McFerran is originally from Larne. She is the daughter of George and Sandra McFerran. She has three siblings, Tamara, Reece and Shea. Her mother died when McFerran was 15. She was educated at Larne Grammar School and at the University of Louisville. In addition to playing field hockey, in her youth McFerran was an Irish dancer and played the flute.[3][2][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Domestic teams
Larne Grammar School
After taking up field hockey at age 7, McFerran began representing Larne Grammar School as a Year 8 pupil in 2008. McFerran was still a pupil at Larne Grammar School when she made her senior debut for Ireland.[10]
Randalstown
In addition to playing for Larne Grammar School, McFerran also played club field hockey with her PE teacher, Emma Knox, at Randalstown.[10] McFerran was a Randalstown player when she made her senior debut for Ireland.[11][12]
Pegasus
McFerran joined Pegasus in September 2014 after a proposed plan to play for UCD fell through.[13] She was subsequently a member of the Pegasus team that won the 2014–15 Women's Irish Hockey League title.[14][15][16] She was also named as the league's best goalkeeper.[5][8][9]
McFerran represented Ireland at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup and was a prominent member of the team that won the silver medal.[6][25][26][27][28][29] She featured in all of Ireland's games throughout the tournament, including the pool games against the United States,[30]India,[31] and England,[32] the quarter-final against India,[33] the semi-final against Spain [34] and the final against the Netherlands.[35] Both the quarter-final against India [36][37][38] and the semi-final against Spain [39] were decided by penalty shoot-out and McFerran was instrumental in Ireland reaching the final. She saved three penalties against India and four against Spain. On the way to the final she conceded just three goals in five matches and she was subsequently named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46]
