Dublin’s Kate Sullivan is hoping to push for glory under new managers

There aren’t many ladies footballers who get to make their competitive senior inter-county debuts in Croke Park, but that is exactly how it turned out for Dublin’s Kate Sullivan back in February 2019.

Having stood out on a minor team that reached the semi-final of the All-Ireland ‘A’ Championship in 2018, Sullivan was drafted into the Jackies set-up by then manager Mick Bohan ahead of their campaign in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League.

When the team was announced for an opening round fixture against Donegal in GAA HQ, Sullivan was listed amongst the substitutes.

Yet on the day of the game, she was officially added to a starting line-up that also included fellow debutant Sarah Fagan.

Sullivan had been aware quite a few days in advance of this encounter that she was going to be selected in the Dublin attack and even though the game ended in a 1-11 to 1-7 defeat for her side, it was a day to remember for the St Sylvester’s attacker.

“It was a great one to get my debut in. Especially going into a stadium like that was brilliant. That was a day I’ll probably always remember starting off my Dublin career.

"I found out earlier that week that I was going to start. Obviously the team came out and I don’t think I was named on it, but obviously it was keeping that quiet and just telling family,” Sullivan explained.

“It probably helped a little bit as well that there was no noise outside or any expectations on it. Going into the match then, Mick approached me a few days before the game, just letting me know. I was obviously a little bit nervous, but delighted to get the start and especially so early on in the league.”

When Sullivan first arrived on the Dublin senior squad, she was surrounded by a wealth of playing