YOU would be forgiven for forgetting that Fermanagh’s Eimear Smyth took a year out from inter-county football last season.
The star full-forward slotted back with ease and scarily never looked like she had been away. A lot of things came together for Fermanagh this year as they landed the All-Ireland Junior title on Sunday past with a 1-11 to 0-12 win over Louth in Croke Park and the return of Smyth was one of them.
The 23-year-old is an unbelievable talent and it would very interesting to see how she would fare playing in the senior ranks and if there was a transfer market, the championships’ top scorer would be one of the most sought after players.
She hit 1-9, six points from frees, in a player-of-the-match display and she has added another personal award to that one after being officially confirmed as the ZuCar Golden Boot award winner for 2024, the prize on offer for the leader scorer in the All-Ireland Ladies Football Championships.
Her final haul saw her finish on a tally of 8-48, an unassailable 39 points ahead of second placed Kate Flood of Louth.
The critic might offer up the comparison that scores, high scores at that, are easier to come by in junior football compared to senior football, but that is not Smyth’s fault and the Derrygonnelly player never stops working hard at trying to be the best footballer that she can.
Things went right for her in the All-Ireland final and you need that bit of luck as well, as Louth’s Kate Flood knows only too well, the normally reliable free taker having an off day.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better performance. Some days things go for you, some days they don’t but thankfully today they did and I was able to contribute to the team,” said Smyth shortly after their win. “We worked so hard all over the pitch. You know, it was players getting into the positions to win frees and I was able to put them over.”
“It’s [the Golden Boot] a nice individual award, but the one we wanted was still the All-Ireland, so to get that medal alone in our back pocket here in Croke Park, it’s really special.”
Smyth works hard at practicing frees, in the winters months she is a regular at her home patch, Cannon Maguire Park, kicking ball after ball after ball and even visualising different scenarios, including being in Croke Park.
“One of the techniques I use would be to visualize a lot before a game, I’ve been there in my head, like in the weeks leading up to the game. Those first couple of frees are going to be nervy and once you get the first few taken, then you can get into your stride and thankfully that was the case.
“Over the winter, it’s something that I really home in on, I love going down to Cannon Maguire Park and practicing frees, and during the season, I try to get down once or twice a week, whatever it might be, depending on the training schedule.”
The break last season helped Smyth hit the reset button for this one and slotting back in was incredibly easy especially with everyone the same page and chasing All-Ireland glory.
“Whenever you take a break away you kind of see how it all consumes you and the commitment to ladies football that you do give,” she explained.
“Sometimes you need that step away to refresh yourself and I suppose that probably by stood me. Coming in this year again, we’ve got a great group of girls and that made it really easy.
“We’ve got a really good bond, really good team culture and I have really enjoyed it. Whenever you’re enjoying your football, you are going to play better football and play better as a team as well.”
