Nicola Daly OLY (born 3 April 1988), also referred to as Nicci Daly or Nikki Daly, 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. In 2010 Daly was a member of the Loreto team that won the Irish Senior Cup. Daly has also played senior ladies' Gaelic football for Dublin. Since 2016 Daly has worked in motorsport as a data engineer for Juncos Racing.

Nicola Daly
Personal information
Born (1988-04-03) 3 April 1988 (age 36) [1]
Dublin, Ireland
Playing position Midfield / Forward
Youth career
2000–2006 The High School, Dublin
Senior career
Years Team
2008–2009 Glenanne
2009–2013 Loreto
2013–2015 Holcombe
2015–2016 Muckross
2018– Loreto
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–  Ireland 163
Medal record
World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2018 London

Early years, family and education

edit

Daly is the daughter of Vivion and Carmel Daly. She has three siblings. Vivion Daly was a former Formula Ford racing driver. She is also the niece of Derek Daly, the former Formula One driver and a first cousin of Conor Daly, the IndyCar driver. In addition to playing Gaelic football and field hockey, Daly spent many weekends during her youth at Mondello Park watching her father compete.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Between 2000 and 2006, Daly attended The High School, Dublin where her fellow students included Alison Meeke.[8][9] Between 2006 and 2011 she attended the Institute of Technology, Tallaght on a sports scholarship and gained an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering.[10][11] Between 2012 and 2013 she attended the School of Applied Sciences at Cranfield University where she gained an MSc in Motorsport Engineering and Management.[4][5][6][7][11][12][13]

Gaelic football

edit
Nicola Daly
Personal information
Sport Ladies' Gaelic football
Position Forward
Club(s)
Years Club
200x–201x
Ballyboden Wanderers GAA
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
2009
Dublin

Ballyboden Wanderers

edit

Daly played Gaelic football for Ballyboden Wanderers GAA at club level.[14][15] Together with Alison Meeke, she was a member of the Wanderers team that won the 2008 Dublin Ladies Junior E Football Championship.[16][17][18][19]

Dublin

edit

Daly represented Dublin at under-14 level. Her teammates included Lyndsey Davey.[14] Daly made her debut for the Dublin senior ladies' football team in 2009. She was subsequently named as a Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football All-Star for 2009.[15][20] Daly eventually decided to concentrate on playing field hockey after being selected to play for Ireland.[13][21]

Field hockey

edit

High School, Dublin

edit

Between 2000 and 2006, Daly played field hockey for The High School, Dublin. Her teammates and fellow students included Alison Meeke.[9][22] In the 2005 Leinster Schoolgirls' Senior Cup final, Daly played in a High School team that lost 4–2 to an Alexandra College team featuring Nicola Evans.[23] Daly and Meeke were also members the High School team that finished as runners-up in the 2005 Leinster Schoolgirls' Premier League. In the final they lost 2–0 to an Our Lady's, Terenure team captained by Emer Lucey.[24][25]

Glenanne

edit

Daly played for Glenanne during the 2008–09 season. She scored on her Glenanne debut, a 1–1 draw against Bray in the Leinster Division 1.[26][27] She was encouraged to play for Glenanne by Graham Shaw.[21] Her teammates at Glenanne included Mary Waldron.[28][29]

Loreto

edit

Daly first played for Loreto from 2009 until 2013.[30] On 9 May 2010, together with Hannah Matthews, Nikki Symmons, Lizzie Colvin and Alison Meeke, Daly was a member of the Loreto team that won the Irish Senior Cup. They defeated Railway Union in a penalty shoot-out after the game had finished 2–2.[31] The team was coached by Graham Shaw.[19][32] On 13 May 2012 Daly also played for Loreto in the Irish Senior Cup final against UCD. She scored Loreto's second goal in a 3–2 defeat.[33][34][35][36] Daly also helped Loreto finish as runners up in the 2012–13 Women's Irish Hockey League.[37] Daly re-joined Loreto for the latter half of the 2017–18 season. She subsequently scored the opening goal as Loreto defeated Cork Harlequins 2–1 to win the 2018 EY Champions Trophy.[38][39][40]

Holcombe

edit

Daly played for Holcombe in the Women's England Hockey League between 2013 and 2015. Her teammates at Holcombe included Megan Frazer.[41][42][38] While playing for Holcombe she also worked at Ford Dagenham and the Dunton Technical Centre as a test engineer.[11][43]

Muckross

edit

Daly played for Muckross in the Leinster League during the 2015–16 season. [3][8][13][44]

Ireland international

edit

Daly made her debut for Ireland against Belgium in February 2010.[8] In March 2015 Daly 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.[45][46] On 10 June 2015 she scored an acclaimed solo goal against South Africa in the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals. A report in The Irish Times declared "Daly picks up the ball 25 yards out, runs around defenders, pops the ball in the air and volleys it past the Springbok goalkeeper, all at full pace".[3][47][48][49] Daly was a member of the Ireland team that won the 2015 Women's EuroHockey Championship II, defeating the Czech Republic 5–0 in the final.[50] 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.[51]

