By Niall Gartland

IT”S fair to say it’s been a debut season to remember for Tyrone newcomer Áine Grimes.

The talented Carrickmore teenager was drafted into the senior panel at the start of the season, and she says her main ambition for the season was acclimatising to the demands of senior intercounty football.

But it didn’t take her long to stake a claim for selection, and she’s played an integral role en route to Sunday’s All-Ireland final clash against Leitrim, operating in the midfield area and half-forward line alongside stalwarts like captain Aoibhinn McHugh and Emma Jane Gervin.

Speaking ahead of the big game, she says this season has more than exceeded her own personal expectations.

“It’s brilliant and it’s not something I really expected. When I was brought into the panel, I saw this year as a good chance to
get experience, to take part in training sessions and get more fitness into my game, but everything’s just taken off from there and it’s great.”

An All-Ireland final is a massive game in any player’s career and Áine is determined not to be overawed by the occasion.

If it all goes according to plan, it would actually be her second national title as she won All-Ireland U-14 honours back in 2019, but this is obviously a big step up and she’s glad that there’s experienced girls in the team who can show the way to the younger brigade coming through.

“You have to remember it’s just a football match and to play the game. It’s really good that some of the girls were involved when Tyrone won the All-Ireland Intermediate title in 2018, they have massive experience and we all look up to them, they know what they’re doing and give the likes of myself great advice.”

Grimes is one of four Carrickmore players on the Tyrone team, alongside Sorcha Gormley, Aoibhinn Daly and Niamh McElduff. It just so happens to be Sorcha’s second All-Ireland final in just a week as she captained the minor team in last Saturday’s minor showdown against Sligo.

Grimes commented: “Sorcha’s brilliant, I’ve been playing with her at club level for years and we have a good connection on the pitch. We’ve had some great experiences together at underage level, winning Ulster titles and the rest of it. We get on really well and fair play to her playing in two All-Ireland finals one after the other, it just shows you how talented and determined she is..

She added: “It’s definitely exciting for Carrickmore, hopefully we can do the club proud. A lot of people have asked me questions about the game and want to know details, and there’s a good buzz around the place as well.”

Áine – who is related via her father’s side of the family with Tyrone Ladies coach Barry Grimes – was in great form as Tyrone claimed a hard-fought victory over Down in the All-Ireland semi-final. The game was in the balance right until the final whistle but Tyrone were the better team on the day at Clones.

“Down are a very good side, they’re very tough and we knew that coming into the game.

“We kept our composure, it was definitely a tight game and it was very humid, but it worked out very well and now we’re in the final.

“We know from playing Leitrim already that they’re a very good team but hopefully we can do enough to get the win.”