Almost full circle for Shannon McGroddy with Na Dúnaibh

More than 10 years on from winning a national title in the colours of a different side, Na Dúnaibh's Shannon McGroddy finds herself back in an AIB All-Ireland club football championship decider this weekend.

Back on November 30, 2014, McGroddy played in midfield as Termon defeated Cork’s Mourneabbey to claim the All-Ireland senior crown at Tuam Stadium. Regarded as one of the best footballers in the country at the time, Geraldine McLaughlin struck an astonishing 3-08 to get the Ulster champions over the line.

It has been a decade long wait for another Donegal outfit to reach an All-Ireland decider, but Na Dúnaibh have managed to do so at the junior grade this year. With McGroddy on board as one of their most experienced operators, Na Dúnaibh will take on Mungret St Paul's of Limerick in the junior club showpiece at Parnell Park on Sunday (throw-in 2pm).

"I was only 18 at the time, so I was quite a young cub then. Downings [Na Dúnaibh] didn’t have a team at that stage of my playing career. I had to go elsewhere to play football, so Termon was my next nearest club. I probably would have known some of the girls through county football. I went into the county scene about 16, 17," McGroddy recalled.

"I had been playing with the likes of Geraldine [McLaughlin] and Nicole [McLaughlin] and Therese McCafferty, girls like that. They were really taking me under their wing at the time. It was a great experience and a great run, but if anything it has taught me that those days don’t really come around and big occasions don’t always come around.

"That was 10 years ago now, so 10 years later, it’s almost like a full circle moment. It’s something I’m really proud of now, to be back playing in the green and gold. Lining out for my home club