Shirley McCay

Shirley McCay (born 7 June 1988) is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. McCay has played in the Women's Irish Hockey League for Old Alex, Ulster Elks and Pegasus. She was a member of the Ulster Elks team that won two successive Irish Senior Cup titles in 2014–15 and 2015–16. Since 2015 she has been Ireland's most capped women's field hockey international.[2]

Shirley McCay
Personal information
Born (1988-06-07) 7 June 1988 [1]
County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Playing position Defender/Midfielder
Youth career
200x–2006 Omagh Academy
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
200x–200x Omagh
200x–2008 Randalstown
2008–2009 Ulster Elks
2009–2010 KHC Dragons
2010–2014 Old Alex
2014–2017 Ulster Elks
2017– Pegasus
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007– Ireland 273 (7)
Medal record
World Cup
2018 London

According to some sources she is also "Ireland's most capped sportswoman in any code" [3][4] and the holder of "the most international caps by any Irish athlete (male or female) across any sport".[5][6][7]

Early years, family and education

McCay's hometown is Drumquin, County Tyrone. She is the daughter of Robert and Hazel McCay. She has a sister, Lindsay. She was educated at Omagh Academy [5][8][9][10] and Dublin Institute of Technology.[11]

Domestic teams

Omagh Academy

While attending Omagh Academy, McCay was encouraged to play field hockey by her PE teacher, Mary Swann. She was captain of the academy under-14 team which won the Ulster Junior Schoolgirls' Cup. In 2005 she was a member of the Omagh Academy team that won the Ulster Senior Schoolgirls' Cup and the Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships.[5][6][9][8] In addition to playing for Omagh Academy, McCay also played senior club field hockey with Omagh and Randalstown.[12][13]

Ulster Elks

McCay first played for the Ulster Elks during the 2008–09 season.[14] She re-joined the Elks for the 2014–15 season, teaming up with among others, Megan Frazer and Stephanie Jameson. [15][16] She subsequently helped the Elks win the Irish Senior Cup in both 2014–15 [17][18] and 2015–16.[19] After the Elks were relegated from the Women's Irish Hockey League at the end of the 2016–17 season, McCay switched to Pegasus.[20]

KHC Dragons

During the 2009–10 season McCay played for KHC Dragons.[14][21][22][23][24]

Old Alex

Between 2010 and 2014 McCay played for Old Alex in the Women's Irish Hockey League. While playing for Old Alex, McCay also studied journalism at Dublin Institute of Technology.[11][21][25][26]

Pegasus

Since 2017–18 McCay has played for Pegasus in the Women's Irish Hockey League.[20][27][28]

Ireland international

McCay represented Ireland at Under-16 and Under-18 levels before making her senior debut.[5] She made her senior debut in January 2007 against Canada.[9][29] In April 2011 she captained Ireland as she made her 100th senior appearance against France.[5][29][30] In March 2015 McCay was a member of the Ireland team that won a 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League Round 2 tournament hosted in Dublin, defeating Canada in the final after a penalty shoot-out.[31][32] On 11 June 2015 McCay made her 200th senior Ireland appearance at the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals in a game against Germany.[33][34] In July 2015 she was also a member of the Ireland team that won the 2015 Women's EuroHockey Championship II. In the final against the Czech Republic, McCay made her 209th senior Ireland appearance. As a result, she became Ireland's most capped women's field hockey international, moving one ahead of Nikki Symmons.[2] In January 2017 she was also a member of the Ireland team that won a 2016–17 Women's FIH Hockey World League Round 2 tournament in Kuala Lumpur, defeating Malaysia 3–0 in the final.[35] In August 2017 she made her 250th appearance at the 2017 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship.[20][36][37]

McCay represented Ireland at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup and was a prominent member of the team that won the silver medal.[3][38][39] She featured in all of Ireland's games throughout the tournament, including the pool games against the United States,[40] India,[41] and England,[42] the quarter-final against India,[43] the semi-final against Spain [44] and the final against the Netherlands.[45] During the tournament McCay scored against United States [46][47][48] and was named player of the match in the pool game against India.[28] Before the World Cup, McCay announced she would probably retire after the tournament.[37] However following Ireland's success, she said she would reconsider.[10][49][50][51]

Tournaments Place
2007 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship [52]6th
2008 Women's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier [53]3rd
2009 Women's Hockey Champions Challenge II [54]3rd
2009 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship [55][56]5th
2010 Women's Hockey World Cup Qualifiers [22][23]3rd
2011 Women's Hockey Champions Challenge I [57]6th
2011 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship [58][59]6th
2012 Women's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier [60]2nd
2013 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship [61][62]7th
2014 Women's Hockey Champions Challenge I [63] 2nd
2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League [64]15th
→ 2015 Dublin Tournament [31][32]1st
2015 Women's EuroHockey Championship II [2]1st
2016–17 Women's FIH Hockey World League [35]13th
→ 2017 Kuala Lumpur Tournament [35]1st
2017 Women's Four Nations Cup [65]2nd
2017 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship [66]6th
2018 Women's Hockey World Cup [42][44][67]
2018–19 Women's FIH Series Finals [68][69]2nd
2019 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship [70][71]5th

Field hockey coach

Since 2013 McCay has worked as a coach for the Ulster Hockey Union.[9][72][73][26]

Honours
Ireland
Ulster Elks
Omagh Academy
  • Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships
    • Winners: 2005
  • Ulster Senior Schoolgirls' Cup
    • Winners: 2004–05
  • Ulster Junior Schoolgirls' Cup
    • Winners: ?

