For the past decade, the Ulster Senior Women's newest recruit has been building a sporting career defined by versatility and a relentless drive for success. The debut against Leinster in the first round of the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Series was a moment a decade in the making, and Sheerin rose to the occasion.
"It's a great feeling," Sheerin said of her first call-up to the squad. "Any time you're asked to step up in any sport, it's such an honour and testament to the work you know you have put in."
After a decade of playing rugby, starting at Omagh Accies before a successful year with Clogher Valley, Sheerin has earned her spot. She was a key player in Clogher Valley's successful season, which saw them win the Suzanne Fleming Cup and earn promotion, but she credits the journey with shaping her and honing her talent. "The skills haven’t left me that got me noticed," she said, reflecting on her time in Australia and her return to the sport she loves.
Sheerin admits that while her ambition to play at this level was always there, her commitments to county GAA often took precedence. The decision to prioritise rugby was a conscious one after returning from playing AFL in Australia. "I had initially said to myself, 'If I didn’t get the call-up to County GAA, I was going to see where the rugby took me,'" she said. "Thankfully, the hard work of this season paid off."
The call from head coach, Murray Houston came while she was in the gym, a moment she describes as “feeling so buzzing”. She recalls a specific match against Lisburn where she “put a big shift in,” a performance that she now believes solidified her place in the squad. “I had no idea Murray was there watching," she said. "When I found out I was ecstatic, and that buzz hasn’t gone away."
For Sheerin, representing Ulster is more than just an individual achievement; it's an opportunity to inspire others. "When you make that step up, you’re not just representing your province, you're representing your club and where you come from," she explained. "I hope that I can learn plenty... and be a role model to young girls both in the province and at home, that the opportunity is there when you work hard.”
Sheerin's multi-sport background has given her a unique set of skills that she brings to the Ulster squad. With a lifelong history in Gaelic football, including an All-Ireland Intermediate title, a successful stint as captain of the Ireland AFL squad as well as playing AFL semi-professionally in Melbourne, Sheerin’s talent for handling a ball, making quick decisions, and working as a team is second nature. "Playing multiple sports, I would highly recommend to anyone I speak to," she said.
Her experience with AFL gave her a chance to captain the Ireland squad to UK and European cup victories, an experience that "really opened a can of worms in terms of leadership." This leadership and positive energy are things she hopes to bring to the Ulster team.
Sheerin's success with Clogher Valley last year was an amazing experience for her and a testament to her seamless integration into a new club. "The club were so welcoming," she said. "It didn’t matter what age you were, size you were, they were just so warm." The team's journey from promotion to winning the Suzanne Fleming Cup was a thrill, and Sheerin cherishes the memory of playing in front of a large crowd. "You feel so uplifted when you win as a female club, hoping it will inspire young girls in the community to come along and try rugby.”
After her impressive debut, Sheerin is ready to continue learning from the more seasoned international and interprovincial players around her. "You want to be able to bring something back to your club once the series is over," she said. “I actually enjoy being the newbie in a group like this, as there is so much to learn."
She is also quick to credit her family and mentors for their support. “I’m quite lucky that I come from a sporty family," she said, recalling winning an Ulster Intermediate Championship alongside her sister in 2015.
With her wealth of experience, leadership skills, and passion for the game, Siobhán Sheerin is already proving to be a valuable asset to the Ulster Senior Women's squad.