Savannah McCarthy endures a round trip of almost seven hours to train and play with Shamrock Rovers while still living in her native Co Kerry.
The 26-year-old Listowel centre-half travels up and back three times a week, a three hour and 20-minute drive each way. She only stays in Dublin on Friday nights, ahead of matches on Saturdays.
It's a hell of a trek, but it's in keeping with a career defined by journeys. A journey into the professional game; a journey towards full fitness after a nightmare injury; a journey back to the international stage.
McCarthy missed out on the summer's World Cup after suffering an ACL injury in March 2022. It took her over a year to get back, and though she did return to action last April, ultimately the defender ran out of road ahead of the tournament.
"I knew time would be a factor," she says. "It was always going to be tough. I suppose coming back from the injury I came back from, it wasn't easy. My first game back was at the end of April. At the start of that you've got to build your way back up to 90 minutes.
"I'd a few 90 minutes under my belt before the squad was announced but it was just a little bit too soon."
"I'll always be thankful to Vera for bringing me back in."
McCarthy is in the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League games against Northern Ireland and Hungary.
Saturday's clash with the North is a landmark occasion, a first opportunity for the women's team to play at the Aviva Stadium.
McCarthy is in with a decent chance of starting, in the absence of Aoife Mannion and Niamh Fahey. She emerged as a real favourite under Vera Pauw, who gave McCarthy a surprise recall for the 2020 friendly against Australia after she had been overlooked for a few years.
McCarthy rewarded Pauw's faith with a superb display in a 3-2 win and was an ever present until the injury. While several players were clearly unhappy during Pauw's reign - not least Diane Caldwell - McCarthy feels indebted to the Dutch coach for rejuvenating her international career.
"For me, obviously I'll always be thankful to Vera for bringing me back in," she says.
"I was out of the squad for a number of years. She brought me back in and played me straight away so I'll always be thankful for that.
"It's a new campaign, a new start, we're just so looking forward to Saturday to get out there at the Aviva and play against Northern Ireland.
"I'll have all my family and my friends there. They're all travelling, making the trip up. It's exciting."
And of what of her own thrice weekly spin up from the Kingdom?
For McCarthy, it's a logical choice and one she makes the most of, using the commute to switch off from the world for a chunk of the week.
"When I spoke with Rovers, we talked about our contract," she adds.
"It was a case of, I didn't know where I was going to be. I didn't want to commit too soon about moving up to Dublin, not knowing if I was going to be playing. I wanted to be 100%, that I was playing games and back to myself.
"I'm still doing the trip. I'm used to it. I've done it my whole life.
"It's around three hours and 20 minutes. I do it three days. At the start, when I was coming back [from injury], I'd be doing it four days.
"Now I come up Monday, Tuesday and Friday I stay up for the game on the Saturday.
"We had chats about moving up to Dublin but I didn't know what way I was going to be. I just wanted to take it day by day.
"People look at you like you're crazy. I'm used to it. It's actually some time to myself, that journey. I play some podcasts and listen to a bit of music, and look forward to the session."
The landscape of the women's game has changed dramatically since McCarthy last pulled on an Irish jersey. Pauw has departed, a first appearance at a World Cup has come and gone, and new faces have arrived on the scene to increase competition.
But the steel and balance McCarthy offers as a left-side defender is a welcome boost to an Ireland side that will feel like they have a point to prove.
"When I came in, our aim was to get a World Cup," she smiles. "Obviously, the girls did that. It was unbelievable for Irish football. Now for us it's a new campaign and I think we're eager, we want more. It's really exciting and I'm just glad to be part of it.
"It's been a long wait, but I'm here and delighted to be here."
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