Daly represented Ireland at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup and was a prominent member of the team that won the silver medal.[19][32][52] She featured in all of Ireland's games throughout the tournament, including the pool games against the United States,[4][53] India,[54] and England,[55] the quarter-final against India,[56] the semi-final against Spain[57] and the final against the Netherlands.[58]

In interviews, Daly has revealed how Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You became the team's unofficial theme song. Daly explained that some of the younger members of the team had said that the excitement and anticipation they experienced during the tournament "felt like Christmas Eve." The team subsequently began singing the song during training sessions and again during their homecoming celebrations.[12][59]

Tournaments Place
2012 Women's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier[60] 2nd
2012 Women's Hockey Investec Cup[61] 6th
2012–13 Women's FIH Hockey World League Round 2[62] 4th
2013 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship[63] 7th
2014 Women's Hockey Champions Challenge I[64] 2nd
2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League[65][66] 15th
2015 Dublin Tournament[45][46] 1st
2015 Women's EuroHockey Championship II[50] 1st
2016 Hawke's Bay Cup[67][68] 5th
2016–17 Women's FIH Hockey World League[51] 13th
2017 Kuala Lumpur Tournament[51] 1st
2017 Women's Four Nations Cup[69] 2nd
2017 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship[70] 6th
2018 Women's Hockey World Cup[71][57][72]  
2018–19 Women's FIH Series Finals[73][74] 2nd
2019 Women's EuroHockey Nations Championship[75][76] 5th

Motor racing

edit

Data engineer

edit

Since April 2016 Daly has worked as a data engineer for Juncos Racing, based in Indianapolis. Her cousin, Conor Daly, had previously raced for the same team. While working for Juncos she lived with her uncle, Derek Daly.[4][5][6][7][11][12][13][77] While based in Indianapolis, Daly also worked as a volunteer field hockey coach with Indiana Hoosiers.[38][78]

Racing driver

edit

On 19 August 2018, just two weeks after playing for Ireland in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final, Daly made her debut as a motor racing driver at Mondello Park. Daly drove as part of the Formula Female team in an event celebrating the track's 50th anniversary. She also co-founded the team. Daly was raising money for the Irish Cancer Society in honour of her father who had died of cancer on 15 November 2002, aged 48.[4][7][38][77][79][80]

Honours

edit

Field hockey

edit
Ireland
Loreto
The High School, Dublin

Gaelic football

edit
Ballyboden Wanderers GAA
  • Dublin Ladies Junior E Football Championship
    • Winners: 2008

