'We're not just a Premiership club': How Queen's are plotting for All Ireland Junior Cup final spot

The side travel to Barnhall for a semi-final on Sunday with a new found confidence after a strong start to the season, which had nine of the squad involved in Ulster’s interpro series.

“It's been definitely a journey for sure, my first season at Queen's, I remember we had quite a big squad and towards the end of the season we kind of had a bit of a mass exodus, where in my second year at Queen's there's only sort of eight players and we had to build up from then,” recalled McIlwaine.

“We were sort of playing in the lowest league possible and we've worked our way up into the Premiership and it's sort of got to the point in time at Queen's that I feel like we're ready to push on to the All Ireland League.

"I think that this game is a perfect opportunity to showcase that we're not just a Premiership club and we do have the strength and the resilience to push on to the AIL"

Queen’s narrowly lost out on reaching the AIL in 2024 after losing to Tullow in the play-off final.

McIlwaine stated: “It was one of those things where we really had pushed on and pushed on and I think we'd built up the nerves so much that whenever we got to the pitch, it felt like we didn't really put what we'd been practising into play so it was disappointing, but I think a lot of things have changed.

“We've sort of pushed on as a club, we've got a really, really good retention, we’ve a fantastic twos team as well, which is something that we haven't had in previous years.

“We've struggled for numbers to keep a twos team, whereas week in, week out we're fielding a ones and a twos. We’ve had a new coach, we've got Colm Finnegan in as our head coach, which has made a great difference to us as well.

“I think it's been really good with Queen's at the moment, we are kind of categorised, being a university team, that we're sort of like a stepping stone team. where people come and they play for their university careers. I think I'm testament to show that we are the type of club where people can stay, and that's something that we're working on.

“We want to work on sustainability and being a club that people stay at because we've built a culture that people want to be around.

“I think we've really just brought in some younger talent as whenever I first started rugby years and years ago...women's rugby was still building quite a lot, whereas now I think women's rugby is much more prevalent.

“We've got such a good young squad of players that have come up through the Ulster U18s or maybe played at their home clubs and things.

“We've got players that have come up through the U18s who are now leading the pack, and players that are in contention for being captain and Ulster seniors.

“So, I think it's just the run of players we've had, as well as we have that core group of senior players who sort of keep the club running in the background.”

The team knows what it is like to win silverware after lifting the Ulster Junior Cup last season.

“That's my third time playing at Ravenhill, we've had one loss and two wins, so it was a really exciting game," McIlwaine stated.

"Obviously, a really competitive game as well, playing against the likes of Malone, hopefully, same again this year.”

It’s the second time Queen’s have reached the All Ireland Junior Cup semi-final - losing to Sunday’s opponents Barnhall - but with a win in the last eight on the road in Galway against Creggs, the students know they have nothing to fear.

“It's a bit more exciting this time because we finally feel like we've earned it," McIlwaine continued.

“The first time we ever played them in an All-Ireland Junior Cup was maybe three seasons ago, but we actually got there through a bye.

“We just managed, by chance, to get there. I think this time it feels a lot more exciting because we've earned our place here.

“We played against Creggs a few weeks ago and we rocked up, we showed them what we were made of and came away with a really good scoreline (44-5), which was exciting.

“It was a really exciting weekend for us all in Galway. It was a lovely time for the club because we had an away trip, we're all about culture at Queen's and spending time together.

“The friendships that we have at Queen's, all of my best friends I've met through rugby, and I think that's one thing that makes this club really special is the culture that we've built.

McIlwaine also acknowledged how the team is hoping for another first with an overseas tour and how she is looking to expand her career horizons.

“Things are working around in the background as we're working away to try and get ourselves on a tour next summer to France," she revealed.

“We've got a lot of fundraising opportunities coming up and a lot of exciting things happening at the club.

“It's been really exciting to get a new skill on board and commentate at the men's games. I've been really, really enjoying it and hopefully that will be something I can continue throughout the season.”