Sinéad Goldrick was in no hurry to leave the arena. The kids were queuing up.
She took the time to oblige every request. Selfies and autographs galore. Parcelled with her words of gratitude and encouragement.
“Thanks for coming,” she repeatedly said to the little ones.
They left Donnycarney with stars in their eyes. Having spent time with one of the biggest stars of them all.
She prospered in Melbourne. In the sunshine.
But now she was back in dear old Dublin. In the wind and the rain.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” she declared. “It’s so good to be back in Parnell Park. I missed it so much.
“It’s just so nice to be home. And I’m so happy to be back in the Dublin jersey.”
She would have enjoyed the European Athletics Championships in Rome. She was a fine runner.
She went to primary school at St Brigid’s in Cabinteely. Jerry Kiernan taught there.
He inspired so many. Notably Ciara Mageean, the European 1,500m champion.
This summer, Sinéad is an ambassador for the Kellogg’s Cúl Camps. She has long been inspiring the children out in Kilbogget Park.
She was at the heart of the Foxrock-Cabinteely team that became the best side in Dublin. Winning Dublin and Leinster Championships, and coming so near to the big one.
She brought such drive and athleticism to the team. Striding out majestically from the back.
A couple of weeks ago, the annual Dalkey Motor Show took place.
There were classical cars – Jaguars, Bentley’s, Mercedes Benz, Rovers, Triumphs, Alfa Romeos and James Bond’s Aston Martin.
Sinéad has long had the engine of a Rolls Royce. As Mick Bohan related: “It’s just great to have her back.”
On the day of the drenching rain, Dublin overcame Mayo in their opening fixture in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship.
It seemed appropriate that later that evening, Tom Jones would take to the stage in St Anne’s Park.
For Sinéad, The Green, Green Grass of Home never felt so good.
Overcoming Mayo’s challenge examined Dublin’s resolve. It was the perfect start to business.
“We had to be patient,” she reflected. “It wasn’t easy to break them down. They were well set-up defensively.
“But we were able to get some strong runners coming through from the half-back line and from midfield. And we were happy the way it ended up.”
The Dubs won by 1-10 to 0-5. But they had to forage for every crumb.
Liam McHale is the new Mayo manager. They looked so well-conditioned. And they were assured on the ball.
But Dublin kept chipping away. And they got the job done. Now they travel to meet Kildare at Manguard Park, Hawkfield on Sunday.
“Kildare a young, fit team. They have pace. It’s Championship football, so we know what we will be up against,” states Sinéad.
Kildare won last season’s All-Ireland Intermediate Championship. And they have Diane O’Hora as manager.
She had All-Ireland winning days in the Mayo jersey. And she’s a person that knows Dublin’s footballing onions better than most.
Last Saturday, the Lilywhites had their first outing in the All-Ireland series when they lost away to Mayo in Ballina, 2-15 to 0-5.
The game, no doubt, will have sharpened their touch. And they’ll be keen to test the Dubs.
The teams met in April. In the first round of the Leinster Championship. Dublin won well in Parnell Park. Diane O’Hora left for home with a full notebook.
That game saw the return of Sinéad to the Dublin shirt. She came on at half-time, and with her first touch, she laid on a point for Orlagh Nolan.
Dublin went on to win the Leinster title in Croke Park with an accomplished display against Meath.
By then, Sinéad had settled back into the half-back line, alongside Olwen Carey and Lauren Magee.
Quite a formidable looking trio. An experienced unit that can defend and then add to Dublin’s attack. As well as picking off the odd point themselves.
In 2021, Meath defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland final, and the following season, Donegal overcame the Dubs.
The pang of that 2022 All-Ireland Championship quarter-final defeat to Donegal kept tapping on her shoulder.
It was in lovely Carrick-On-Shannon at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada. In high summer. Where boats bobbed in the waters.
But the Dubs were in no mood to admire the scenery. The journey back to the city was a quiet and reflective one.
Sinéad then stepped on a plane for a new life in Australia. Cheering on the Dubs from across the seas as they made a remarkable comeback to lift the Brendan Martin Cup once more.
Now, she’s back on the boat. In the middle of a new voyage.
“I just want to make the most of this chance I have been given,” she reflects.
A motto for her large Fan Club. And indeed for life itself.
