The elation of scoring in front of almost 36,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium sent Lucy Quinn into a trance.
The attacking midfielder drilled home a crisp volley to break the deadlock against Northern Ireland in Saturday's historic clash at the Lansdowne Road venue.
It was a joyous moment for Quinn, and indeed for the majority of a colourful and noisy crowd.
Not that the 29-year-old can remember too much of it. As soon as the bal hit the net, the Birmingham City player went into a state of ecstatic shock.
"To see it hit the back of the net… you kind of black out a little bit," she said. "It was an unbelievable feeling and one that will never be topped in my career really.
"It was the stuff you dream of as a kid and you never really grow out of. Playing for your country in the Aviva, 36,000 fans, we wanted goals and we wanted to give a performance. The delight you feel, you can't compare it.
"It hasn't quite sunk in yet I don’t think, but what a day. Both my parents were here so it was super special.
"I kind of ran towards them [after the goal] but they're very small and cute so it’s difficult to point them out. I just wanted to thank them for all the sacrifices and everything they’ve done to put me in this position."
Interim boss Eileen Gleeson deployed Quinn in a more attacking role alongside Kyra Carusa.
It took time to gel; certainly for the first 20 minutes Ireland looked disjointed and laboured. But as the game wore on, and Northern Ireland tired, things began to click.
"It’s a little bit selfish as well at times," Quinn added when asked about the hosts' scrappy start to the game.
"You’re playing in a massive game, you want to get touches on the ball. My first touches I don’t think were overly great so it was just staying in the game and getting connected. You grow into the game as a team, and that’s what I felt happened.
"If someone said before the game that it would be 3-0, clean sheet and you'll score one I'd have ripped your hand off. It’s a great start. Obviously we want more. Personally I could have scored another one, maybe even two. We want to keep scoring goals, keep being creative, keep clean sheets. But yeah we're happy with it in the end."
There was little time for the Girls in Green to bask in the victory; hours after the final whistle, they flew out to Budapest for Tuesday's clash with Hungary.
Gleeson paid tribute to her players and immediately turned her forcus to that game, as Ireland aim to make it two wins from two in their first ever UEFA Nations League campaign.
"I expected I was coming into a great group of girls," said Gleeson, who has taken the reins while the FAI search for a permanent successor to Vera Pauw.
"We've got some really good talent coming through, so [I wanted ] to give them an opportunity and transition them in during these games going forward.
"I didn't know what we could anticipate coming into the Aviva today but it is like nothing you've ever experienced before and it will stay with us for the rest of our lives. We're super happy that we could come out with three goals, three points, a clean sheet."
Gleeson handed Celtic centre-half Caitlin Hayes a debut just 24 hours after she declared for the Republic of Ireland, and threw Tyler Toland straight back into the fray after the Donegal midfielder had been in international exile for four years.
Both players rewarded her faith with excellent displays.
"There's a change-up with a few players in, new faces," said Gleeson.
"You've seen Caitlin, she's walked in, taken over the place, really dominant performance defensively, in possession composed on the ball, gave us lots of out-balls for our forwards.
"Tyler, super comfortable in the middle. She's been great in training all week, she's slotted right in. I thought she gave us great balance and she's composed on the ball.
"It's so special, it's hard to actually put into words. It's magic, it is magic, you're standing there and you're like, 'Ah, what happened?' Three weeks ago, I was just travelling along, doing my job, happy out, and now I'm standing here with Amhrán na bhFiann playing, packed out stadium, best group of girls, best group of staff.
"The legacy today is increased participation, increased visibility and that's what we need to keep pushing forward and keep developing those players."
