WE’VE TEAMED UP with UPMC – Official Healthcare Partner of the GAA/GPA – to produce a brand new Life Changing Moments podcast series.
Over an eight-week period, legendary former GAA players will open up about key performances that helped shape their illustrious careers and change their lives – on and off the pitch.
WHEN BRID STACK made her senior Cork debut at the age of just 16, nobody could have predicted just how successful she would turn out to be in the red jersey.
Becoming an integral member of a team that dominated the early part of the 21st century, the Rockchapel native went on to amass an unprecedented amount of silverware.
In fact, when she retired from inter-county football last year, Brid was part of an elite quartet to have won a remarkable 11 All-Ireland medals — along with team-mates Deirdre O’Reilly, Briege Corkery and Rena Buckley.
Named Ladies Footballer of the Year in 2016, it is a moment nine years earlier that she has chosen to discuss with The42 GAA editor Fintan O’Toole on Episode 4 of the series.
“I had a lot of great moments throughout my career, but one that cemented my position at centre-back on that Cork team was the 2007 All-Ireland final versus Mayo,” she explains.
“There was a fierce rivalry between ourselves and Mayo. They were a mammoth side and had massive experience.”
Stack marked an all-time great in legendary forward Cora Staunton at Croke Park that day, a daunting task for any player.
Cora had enjoyed a crazy championship in terms of scoring,” she adds. “She was their go-to forward and their key playmaker so a lot of ball went through her. Going into the final, we knew we had to deny her space, time and free-taking opportunities.
“Thankfully, we worked extremely well as a defensive unit to do that.”
When the final whistle went, Staunton had managed 1-2 but it was Cork who prevailed 2-11 to 2-6 with Stack deservedly named Player of the Match.
For the full interview, click the Soundcloud button at the top of the article or subscribe to The42 wherever you get your podcasts.
UPMC, Official Healthcare Partner of the GAA/GPA, has been providing expert healthcare in the South East since 2006. UPMC’s operations in Ireland include UPMC Whitfield Hospital in Waterford, UPMC Kildare Hospital in Clane, the UPMC Carlow Outreach Centre, UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre radiotherapy with locations at UPMC Whitfield and in Cork, and the UPMC Concussion Network. For more information on how UPMC provides life changing medicine to communities across Ireland, visit www.upmc.ie
