Aoibheann Clancy spoke to Tom Maher at The Halfway Line about meeting Carla Ward, her Shelbourne aspirations and what inspires her in football.
Shelbourne and Ireland international Aoibheann Clancy sits across from me on zoom, she has a coffee in hand and smiles as she tells me about the first time she met Carla Ward,
“Yeah, it was brilliant” Clancy explains with a grin.
“I think it was nearly one of my first sessions up in Shels last year. Eoin [Wearen] the [Shelbourne] manager at the time just kind of text in: Carla [Ward] will be coming tonight just to watch. And I was like, oh brilliant, that’s great exposure.
“And then she [Carla Ward] kind of called me over before training, and at the end of our conversation she’s like, yeah, so you’ll be in camp Monday. I was like: what?!” Clancy says repeating for my benefit the same gobsmacked impression that would have met Ward.
“I just didn’t really catch what she was saying but I think she got a good laugh over my surprise” Clancy smiled.
It is a lovely story, one that speaks volumes about Clancy’s modesty but also about Ward as the Shelbourne midfielder tells me,
“It was brilliant for the International manager to come into training” she said.
“Taking an interest in the club, and I think she was impressed with what the training session went like as well. So that was brilliant.”
Clancy lauds ‘brilliant’ new Shelbourne head coach Seán Russell
The League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division is entering the heart of pre-season. After an exciting if ultimately disappointing season for Shelbourne last term Aoibheann Clancy told The Halfway Line about the upcoming season,
“The first week, we were doing gym testing, yeah, the running and the harder stuff has started now. But there’s a good bit of ball, though, to be fair.” Clancy concedes with an amused twinkle in her eye.
Shelbourne have a new head coach this season in Seán Russell and Clancy told The Halfway Line about his introduction to the side,
“Seán has been brilliant since he came in” Clancy affirms.
“[He] really has a plan in place about what he’s looking to do, I think he’s very structured. And I think straight from the start, we were in meetings.
“I suppose within the space of the six or seven weeks that we have in pre-season really to instil in us what it is he’s looking for.
“Because obviously there’s a bit of like, adaptation to a new manager, maybe trying to play a bit of a new style, every manager is different. They go about things differently.
“So yeah, I’ve been straight into it. It’s been really good kind of getting to know each other. And, yeah, it’s been going really well so far.”
Variety helps with the ‘enjoyment factor’ says Aoibheann Clancy
The Shelbourne star is the type of all action midfielder every head coach needs in their armoury. She has excelled in the role of the six at the base of midfield for much of her career but versatility is one of her strengths, where does she see herself playing this term?
“I’m not too sure yet. I suppose it depends on other personnel and stuff” Clancy diplomatically noted.
“I think we both [Clancy & Russell] probably agree I can play in a sitting six role, or could go [to the] eight or [the] ten.
“Probably up until last year I would have played predominantly in the six but I actually really enjoyed last year getting forward a bit more and having a bit more freedom.
“And it adds something else to your game as well, that you’re a bit more versatile. You’re not just a sitting six the whole time. It’s nice to be able to do a bit of both. So we’ll see.”
The Halfway Line asked Clancy which position she would prefer to play in,
“I was actually thinking a good bit about this last year” Clancy admitted while pondering.
“Because obviously, I found I was kind of in the eight and then sometimes just in the 10 completely. And found that at the start a bit frustrating, I was trying to adapt and I was not playing as well as I could.
“I think I like being able to do both, because it’s kind of bit of variety. When you’re in six you can drop in, get on the ball loads. But then it’s kind of like you can change your game to the day, to the match.
“So I think that bit of variety is actually really enjoyable about the game. I think I do feel probably like my strongest position is still probably the six.
“But I think there is that bit more enjoyment factor when you’re, like, able to go get higher and be a bit more creative than that. That’s kind of the best of both”
New signings add ‘quality’ to an ‘already strong squad’ says Clancy
For Shelbourne it has been a dramatic summer transfer window. Names that have grown synonymous with the club like Noelle Murray and Roma McLaughlin have departed to title rivals Athlone Town. However, stars like Maggie Pierce have returned to the North Dublin side and Clancy herself has been reunited with former Wexford FC team mate Becky Watkins,
“Obviously, there’s been a big turnover this off-season, which I think you can see across the board in the league” Clancy said.
“There’s been a lot of coming and going, managers and players. So obviously we’ve lost a few, but I think the players that have come in have added really good quality to what was already a strong squad.
