Siobhan McGrath embracing Irish Heart Foundation ambassador role

In the two years since Siobhan McGrath last donned the sky blue jersey, the personnel of the Dublin team has changed dramatically.

From the team that started their TG4 All-Ireland SFC decider defeat to Meath at Croke Park on September 5, 2021, only seven were in the first 15 for the Jackies' Brendan Martin Cup semi-final win over Cork a fortnight ago. In addition to McGrath, Ciara Trant, Niamh Collins, Sinead Goldrick, Lyndsey Davey and Siobhan Killeen aren’t currently part of the Dublin set-up for a variety of reasons, while substitutes Niamh McEvoy and Olwen Carey are also no longer involved.

A quarter-final loss to Donegal last year meant there was a degree of uncertainty over how Dublin’s campaign was going to pan out this time around, but with 2022 minors Niamh Donlon and Niamh Crowley among those to add fresh impetus, McGrath is pleasantly surprised to see her old team preparing for an All-Ireland showpiece against Kerry tomorrow afternoon.

"To be honest, when I look at the panel myself, there’s not a whole lot that I know. There’s two in particular, the two minors that came through this year. They’ve just settled in unbelievably, to be even starting the last day was just phenomenal for them. They don’t seem to be fazed by it," McGrath said.

"They just go out and do their job. Obviously it’s their system, it’s the set-up that they have out there. You play, you train hard, you train well and you’re in. At the start of the year they were going back to regrouping, but they don’t look like a team that is regrouping anymore."

Having featured in no fewer than eight Brendan Martin Cup finals during her inter-county career – coming away with an even number of wins and defeats – there is undoubtedly a part of McGrath that is