Kayleigh Shine is relaxed and chatty at Tallaght Stadium, the Sports Direct FAI Cup sitting on a plinth yards from the Athlone Town defender as she fulfils media duties ahead of Sunday's final showdown against Bohemians (3pm kick-off).
This is familiar terrain for Shine, who is about to play in her fourth decider in a row.
Athlone have enjoyed a stunning rise and she’s been there every step of the way, coming into the underage ranks from Roscommon side Bealnamulla, before graduating to the seniors when they first entered the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division back in 2021.
Just look at Athlone now: the leading force in the women's domestic game, embellished by overseas talent such as Izzy Groves, Madi Gibson and Hannah Waesch.
They also broke ground in Europe this year by making it to Round 2 of Champions League qualifying, then dropping into in the newly formed Europa Cup.
These are heady times for the Midlanders. Born in the village of Drum, on the Roscommon-Athlone border, Shine is well aware of what it all means.
"When I thought of Champions League football, I never would have thought Ireland or Athlone, especially Athlone," she says.
"But we've done that, that's something new that hasn't been done before.
"Leading up to these games, it doesn't matter where you are in the league, it's every team's game. But it's such a big occasion, and you're trying to drill that into maybe a few new people that haven't been there before because when you've been there, you kind of realise it is nerve-wracking, but it's not until you get out onto the pitch and see all the fans, you kind of realise it's a lot bigger than what you thought it was."
With the league title already boxed off, Athlone are chasing a double on Sunday. They were in this position a year ago, but were hammered 6-1 by Shelbourne in awful conditions. Minds are fully focused this time around.
"I suppose it's probably nearly two, three weeks ago now when we won (the league), and then when we actually got the trophy, it felt like it was kind of like long overdue," adds Shine.
"It had sunk in well before we actually got the trophy. I think that's actually a good thing, it might hopefully go in our favour a little bit. Tensions and things like that, they aren't too high, coming down off a big win or anything.
"Last year it came down to the final game to see if we won it. It was kind of a big shock at the time, and then we had a big game the next week or so. It gives us a bit of time to soak it all in."
Reflecting further on that disastrous game against Shels a year ago, Shine admits: "A few people have been saying, 'you came up a bit short last year.' A bit short is maybe the nice way of putting it!
"It was definitely a kick in the teeth. Within 30 minutes, there was nearly four goals in and you know it's nearly done and dusted then. Obviously on the pitch, we don't have that mindset coming in now - we definitely don't ever want to let it run away like that again. Hopefully this year we we've learned our lessons and will put it up to Bohs now come Sunday."
They’ll be heavy favourites to get past a youthful Bohemians side who are appearing in their first ever FAI Cup final.
Even the shock departure of boss Colin Fortune in September hasn’t unsettled this powerful Athlone Town outfit, with John Sullivan taking the reins and keeping the ship steady.
A double would be another first for the club, a declaration that they are very much living in a golden era for the women’s team.
"We don't really talk about (a double) too much," Shine insists. "We like to stay humble in a way, and not get ahead of ourselves because if you talk about it too much, you're probably thinking that you have it won before it's even done.
"We've won the league, we've won the cup but we haven't done both. I suppose this year we were going for an unbeaten run. That didn't happen. So now it's to make something else happen, and that's doing the double."
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