References
  1. "Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup 2018 – Team Details Ireland". fih.ch. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  2. "Golden moment for Ireland's women as McCay breaks caps record in Prague". www.hookhockey.com. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  3. "20 things you didn't know about Ireland's hockey heroes". www.irishexaminer.com. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  4. "Shirley McCay looking to add to her mountain of caps". www.irishtimes.com. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  5. "Chairman hosts reception for Shirley McCay". www.fermanaghomagh.com. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  6. "Mary's pride at history making hockey girls". fermanaghherald.com. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  7. "250 caps but how many more for McCay?". ulsterherald.com. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  8. "Academy give heroine's welcome home to World Cup medallist and former pupil Shirley". www.tyronecon.co.uk. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  9. "Shirley McCay – Women's World Cup squad". www.hookhockey.com. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  10. "Shirley McCay may revisit retirement date after World Cup heroics". www.irishtimes.com. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  11. "McCay's big day dashed". www.independent.ie. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  12. "McCay Returns To Her Roots". ulsterhockey.com. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  13. "McCay to be honoured in Omagh where it all began". www.hookhockey.com. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  14. "Pritchard poised for Pembroke move". southernfriedhockey.com. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  15. "McCay and Frazer bolster Elks armoury". www.hookhockey.com. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  16. "Shirley McCay capture boosts Ulster Elks title tilt". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  17. "Aine Curran's winner earns Ulster Elks a first Irish Senior Cup title". www.irishtimes.com. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  18. "Hermes v Ulster Elks - Irish Senior Women's Cup Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  19. "Rebecca Davidson shines as Ulster Elks retain Irish Senior Cup". www.newsletter.co.uk. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  20. "McCay makes switch to Pegasus from Elks". www.hookhockey.com. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  21. "Old Alex – Women's Division One preview". www.hookhockey.com. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  22. "O'Flynn ready to answer Ireland call". www.irishexaminer.com. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
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  24. "McConnell returns, Clarke in line for 100". www.hookhockey.com. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
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  26. "Drumquin woman to coach elite hockey players". ulsterherald.com. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  27. "Pegasus – Women's EY Hockey League". www.hookhockey.com. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  28. "Back to the grindstone for World Cup hero McCay". www.rte.ie. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  29. "Shirley McCay". www.hockey.ie. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  30. "McCay celebrates 100th cap with French win". www.hookhockey.com. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  31. "World League 2: Ireland beat Canada in shootout". www.bbc.co.uk. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  32. "Ireland v Canada - World Hockey League 2 Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  33. "200 and counting for Irish hockey star McCay". ulsterherald.com. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  34. "McCay set for 200th international cap". www.hookhockey.com. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  35. "Outstanding Ireland add gold to WL3 ticket". www.hookhockey.com. 22 January 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  36. "McCay wins 250th cap as Ireland beat Czech Republic". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  37. "McCay likely to step down after 2018 World Cup". www.hookhockey.com. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  38. "Meet Ireland's history-making World Cup hockey heroes". www.irishtimes.com. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
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  40. "'Magnificent' Ireland open hockey World Cup campaign with USA scalp". www.rte.ie. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
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  43. "Green Army Beat India To Reach World Cup Semi Final". www.hockey.ie. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  44. "Ireland v Spain - Women's Hockey World Cup Finals Semi-Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  45. "As it happened: Ireland v Netherlands, Women's Hockey World Cup final". www.the42.ie. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  46. "Deirdre Duke and Shirley McCay lead Irish to victory at Hockey World Cup". www.thetimes.co.uk. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
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  48. "Ireland savour the moment with magical World Cup win over US". www.hookhockey.com. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  49. "Shirley McCay could reverse retirement decision after Ireland's World Cup run". www.bbc.co.uk. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  50. "Shirley McCay: Ireland record holder tempted by Olympic qualification bid". www.bbc.co.uk. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  51. "McCay to revisit retirement plans after silver medal". www.hookhockey.com. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  52. "Muller names Euro squad". www.irishtimes.com. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  53. "Ireland in control". www.irishtimes.com. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  54. "Ireland end Champs' Challenge in bronze". www.hookhockey.com. 27 June 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  55. "Ireland announces women's EuroHockey Nations Championship squad". www.fih.ch. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  56. "Ireland's semi-final dream shattered by Spanish". www.irishtimes.com. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  57. "Ireland v India - ESB Electric Ireland Champions Challenge Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  58. "Azerbaijan win gives Ireland Euro lifeline". www.hookhockey.com. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  59. "Muller's charges complete great Euro escape". www.hookhockey.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  60. "Belgium v Ireland - Women's 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  61. "Seven changes as Smith shuffles his deck for European championships". www.hookhockey.com. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  62. "Scotland send Ireland down to European second tier". www.hookhockey.com. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  63. "USA too strong but long-term Irish gains abound from Champs Challenge". www.hookhockey.com. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  64. "Ireland v Lithuania - World Hockey League 2 Quarter-Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  65. "Irish Women's 4 Nations squad announced". www.bbc.co.uk. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  66. "Czech favour rescues Irish women's Euro status". www.hookhockey.com. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  67. "Ireland v Netherlands - Women's Hockey World Cup Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  68. "Hawkshaw, Barr and Buckley set for major tournament debuts". www.hookhockey.com. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  69. "Three changes in Ireland women's squad for FIH Series in Banbridge". www.bbc.com. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  70. "Ireland women come up just short in semi-final bid". www.irishtimes.com. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  71. "Ireland women beat Russia to secure fifth place in Belgium". www.irishtimes.com. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  72. "Female Sport's Forum Player Profile – Shirley McCay". www.nisf.net. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  73. "World Cup silver medallist Shirley McCay lauds concussion awareness". www.newsletter.co.uk. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
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