Young Limerick football player to feature in new RTÉ documentary

TREATY United’s Madison McGuane will be featuring in a new documentary series on national television.

The 15-year-old Limerick footballer is hailed as a “rising star” in Irish women’s football.

She plays midfield for the senior squad at Treaty United, and plays for Ireland on the U17s national team.

She was the only girl on the U12 Pike Rovers team in 2022, who won the National Cup, and she won the Women's U17 International Player of the Year award this year. 

Madison features in the new RTÉ three-part documentary series Football Families, which “lifts the lid” on the family life behind Ireland's most talented young footballers. 

Speaking in the documentary, Madison said: “Not many girls are interested in football or want to be going out with the boys. And I just did it, I was always with the boys playing soccer.”

Her motto on what it takes to become a professional footballer is: "If you don't believe in yourself, who will?"  

Much of Football Families explores the importance of support from the parents behind these talented young players. 

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"Support from my parents is so important and helps me so much," Madison acknowledged in the documentary. 

Madison's mother Marion said: "She gives 110% in everything she does on and off the pitch. I know no matter where life takes her, she will always be humble and kind." 

Also featuring in the series is Treaty United owner Ciara McCormack, a former professional footballer and Ireland international player. 

Speaking in the documentary on the insecurities and inequalities for women's football, Ciara said: "With the lack of stability in women’s football, it’s really important to have things outside of just being a soccer player because injuries happen and at some point even if you have a great career you have to retire. They’re not going to retire off into the sunset off the soccer money that they made.”

Football Families was filmed during Shelbourne Football Club’s “historic” 2024 season under manager Damien Duff, who features in the series. 

The documentary offers unique behind-the-scenes access to football players' lives, and their families across the country. Each young player is striving to make it in the world of elite level soccer. 

Each episode will feature teenagers who are committed to achieving their dreams in the face of “extreme pressure, injuries, and setbacks”. It aims to reveal how their passion for the sport impacts their families’ lives.

The first episode airs this Thursday, July 31 on RTÉ One at 10.10pm.

Madison will be featured in episode two, airing on Thursday, August 7 at 10:10pm.

This is a ShinAwiL production.