Dublin ladies footballers banish hospital ‘Blues’ but Nikki would prefer Limerick's hurlers!

All-Ireland winning Dublin ladies footballers with Nikki Hayes, Ballylanders, during a visit by players to Crumlin Children’s Hospital I PICTURE: Sportsfile

placeholder image — All-Ireland winning Dublin ladies footballers with Nikki Hayes, Ballylanders, during a visit by players to Crumlin Children’s Hospital I PICTURE: Sportsfile

Nikki Hayes, aged 16, from Ballylanders holds Brendan Martin Cup but would rather Liam MacCarthy!

THE ALL-IRELAND ladies senior football champions brought the Brendan Martin Cup to Crumlin Children’s Hospital but young Nikki Hayes would have much preferred if it was the Limerick hurlers bringing Liam MacCarthy!

Nikki, aged 16, from Ballylanders, is a massive Limerick hurling fan who goes to all the matches. The Dublin hurlers broke Nikki’s hearts in their shock defeat of John Kiely’s men in June but their ladies footballers brightened her day.

Mum, Siobhan, said it was a lovely surprise on the morning after Dublin’s victory over Meath.

“We are coming here (Crumlin Children’s Hospital) 14 years on-and-off and it’s the first time we’ve been here for an All-Ireland winning team bringing the cup. It was such a nice morning.

“There was no rushing, Nikki got time to talk to all the girls. One of the girls was telling her she bought her dog in Newcastle West - such a random conversation!” laughed Siobhan.

She continued: “The girls cheered everybody up and had time for everybody but Nikki still would have preferred the Limerick hurlers!”

Nikki will be a familiar face to many as there are numerous photos of her with Limerick players and management. However, one stands out (picture below of Nikki with Gearoid Hegarty taken by Kieran Ryan-Benson).

“I give all the Limerick panel, management and backroom team great credit for being so good to Nikki but Gearoid Hegarty is definitely her number one. Gearoid will always find Nikki after matches. Even on days that don’t go well for them, he finds her.

“When they beat Clare in the Munster final two years ago, Nikki got interviewed by Marty Morrissey after the game.

"After the players collected the Mickey Mackey cup, Nikki was pictured up in Gearoid’s arms. It was the main photo behind the pundits on the Sunday Game that night,” said the proud mum.

Nikki, who is well able to hurl too as she is a member of the Munster Wheelchair Hurling Camogie Club, was in hospital for two weeks.

“She was in for a removal of a halo frame to stabilise her neck after neck surgery at the start of the summer. One of her spinal bones was pressing on her spinal chord. She’s doing great,” said Siobhan.

And Nikki has another GAA story to tell her friends when she goes back to school in September.