Dublin finally got over the line last September. It had been a long time coming.
Three All-Ireland Final defeats in a row weighed heavily on the squad, but a change of management brought a different approach to 2017. And it paid a healthy dividend.
For one player in particular, the pain had been even greater coming into 2017. Foxrock/Cabinteely made it all the way to the All-Ireland Final.
But Donaghmoyne were too strong for them that December afternoon at Parnell Park, and Sinead Goldrick tells FM104 Sport's Peter Branigan that the result made her consider if it was all worth it.
I think at the start of 2017, I had to think long and hard about whether I could come back. You have to be self-motivated, and get yourself up for training.
To lose All-Ireland Finals for your club and county in such a short space of time was heartbreaking.
Dublin’s opening Div 1 LIDL NFL fixture with Donegal takes place this Sunday Jan 28th in @StEunansGAA
— DublinLGFA (@dublinladiesg) January 23, 2018
O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny
Throw in - 2pm #COYGIB pic.twitter.com/zvGnVdBg1e
The ends justified the means, and The Jackies were by far and away the best team last Summer. Goldrick's decision to stick with it was justified.
We won the All-Ireland, so I'm just so happy that I made the decision to play on.
And Goldrick says that with all the hard work paying off in the end, she's motivated to put back on the Blue jersey.
This year, I'm looking to hit the ground running.
Sunday might come too soon for me, but I'd be hopeful to be available for the Westmeath game on February 4th.
Sinead Goldrick was speaking as LIDL confirmed their continued sponsorship of the Ladies Football National League.
