Republic of Ireland midfielder Jamie Finn has said the international side is now clearly benefiting from having so many players plying their trade in full-time professional environments.
Finn signed for Women's Super League side Birmingham City in the summer of 2021 having impressed with Shelbourne in the Women's National League.
The 24-year-old from Swords, Co Dublin has endured a tough year in the English midlands - Birmingham suffered relegation to the Championship in May - but her improvement in a green jersey has been a real positive.
"There is a step up (in standard)," said Finn, speaking at the launch of the 'Lace Up With Pride' campaign.
"Obviously, training every day, gym sessions and video analysis. In fairness to Shels and the WNL, it's not full-time, they don't have the facilities to do that.
"It is a step up but it's one I thought I adapted quite well to. There's loads of Irish girls in Birmingham City (Emily Whelan, Harriet Scott, Marie Hourihan, Eleanor Ryan Doyle, Lucy Quinn and Louise Quinn) so that helped me, on the pitch and off.
"I lived with Emily as well. We played together at Shelbourne. It made it an easy transition for me. It is hard moving away from home but having the girls there made it easier.
"A lot of us have made the step now, whether it's in the English league or the Scottish league or in Europe. I think there's only a handful of girls left now in the Irish squad that are in Ireland.
"No disrespect to the Women's National League, I think it's a great league. But if you want to push on individually - and with the national team, become a better team collectively - I think you do have to go away and find a professional environment."
Finn was part of the Ireland team that earned a terrific World Cup qualifier draw in Sweden back in April.
They play Georgia on 27 June before hosting Finland and then travelling to Slovakia in September.
Runner-up spot, and a place in the play-offs, is within reach.
"I wouldn't say playing against Sweden was easy!" Finn said when it was put to her that her time in England would have helped when she squared up against the Swedes' world-class talent.
"I've been playing against some of those players week in, week out in the league. Yeah, it made it that bit easier. You know more about the player and what they're going to do next. Playing in the WSL made me that bit sharper as well.
"If you'd said, we'd get a point away from home against Sweden, you'd have taken that. It was a great game. We know the quality of Sweden. They can come back into a game and get a goal. We're proud of the draw and the point that we got."
The Lace Up With Pride campaign encourages fans, players and clubs to show solidarity with the LGBTI+ community.
Last month Blackpool's Jake Daniels became the UK’s first male pro footballer to come out publicly as gay since Justin Fashanu in 1990.
Things are far more progressive in the women's game, with several high-profile footballers openly gay.
"It wouldn't be as common in the men's game for players to come out," Finn said.
"In women's soccer - and even in other sports - it's that bit more common. It's about visibility and having that consistency around the message."
Follow Republic of Ireland v Scotland (Saturday, 5pm) via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 4.15pm, with live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
