Greg Bolger admitted it had been a hard road back from a serious leg injury after returning to the field in Shamrock Rovers' win over Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup semi-final.
The New Ross midfielder played the last 15 minutes after being introduced for Dylan Watts at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday.
He had suffered the fracture in a friendly against former club Wexford FC in July and he needed a plate and six screws installed to stabilise his leg.
At the time it was being reported that he was unlikely to see game time again in 2020, and that a return date was hard to pin down.
But he explained to RTÉ Sport after Sunday's victory that his recovery had gone much better than expected.
"It's been a long road," he said.
"I'm a bit emotional, to be honest, because it was a hard five months. I'm just absolutely delighted to get back out on the pitch.
"I'm buzzing to be honest. It's hard at the start of the injury because there were days where I was thinking I won't get back. But I stayed positive.
"I had butterflies in stomach before coming on, but it was a nice feeling.
"Obviously I had to get an operation, so for me to be here five months later on the pitch trying to help the lads get into a final - I'm just thrilled."
Recovery from serious injury can be a lonely place at the best of times, but the situation with Covid-19 made Bolger's recovery even more isolated.
The 32 year-old points out that it was a new experience for him, having been lucky throughout his career to remain mostly injury free.
He readily admits that the fact that he's in his 30s added to his anguish, but he says his mental strength got him through.
"I had to do a lot of stuff on my own - out in the cold and the wet.
"With the restrictions you could only do so much. There was no gym work, and you kinda had to make up your own things to do.
"Tough times, but look, there's a lot of people worse off than myself, so it was just one of those where I had to do the best I can, and see where it goes.
"I'm just grateful to be back out on the pitch."
With the end of his career now very much closer than the start, Bolger explains that he was able to take new experiences out of the injury period which he feels he can put go good use over the next couple of seasons.
"It was a learning curve for me watching games from the stands because when you're in the thick of the action you probably take things for granted.
"You're picking up different things about what you could do when you're back out there.
"So watching the boys for those few months - it was hard, don't get me wrong, because I wanted to be out there helping them. But you learn different things.
"Even just being around the dressing room where you're in but you know you're not playing. You're geeing up lads.
"The gaffer and the staff have been great with me as well, and they've noticed that. They've said it to me as well, because obviously you could be down, and bring people down with you because you're not in a good place.
"I stayed positive."
