Galway's history-maker reflects on club and county journey

Last Sunday week, almost 19 years on from one of the key moments in her distinguished inter-county career, Galway's Annette Clarke was back on the hallowed turf of Croke Park.

In October 2004 Clarke captained the Tribeswomen and scored 1-03 as they defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland football final.

She returned to GAA HQ for the same stage of the Brendan Martin Cup the following season, but on that occasion, it was a Cork team led by Juliet Murphy that claimed the first of five successive titles.

Across the 49 finals that took place before this year, Clarke and Murphy were just two of 42 winning captains in the All-Ireland senior ladies football championship.

While there were a few absentees, each and every one of this cohort had their names read out during the half-time break for the Brendan Martin Cup showpiece between Dublin and Kerry on 13 August, with Clarke amongst those who was introduced to the crowd.

"It was a great experience really, to be honest. I felt a bit lonely because I was the only Galway captain there, when you see groups of girls from Waterford and Cork, and Mayo and the likes," she recalls of a day that began with a captain’s lunch in the north Dublin stadium.

"You’re disappointed for Galway that we only had the one All-Ireland in that time frame, but at the same time from a personal level, even just to represent Galway, I was just delighted to be part of the occasion. I thought my days of walking out onto Croke Park were done, but it was nice to get another walk out there."

Because she was part of Dublin’s panel for the LGFA’s 50th All-Ireland senior final, Sinead Aherne (who captained the Jackies to four consecutive titles from 2017 to 2020) was represented by her former team-mate Lyndsey Davey for this