Sheridan explained.

“It was a really special year for that team in DCU. It really is probably one of my highlights in my sporting career, because I got to play with such unbelievable athletes and footballers that year. It’s probably one of the best teams I’ve ever been a part of. Definitely a really good memory to have.”

Just a few months on from that O’Connor Cup triumph, Sheridan graduated from DCU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Therapy and Training. While she initially focused on the former by working with a number of football teams, her own playing commitments with Cavan and Mullahoran was always going to make this a difficult pursuit in the long run.

This ultimately led to her going down the training route and in addition to securing a personal trainer degree, she also obtained a certification in nutrition. She subsequently signed terms with Aussie Rules outfit Collingwood ahead of their 2020 campaign in the AFLW, but after finding herself back home in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheridan launched her own online coaching business.

Through tailored workout routines, progress tracking and continuous support, At Aish Fit offers an holistic approach that integrates fitness training with personalised meal plans and nutritional advice. It has come on in leaps and bounds in the past few years and Sheridan credits social media for helping her business to grow to its current level of strength.

“I started doing online classes during Covid and that is then where it brought me into the space I’m working in now. Being able to do a bit more coaching and I’ve done Pilates now since. Really expanded that whole health, fitness and wellness area.

“I think social media is so important. Especially for any business growth. Being able to post maybe recipes or work outs online is a big part of my job as well. I just love to help people really, that’s where my passion comes from. I’m so, so grateful to have this as my job because it is truly something that I enjoy and love.”

Despite operating her own business, Sheridan continued to maintain a professional career with Collingwood – featuring regularly for them from 2021 to 2023. However, after opting to put herself on the inactive list for last year’s edition of the AFLW, she was back on home soil for the vast majority of 2024.

Although she also decided to take a break from inter-county duty during this period, Sheridan did line out at club level and was a key figure for Mullahoran as they claimed intermediate club championship honours in both Cavan and Ulster.

“I took the year out last year and I think it just gave me a chance to experience different things. I got to travel a bit more than I ever have. I got to visit family and relations in South Africa, which we had never met before. It just gave me that bit of freedom and that bit of time off playing inter-county or playing AFLW. Which then allowed me to play club.

“I hadn’t played club championship in three years, so I was kind of excited to get back playing with my club and a lot of the girls that I had grown up with or coached from a very young age. Didn’t know we’d have such a successful year with Mullahoran. I think it ended up just being a really good year, which I’m very, very grateful for.”

Sheridan has also enjoyed success on the inter-county front as she was a teenage panellist when Cavan won the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate football championship in 2013. Joining her on the Breffni squad back then were her sisters Mona and Geraldine, while their father Gerry was also joint-manager of the team for their final success over Tipperary.

Cavan are now back in the second-tier following their relegation from the All-Ireland senior championship two years ago and the now 28-year-old Sheridan will be a big part of their bid to reclaim the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup.

In the wake of officially ending her time with Collingwood last December, Sheridan returned to the Cavan fold and has started all five games they have played to date in Division 3 of the Lidl National Football League. The Ulster outfit are currently leading the way in the NFL third-tier ahead of their sixth round meeting against Laois tomorrow week (March 23), but Sheridan believes nothing is set in stone when it comes to claiming the two promotion spots in the division.

“I think we’re kind of exactly where we want to be at this stage of the league, but I think if you even look at the top of the table, it’s anyone’s final. There’s a lot of teams quite close. We’re happy where we are, but still the next two games will be extremely important for us,” Sheridan added.

 

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