Caroline O'Hanlon seems to have no problem in mixing her sports or dealing with a hectic schedule of matches and travelling, at club, county and international levels, as well as, attending to her day job as a doctor.
The Bessbrook woman can switch from one sport to another with ease, it seems, as she showed during last month.
She played centre with Northern Ireland in the Netball World Cup competition in Liverpool and then flew home to help Armagh produce a shock defeat of Cork in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers.
“I feel that playing netball helps me with my football,” she says.
“It learns you to get rid of the ball much quicker than you might tend to do in football. I enjoy both games and I am lucky that I can balance my schedule.
“I have been playing netball since I was about eight years of age and I have been in the Armagh panel for 18 years so I am used to both games by now.”
She plays her club netball with Belfast team Larkfield in the Northern Ireland leagues and also plays with Manchester Thunder in the UK Super League.
In GAA, her home club is Carrickcruppin but, occasionally, there is a clash of dates, like last month when she missed the Ladies' Ulster SFC final against Donegal.
However, her return to the Armagh team only hours after flying home from the World Netball Cup in Liverpool turned the fortunes of the Orchard County around as the outsiders produced the result of the season, an unexpected defeat of Cork to leave the northern girls on the brink of an All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
That was one of the highlights of last month that produced many outstanding individual and team performances with the various All-Ireland Championships from Senior to U17 levels, in the various GAA codes, thrilling audiences and supporters around the country.
Armagh ladies' performance against red hot favourites Cork may have been a little overshadowed but the 4-9 to 3-11 victory for the Ulster side deserves its place in the sun.
After defeats by Donegal, in the Ulster final, and Cavan in the All-Ireland qualifiers, little chance of victory was given to Armagh as they faced the Rebelettes but the northern girls tore up the script at Tullamore, not only stunning the Munster side but a large slice of the GAA public, as well.
It might be a little unfair to single out one Armagh player from this dramatic result, and turnaround of fortunes for the Orchard County, but few will deny that the return of midfield maestro O'Hanlon played a major role in this victory.
The GP proved on her return just how important she is to the team, as with her control of the action she wrote the prescription for victory.
For her influence, scoring ability and driving enthusiasm she wins the Quinn Building Products GAA Merit Award for July ahead of other nominees Ryan McHugh (Donegal) and Cathal McShane (Tyrone), with Michael Murphy (Donegal) and Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone) also getting support.
“It is a great honour to receive this award,” stressed Caroline, who won the UGAAWA Female Footballer of the Year in 2014, at a function in Quinn's Corner, Donaghmore.
“We weren't surprised about beating Cork. We knew that we had it in us to beat them. After being four points down at half-time we got a good start in the second half and got a big lead but, then, we had to hold on at the finish. Thankfully, we managed to do that.”
She added: “It had been a difficult month for Armagh, losing to Donegal and Cavan but the girls buckled down to the task and beating Cork made up for the setbacks.
“This award is a great boost to me, and indeed to the rest of the team, as we play Mayo next weekend for a place in the semi-finals. I am very grateful for the honour.
“Getting so far in the championship is great for the team management that has worked so hard with the panel.”
The presentation to Caroline O'Hanlon was made by Quinn Building Products Sales & Marketing Director Seamus McMahon.
The Armagh star receives an engraved Belleek Living Vase, compliments of the Belleek Pottery, training gear from O'Neill's International Sportswear and engraved jewellery from Carlingford Design House, as her July Merit Award.
