Player Spotlight | Heidi Mackin
Club: Cork City
Position: Defender
Games Played: 14
A clear indication of Heidi Mackin’s impact with Cork City this season is illustrated by the sight of her name at the top of ranking tables for defensive contributions.
The fleet-footed defender tops the charts for defensive duels (170) and interceptions (100), which is seriously impressive considering she is playing for a team fighting at the wrong end of the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
In many ways, the 2025 season is a reset for Cork City with Frank Kelleher back to guide a young squad and build a fresh approach. Still, there are a number of players making the most of their opportunity to compete in the top tier of women’s football in Ireland and Mackin is definitely one of those.
Mackin, who is an Ireland Women’s Under-19 international, is quickly establishing herself as one of the league’s most consistent defenders. She is strong in the air (winning over 60% of aerial duels), reacts swiftly to potential danger (41 clearances) and is continually improving her reading of the game.
Interestingly, Mackin is also first in the league with through passes made (25). This showcases that she knows what to do with the ball when she wins posession of it. More often than not, The Leesiders rely on her to lead their build-up play and spark counter attacks.
Mackin has the perfect role model to learn from in Ciara McNamara, so she should pick her brain as often as possible, note her movements and positioning off the ball, watch how she handles the league’s best forwards and how she inspires those around her. It is a fantastic opportunity for Mackin to supercharge her development by learning from a stalwart.
As the season continues to roll on, the 19-year-old is bound to keep standing out as long as she maintains the same energetic approach and willingness to improve.
