Pearl Slattery

And Sean's been brilliant in saying that, you know, really work hard in pre-season.

So when you know you're starting the season, you've given everything in pre-season, you're ready to go, the expectation's there, but as I said, you're prepared as much as you can.

And yeah, we'll be ready to go.

We look forward to it.

I did a stint at Shell's 16s at one stage when I was doing a coaching license and then I was in with James Scott's under 17s Irish squad for two seasons as well so I was coaching that 15-16 age group so yeah very enjoyable.

tough one isn't it?

It's a battle for everyone, it's the facilities piece, it's games being off at times.

I think we have to get more football more often for young kids, boys and girls, because we'll just lose them to other sports if we don't.

I think you have to get the facilities pieces right at all levels, at all age groups and that really helps then.

I've listened to that on Off the Ball about the Astros and sharing with other sports and stuff.

But the biggest thing is you get the kids on the pitch and they're playing the number one sport in the country and that'll keep them playing long term.

So how we do that and everyone working together should be the case.

But for me, football is number one.

It should be priority in the country.

So, look, I just think, yeah, we need to be providing opportunities for kids at all ages to play as much as they can and not having these games cancelled or called off.

Because you know yourself, social media and stuff, they'll just...

turn into other stuff or gaming and you lose them so if they're not out on the pitch you know yourself they're not they're not going to continue so yeah look I think the facilities piece started to change a little bit especially from when I was growing up I think there's more opportunities but we have to do more yeah to keep them on the pitch keep them playing that's where we love it yeah so so Pearl thanks a million for that thank you Pearl Slattery a lot of change there you know some of the veteran players have gone I think it's this feeling that maybe they're just reinvigorating the squad a little bit coming into this season

Yeah, it's brilliant.

The new year brings a new campaign, which brings new opportunities.

So I have to be very excited.