Joanie joined Stackallen Tennis Club in 1981 and began playing tennis in the club's Junior Development Programme. At the age of 10, she was selected for the Leinster Squads which involved training in Dublin twice a week as well as training in the club. She has played in numerous tournaments ranging from under 10's up to the under 18 age group winning many open championships in different age groups. She has competed for Ireland in International events since she was twelve years old. She is the current holder of the National Under 18 title won in Riverview this year (2004).

Joanie sat her Leaving Certificate exams in June 2003 and has decided to defer going to college so that she take part in the professional tennis circuit of the ITF and WTA. She has moved to Dublin to facilitate training for these events. Joanie intends playing in the major tennis championships in Ireland and hopes to play in the Master Series as well as her travelling abroad. Her travels so far have included:

• Israel (Nov 03)
• Barcelona (04)
• Great Britain (Jan 04)
• Gran Canaria (Feb 04)
• Minella, Spain (Feb 04 )
• Israel (Mar 04)
• Greece (04)

Other places on her agenda for the year are Scotland, Turkey, Spain and Egypt. This will keep her busy until the end of the summer when she will decide whether she will continue with her tennis or take her place in college.