Lyndsey Davey said that her Dublin team-mates were owed great credit for their second-half display after they came from behind to claim a fourth All-Ireland title in a row on Sunday.
The Girls in Blue overcame Cork by five points at Croke Park, having trailed the Rebels by a goal at the break.
A Carla Rowe penalty was the crucial score as it swung moment back towards the Metropolitans, and the Clann Mhuire forward added three pointed frees as the Blues barely noticed the loss of talismanic captain Sinéad Aherne.
But for Davey, appearing in a 10th All-Ireland final, there was no sense of panic in the dressing room at half-time.
"We were very frustrated at half-time," she said afterwards.
"We just weren't clinical in executing our scores. It was a lack of composure, three scores out of 12 chances. We knew we were getting the chances but we just were taking them.
"We had to just compose ourselves. We upped the ante in the second half. It's a credit to the girls. Their work-rate, tempo and intensity was fantastic.
"Once we got ahead it was all about controlling it. We know have the talent in the squad, and it's just about doing the simple things well.
"We've been on one hell of a journey and it's fantastic to get over the line."
The victory is a fifth for the Skerries Harps forward, having made her debut all the way back in 2004.
It's a fifth victory on the sport's biggest day, after losing five of her first six final appearances.
But for Davey they are all different.
"To turn around today, and to have won five is just unbelievable," she said. "I take great pride in playing with Dublin and to still be contributing is fantastic.
"This was a special one today with the team, even though it's a bit different not having the families here.
"And it's always good to beat Cork because we've had some fantastic battles with them over the years. I know we beat them two years ago, but any day you win against Cork is a good day."
