Last winter was a particularly difficult time for Lucy Quinn.
The Republic of Ireland international was sidelined with an injury, forced into a watching brief as the Girls in Green looked set to book their place in this summer's Euros.
The Birmingham City player concedes that surgery on her ankle wasn’t the only reason she was absent. Quinn had already slipped down the pecking order under then manager Eileen Gleeson but was unable to exert any influence on events as Ireland saw their Euro 2025 dreams wither on the vine against Wales.
Quinn, who only made her international debut four years ago at the age of 27, reflected on one of the most challenging periods of her professional career.
"It was massively disappointing," she told RTÉ Sport’s Tony O’Donoghue. "I fell out of favour before the injury, so it wasn’t just that. That’s football, you just have to do your best to bounce back.
"Managers are after different things at different times. Watching as an outsider was really difficult, but you just have to dig deep and put yourself in the best possible position.
"I wanted to be part of history. I had no doubts whatsoever (that Ireland would beat Wales and qualify for Euro 2025). Mentally I was really, really drained at one point. It wasn’t in my control, but I could only be myself."
The ankle injury that curtailed her involvement earlier this season is now behind her and after some conversations with Carla Ward in recent weeks, it was clear she would come back into the Ireland picture.
Over an hour against Turkey in a narrow victory at Tallaght last weekend surprised some, but not the player herself.
Rather than showcase her talent to the new woman in charge and the supporters, Quinn insists the desire is simply to add value to those around her.
"I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself," she says. "I still have some work to do, but I didn’t want to let anyone down.
"You always want to prove your worth to the team. It’s the best feeling in the world to be out there, so it was really, really nice to be back."
Weather conditions played a part in the Ward era getting off to a low-key start last week, but Quinn expects things to click in time.
"We wanted to try and play some football and the pitch didn’t allow it," she added. "We tried to play slightly more direct and the wind didn’t allow that.
"She will bring a new style. It’s very early days, but I like what she is about already. The staff seem to be really close. I think it will be exciting."
The 31-year-old admits that there is still an element of a hangover from the heartbreaking play-off defeat to Wales, not only in the result itself, but failing to match the expectations they set for themselves as a group after reaching a maiden World Cup two years ago.
A Nations League clash with a Slovenia side that have already recorded an away win in Greece in League B is the short-term focus, but Quinn has some lofty goals.
She will attend the Euros this summer as a fan but is hopeful that any appearance at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil will be in a playing capacity.
"That’s the goal," she says. "I want to do my best to get the team there, I want to continue to work my way into the squad. I will be a little older by then, but I know what I’m capable of and I believe I could be in a position to be there, but we have to make sure the team is there first.
"Brazil is a place we all want to go and play in a World Cup."
The start of that process is the here and now and Quinn will hope to build her place in the team despite some attacking options at Ward's disposal.
History made at the Aviva Stadium as Lucy Quinn scores Ireland's first ever women's international goal at the venue!#COYGIG #IRLWNT
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 23, 2023
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📱 Updates - https://t.co/GN1wbnGGfW pic.twitter.com/2Bfn1SqBuy
The scorer of Ireland's first-ever women's international goal at Aviva Stadium has registered five goals in a green jersey to date.
Adding to that haul is a burning ambition of a player deterninded to put herself to the forefront of Ward's plans.
"I think about it a lot," she says when asked about getting on the scoresheet again. "I try not to put too much pressure on myself, but ultimately I'm in the team as a forward player to do that. There is nothing better than scoring in a green shirt.
"I’m hoping it’s not to long before I get another."
Watch Slovenia v Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Women's Nations League on Tuesday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
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