“So I think we’re shaping up pretty well. You see the likes of Maggie [Pierce] coming back in, like she’s a huge addition, and there’s a lot of other girls that have come in as well, Becky [Watkins] from Peamount, that’s only naming two.
“So I think we’re still very, very strong. And obviously, Seán coming in as a new manager, he had to sit down and look right: Who do I want? What way am I going to structure this team to play the way he wants to play?
“So, yeah, I think within the camp it’s really positive. I know there’s a lot of noise as as there is in other clubs but within the camp, I think it’s focused on the job at hand.”
Shelbourne ‘chomping at the bit’ in search for ‘silverware’ says Clancy
Last term Aoibheann Clancy was named Shelbourne’s Young Player of the Year. The young midfielder made more accurate passes than any other player in the league nabbing nine goal involvements in the process. As much as Clancy enjoyed personal success Shelbourne, as a group fell short, Clancy was asked by The Halfway Line what the goal is this term?
“I think the main goal this year is to win a bit of silverware” Clancy affirmed.
“Like we came close last year but not really close enough for our liking. Getting knocked out early on in the cup run, same with getting knocked out on penalties in the All Island Cup. Obviously the major one was the league that you know, swing a few results around, and it goes completely different way.
“I suppose, looking at last year, you can pick 100 different excuses. But at the end of the day, we just didn’t have enough points on the board. We weren’t good enough to win it.
“So I think that’s that has to be the main thing, because I think there’s a real sense of disappointment over the way last season went. So I think we’re all just chomping at the bit now to get back, and that’s the only thing in mind.”
It’s such a ‘buzz’ to get an Ireland call up says Aoibheann Clancy
Clancy has had a number of call ups to the international set up under a couple of different managers. Clancy told The Halfway Line about the feeling of getting called up to represent your nation,
“Like, it’s always just, it’s such a buzz getting called in and such an honour” Clancy beams.
“Obviously, [I have] kind of been in and out. I’ve not been in the last few camps, so obviously trying to do well in the league and try and press there and break back in.
“Sometimes it’s a difficult task because we’re playing in a league that is moving towards professionalism. Like, it’s still very much part time league, whereas 99% of the players you’re competing with to get into the squad, not to mind, even when you get on the pitches to play other nations, are all full time.
“It’s a step up. But I don’t think it’s a million miles away for Ireland for the league in Ireland to be able to kind of come on par with those. But I think, yeah, there definitely is that gap.
“Personally it’s amazing to be called in. And I think this season, I’m trying to get kind of right back into it. And you want to make that next appearance, and that’s always in the back of your mind, especially when you’re coming into the World Cup qualifying phase of things.”
Clancy praises ‘class’ Denise O’Sullivan
As for her heroes in Emerald green, Clancy told The Halfway Line about one player in particular: Denise O’Sullivan,
“I just have a memory of seeing her play on the pitch, and just being like: She’s just class” Clancy said.
“She’s that type of player, she could play anywhere in midfield. And that, I suppose, adds to your value as a player. If you’re a manager and you have a player that can play any of those positions that’s more valuable.
“In terms of Denise, she’s one of the best players that has played for Ireland, and she’s just a top professional, so you can only take inspiration from her, really.”
‘Football gives me purpose’ reflects Aoibheann Clancy
Clancy is undoubtedly sharp both on and off the pitch. Originally Kilbehenny, County Limerick, Clancy is currently completing a Health and Performance Science degree at University College Dublin. The Halfway Line asked her about her inspiration for playing football,
“Football gives me a purpose” Clancy said, after a couple of moments of contemplation.
“I think sport in general gives you something that you can try push yourself to get the best out of yourself. And I think that’s what I enjoy most about football, it’s like getting up every day and doing the most I can to get better.
“I think there’s something really fulfilling about that. And obviously the enjoyment for me, I played loads of different sports when I was younger, and I just felt like football was the one that I enjoyed the most.
“Like, I remember on summer holidays and stuff with my parents being like, ‘Oh, what are you looking forward to now when you go back?’ And mine would always be football” Aoibheann Clancy recalls with a tender, nostalgic smile.
“So, yeah, I’d nearly obviously looking up to like older players when I was younger, like you see the men’s playing on the telly. But like going to the games in Tallaght and seeing the likes of Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe, they are inspiration.
“But I think I take inspiration early from the younger version of me that was like, I want to go as far as I can in football. So I think, hopefully that answers your question.”
Aoibheann Clancy’s Shelbourne side will kick off their campaign away to Athlone Town in the President’s Cup final on Sunday, March 8th 2026.
