The year 2022 saw Dublin reach the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland senior camogie championship.
An improvement on 2021 where the side skirted with relegation from the top tier. A win over Down ensured they didn't make the drop.
Kilkenny were the opposition last July; they ran out winners by 17 points, but that doesn't tell the whole story. The Dubs, then managed by Aidian O'Sullivan, were most competitive early on and kept trying right to the end at Semple Stadium.
The potential they possess is evident, particularly given the progress that has already been made, and with the experience of operating at the higher level behind them.
Former All-Star Aisling Maher excelled from placed balls, firing over eight points in the strong Thurles sun.
Maher's main takeaway from the year were those games in advance of facing the black and amber.
A case of what might have been, as she freely outlined to RTÉ Sport at an event where AIB confirmed their continued sponsorship of the Camogie Club All-Ireland Championships.
"My disappointment of the year pre-dates the game against Kilkenny," said the St Vincent's star.
"We had a drawn game against Tipp and a drawn game against Clare (Group 2). If we had won either of those games, probably the Clare match, we would have finished second in the group and managed to avoid Kilkenny in a quarter-final, which given that they won the championship in the end was our best chance to progress a round further.
"Ultimately we played our last championship game with a real hope of winning it and not looking to avoid relegation. We were frustrated that we didn't make a semi-final, but we definitely took a positive step. What's important is that we build on the progress we make year to year. We have to continue to progress."
Maher is keen to play in more "high-profile" games, but Adrian O'Sullivan won't be at the helm for the 2023 season. The Limerick native stood down two years into a three-year term. The news was unexpected, with Maher stating that his departure "came as a shock".
She added: "From my conversations with Adrian he was intent in staying on. People have their own stuff going on and he has his life to worry about. It's a voluntary position and sometimes life gets in the way. Ultimately you have to respect his decision if he's not able to be involved."
Just last week Dublin filled the vacancy, with Paul Kelly handed a three-year term. Kelly, from Tipperary, won All-Ireland titles as a player in 2001 and 2010. He claimed All-Star awards in 2002 and 2005. Kelly had a successful spell managing Mullinahone in women's football and has also coached hurling.
It took two months for the role to be filled, with Maher complimenting Dublin Camogie in that "they weren't rushing" to make an appointment and that "keeping the support panel" from the previous regime is a positive development.
At the end of August, O'Sullivan outlined a key reason for vacating the position, when speaking on RTÉ's Game On programme. Frustration over the application of rules in camogie was a factor in his decision and he was also disheartened with the stop-start nature of games.
"I found myself getting very frustrated with that," he said.
"I was left at a crossroads. Do I adjust my whole coaching ethos specifically for camogie, or do I stick to my principles and where I want to develop as a coach?
"That's what it came down to."
He said he would have stayed longer if officiating and application of the rules wasn’t such a sticking point.
"Yeah, I think so. It definitely played a huge part in it. It’s so frustrating. The quality of officiating isn’t up to standard either, or what you’d get in hurling. Even club hurling.
"Some referee took the new contact laws and really went there. There were some savage intense games, physical, and that is what the players want.
"Then you go out another day, go out the same way, and it becomes a free-talking contest.
"We had players bench pressing 70kgs, doing 10 repos of wide arm chin ups and every county is the same, that’s the way the game has gone.
"The rules haven’t quite kept up with the change and development of players physically and a skill point of view."
For Maher the subjective nature of what is and isn't allowed is an issue, though she was firm in saying that she "won't walk away from the game" because of how the rules are currently applied.
She cited this year's All-Ireland final between Cork and Kilkenny as a game that was "really well refereed".
She continued: "We've had games that have been played at that tempo, where big hits have been allowed.
"I have no doubt the rules were frustrating for him [O'Sullivan]. Allowing it to be a little bit loser, a bit more physicality, that's what we want. I don't think it's perfect as it. Application is quite subjective, that's the biggest issue and it's frustrating for referees and players. We are making attempts to try and progress the game. Players are well able for it."
Walsh, who is nominated for an All-Star, will next be in action for St Vincent's in the Leinster semi-final against Kilkenny's Thomastown on 12 November.