References

edit
  1. ^ "Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup 2018 – Team Details Ireland". fih.ch. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Nicola Daly has the drive and the formula for further success". www.independent.ie. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Nicola Daly has the drive and the formula for further success". www.irishtimes.com. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Hockey In The Fast Lane". www.thesportschronicle.com. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Q & A With Nicci Daly: From Hockey Star To Motor-Sports". www.chicmoto.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Meet Ireland's Nicci Daly, Hockey Player & Motor Racing Engineer". www.wispsports.com. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "Nicci Daly: "There has never been a better time for women to get in motorsport"". fast-and-fearless.com. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "Nicola Daly". www.hockey.ie. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Ireland hockey squad selection". www.highschooldublin.org.uk. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Nicci Daly - World Cup Silver". www.it-tallaght.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d "Nicci Daly". ie.linkedin.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  12. ^ a b c "'I feel like I'm doing something for him that I never got the chance to do when he was around'". www.the42.ie. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d "Hockey still comes first for Irish international Nicci Daly". www.irishtimes.com. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Dublin under 14 team is keeping up a superb run in finals". www.independent.ie. 16 August 2002. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Gongs for Smyth and Daly: News in brief". www.hookhockey.com. 9 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "Wanderers end 40 year Championship Famine". dublinladiesgaelic.ie. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  17. ^ "Get To Know The Green Army Midfield". www.hockey.ie. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Ali Meeke – Women's World Cup profiles". www.hookhockey.com. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ^ a b c "20 things you didn't know about Ireland's hockey heroes". www.irishexaminer.com. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  20. ^ "2011 Dub Stars panel are announced". dublinladiesgaelic.ie. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  21. ^ a b "Daly's dual passion driving her on for World Cup". www.hookhockey.com. 19 July 2018. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ "The High School, Dublin - Hockey". www.highschooldublin.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  23. ^ "Alexandra roll back the years". www.irishtimes.com. 2 March 2005. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  24. ^ "The long wait is over for Terenure". www.irishtimes.com. 17 December 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Our Lady's land Leinster crown". www.independent.ie. 17 December 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  26. ^ "Women's Division One: Week One results". www.hookhockey.com. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  27. ^ "Glenanne". www.hookhockey.com. 26 September 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ "Jacqui Potter Cup: Round Three results". www.hookhockey.com. 22 December 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "Railway Union come back to earn a draw". www.irishtimes.com. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Loreto". www.hookhockey.com. 26 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  31. ^ "Loreto strike gold in stellar encounter". www.hookhockey.com. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  32. ^ a b "Meet Ireland's history-making World Cup hockey heroes". www.irishtimes.com. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  33. ^ "UCD Ladies Hockey claim Electric Ireland Irish Senior Cup". www.ucd.ie. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  34. ^ "Electric Ireland Womens Irish Senior Cup Final Loreto vs UCD". www.iopireland.org. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  35. ^ "UCD 3-2 Loreto". www.rte.ie. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  36. ^ "UCD v Loreto - Electric Ireland Women's Irish Senior Cup Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  37. ^ "Loreto Hockey Club v Railway Union - Electric Ireland Irish Hockey League Women's Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  38. ^ a b c d "Nicci Daly – Women's World Cup profile". www.hookhockey.com. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  39. ^ "Loreto come from nowhere to take EY Champions Trophy". www.irishtimes.com. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  40. ^ "Joy for Loreto as Harlequins come up short once more". www.irishexaminer.com. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  41. ^ "Loreto". www.hookhockey.com. 27 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  42. ^ "Holcombe power into Premier Division". www.englandhockey.co.uk. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  43. ^ "Holcombe hockey star Nicci Daly eyes Formula One dream". www.express.co.uk. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  44. ^ "Welcome To Muckross, Irish International Nicci Daly !". muckrosshockeyclub.com. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  45. ^ a b "World League 2: Ireland beat Canada in shootout". www.bbc.co.uk. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  46. ^ a b "Ireland v Canada - World Hockey League 2 Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  47. ^ "Nicola Daly scored a worldy as Ireland's hockey stars stunned South Africa today". www.the42.ie. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  48. ^ "Ireland's Nicola Daly scores an incredible goal in the Hockey World League Women's semi-final". www.skysports.com. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  49. ^ "Nikki Evans hat-trick gives Ireland impressive win over South Africa". www.rte.ie. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  50. ^ a b "Golden moment for Ireland's women as McCay breaks caps record in Prague". www.hookhockey.com. 25 July 2015. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  51. ^ a b c "Outstanding Ireland add gold to WL3 ticket". www.hookhockey.com. 22 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  52. ^ "Irish Hockey Squad homecoming from Women's Hockey World Cup Photos". 6 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  53. ^ "'Magnificent' Ireland open hockey World Cup campaign with USA scalp". www.rte.ie. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  54. ^ "'We can beat anyone in the world' - Optimism growing as O'Flanagan puts Ireland in last eight for first time". www.independent.ie. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  55. ^ "England v Ireland - Women's Hockey World Cup Finals Group B Photos". 29 July 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  56. ^ "Green Army Beat India To Reach World Cup Semi Final". www.hockey.ie. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  57. ^ a b "Ireland v Spain - Women's Hockey World Cup Finals Semi-Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  58. ^ "As it happened: Ireland v Netherlands, Women's Hockey World Cup final". www.the42.ie. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  59. ^ "Nicci Daly on the story behind Mariah Carey's Irish hockey shout-out". www.the42.ie. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  60. ^ "Belgium v Ireland - Women's 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  61. ^ "Dutch class undoes Irish women". www.hookhockey.com. 7 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  62. ^ "Smith makes three changes as Sargent returns". www.hookhockey.com. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  63. ^ "Scotland send Ireland down to European second tier". www.hookhockey.com. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  64. ^ "USA too strong but long-term Irish gains abound from Champs Challenge". www.hookhockey.com. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  65. ^ "Ireland v Lithuania - World Hockey League 2 Quarter-Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  66. ^ "Ireland v China - Women's World League Round 3 Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  67. ^ "Irish women produce special second half performance at Hawkes Bay Cup". www.hookhockey.com. 9 April 2016. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  68. ^ "Irish women's hockey team topple higher ranked nations". www.irishtimes.com. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  69. ^ "Irish Women's 4 Nations squad announced". www.bbc.co.uk. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  70. ^ "Czech favour rescues Irish women's Euro status". www.hookhockey.com. 27 August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  71. ^ "England v Ireland - Women's Hockey World Cup Finals Group B Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  72. ^ "Ireland v Netherlands - Women's Hockey World Cup Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  73. ^ "Hawkshaw, Barr and Buckley set for major tournament debuts". www.hookhockey.com. 31 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  74. ^ "Three changes in Ireland women's squad for FIH Series in Banbridge". www.bbc.com. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  75. ^ "Ireland women come up just short in semi-final bid". www.irishtimes.com. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  76. ^ "Ireland women beat Russia to secure fifth place in Belgium". www.irishtimes.com. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  77. ^ a b "Hockey star Nicci Daly's life in the fast lane". www.irishexaminer.com. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  78. ^ "Hoosiers Add Daly as Volunteer Assistant". iuhoosiers.com. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  79. ^ "Formula Females are On Track". www.wispsports.com. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  80. ^ "Irish Hockey Star Nicci Daly to Race at Mondello Historic Festival". motorsport.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
edit