Kilkenny soccer star Ellen Molloy on road to recovery

In September 2022, Republic of Ireland women’s international Ellen Molloy’s world was ‘turned upside down’ with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

In an instant, the Kilkenny native’s World Cup dream was over.

“Life was going great for me,” the Wexford Youths star said, looking back on the injury she suffered against Treaty United which put paid to her making the Irish squad for this summer’s World Cup.

“I was playing my best football, the league was going great, I was making the Irish squads, I had done well in my Leaving Cert and was going to college. All of a sudden, my world was turned upside down.”

One wrong turn on the pitch saw Molloy left to navigate a whole new lifestyle with a minimum of a nine month recovery.

“At the start I felt very lost within myself,” she admitted. “I didn’t know who I was without soccer. This injury has shown me how quickly things can change.”

The lead-up to Molloy’s surgery was tough as she made her legs as strong as possible pre-operation. However, her biggest challenge came post operation as all she could do was sit and wait for her wound to heal.

“The weeks that followed the surgery were the hardest part” she said. Once the dreaded waiting period was over, Molloy’s self-motivation took charge as she began to rebuild her world, brick by brick.

“I knew after the surgery recovery, the rest was up to me,” she said.

Shortly after the surgery Molloy made the decision to leave college and move home to Inistioge where she could devote all her time to her comeback.

Although the injury was ‘the toughest thing both mentally and physically’ she has ever had to face, it’s clear it has given Molloy a positive new outlook.

“It’s made me so much stronger both mentally and physically,” she said. “I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself and my character through the injury, I feel I’ve grown a lot as a person too.”

When asked where her drive comes from Molloy paused briefly before opening up.

“My granddad got a cap for Ireland and always said to me, some day you’ll get more than me. When he passed away it became a big motivation of mine, to do it for him.”

Since then Molloy has done her family proud, receiving six caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Once Molloy got a taste of winning it became her life, she feels as though a lot of her motivation comes from within herself.

“I’m so competitive, I always want to be the best,” she said. “I crave the feeling of winning.” No surprise as, since a young age, her mantra has been ‘don’t wish for it, work for it’.

Molloy says recovery is going well and she hopes to be back on the pitch with the Wexford Youths women soon. Despite the injury layoff she still hasn’t missed a training session or match, using training as motivation to get back playing.

She is working incredibly hard to get back to where she belongs. She’s hungry to return to the main stage, and to play her best soccer yet: “I need that feeling of playing and winning again.”

Molloy is adamant she’ll be back and better than ever. She’s hopeful looking forward and appears stronger through the tough times she endured.

“The plan is to get back playing, to go back to college and hopefully get back into the Irish squads and homebase sessions,” she said.

Above all Molloy is looking forward to being back playing the sport she loves.

“This time away from the game has made me so grateful for being able to play and be part of a team.

As for the future, I want to be satisfied that I reached my potential; I don’t want to look back with regret of not training hard enough or giving it my all. I want to love what I’m doing.”

The road to recovery for Molloy hasn’t been easy however the comeback is well and truly on. Ellen Molloy is one to watch as she will undoubtedly make her return to the scene in some style.