'I never imagined I'd get back for Ireland' - Eimear Considine cherishing comeback

When Eimear Considine came on as a replacement for Munster in their Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Series match against Connacht last month she achieved what she had set out to do.

The 33-year-old had been off the international scene since April 2022, and in that time recovered from two knee injuries, given birth, and overcome a hamstring injury suffered prior to the first round of the Interpros

A 27th Ireland cap was not on the Clare woman's horizon when she decided that she wanted to give it another go but there was to be another flourish in green, seven years after her debut.

Ireland full-back Lauren Delany retired and Natasja Behan suffered an ACL injury.

When Méabh Deeley, who was outstanding for Connacht in their games, was ruled out with an injury, Scott Bemand opted for the experienced Considine for their game against Australia.

She didn't take the player of the match award from Ireland's impressive 36-10 win over the Wallaroos in Belfast but she was a contender.

"I never imagined I'd get back for Ireland," Considine tells RTÉ Sport as the team prepare for their shot at the world champion Black Ferns in WXV1 in the early hours of Monday morning in BC Place, Vancouver.

"My aim was just to get back on the pitch with Munster. The professional and that sportsperson in you has that drive to get better and then, it's like, 'do you know what? I am good enough to be here and I have hit the targets'.

"I tore my hamstring [before the opening round] but the knee itself was fine. The game plan was game-by-game but I've exceeded my own game plan. I felt like I wasn't finished, and the way that I finished meant that I wasn't finished.

"Look, I got a lucky break, Lauren Delany retired, Méabh Deely got injured, Natasja Behan done her