Returning Savannah McCarthy keeping one foot in the Kingdom

Savannah McCarthy endures a round trip of almost seven hours to train and play with Shamrock Rovers while still living in her native Co Kerry.

You can take the player out of Listowel... but she'll return once her day's work is done.

The 26-year-old centre-half travels up and back three times a week, a three hour and 20-minute drive each way. She only stays in Dublin on Friday nights, ahead of matches on Saturdays.

It's a hell of a trek, but it's in keeping with a career defined by journeys. A journey into the professional game; a journey towards full fitness after a nightmare injury; a journey back to the international stage.

McCarthy missed out on the summer's World Cup after suffering an ACL injury in March 2022. It took her over a year to get back, and though she did return to action last April, ultimately the defender ran out of road ahead of the tournament.

"I knew time would be a factor," she says. "It was always going to be tough. I suppose coming back from the injury I came back from, it wasn't easy. My first game back was at the end of April. At the start of that you've got to build your way back up to 90 minutes.

"I'd a few 90 minutes under my belt before the squad was announced but it was just a little bit too soon."

"I'll always be thankful to Vera for bringing me back in."

McCarthy is in the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League games against Northern Ireland and Hungary.

Saturday's clash with the North is a landmark occasion, a first opportunity for the women's team to play at the Aviva Stadium.

McCarthy is in with a decent chance of starting, in the absence of Aoife Mannion and Niamh Fahey. She emerged as a real favourite under Vera Pauw, who gave McCarthy a surprise recall for the 2020