Edel McMahon has seen the worst of times with Ireland but is hoping that a WXV title marks the start of better things to come.
The Exeter Chiefs flanker played in both Rugby World Cup qualifier defeats to Spain and Scotland in 2021.
The following two seasons, under head coach Greg McWilliams, saw the squad struggle on the pitch while also having to deal with a number of retirements and "outside noise" about the state of the women's game in the country.
Having missed the 2023 Six Nations wooden spoon campaign through injury, the Limerick native was named as co-caption, alongside Sam Monaghan, by new head coach Scott Bemand ahead of the WXV tournament in Dubai.
The top two sides from the third tier, Ireland an Spain, face off this afternoon (2pm) with the winner taking the WXV3 title.
Ireland, who thrashed Kazakhstan and Colombia, are a point ahead of Spain and must avoid defeat to take the prize.
Winning some silverware for a new group is a driving factor, says the back row.
"Yeah, it definitely was and has been for me personally," she told RTÉ Sport.
"Just really motivated I think to go after a title. It’s probably our first as an international group, being in a situation where a title is on the line so we are relishing the opportunity.
"It’s a big motivator but, to be honest, the last couple of weeks and how the team, and environment, how we are playing the training ID that we want to stamp on is probably more the focus. We’ve been really enjoying it, the opportunity."
McMahon also spoke about the difference in preparation between the squads that went to the Parma tournament in 2021 and the one that travelled to Dubai.
"Even our preparation for coming on to this tour, the heat and acclimatisation, stuff like that, we didn’t have that before," said McMahon, who will win her 24th cap this afternoon.
"That’s been a massive performance push from where the girls are physically prepared for this tour. And just clarity in our training.
"We have a clear understanding as a team and we can see that week in week out and what exactly it is we need to execute. They are two of the biggest differences.
"Again, it’s about our own self-accountability. One of our performance-pushers in this competition is to be honest and relentless.
"So that’s pushing each other. I’m holding myself to a standard just as much as Sam Monaghan is holding herself to a standard.
"We’re bringing in an experience from the girls in the Premiership that is pushing the girls on the centralised contracts and those from abroad as well. There is a real accountability piece that everyone is relishing.]
"In terms of media coverage, we’re on a call right now, people are turning in, I don’t think we’re being over-shadowed or over-looked media-wise.
"We’re still open to scrutiny of our performances but most importantly internally we’re very much scrutinising ourselves and that’s probably what we need to hold on to."
