A smile breaks across Nicola Ward's face.
The Galway defender is preparing for Sunday’s All-Ireland football semi-final with Cork, with the Tribes just 60 minutes away from a repeat of the 2019 decider with Dublin.
The All-Star corner-back is on media duties, and is asked whether Galway owe the Rebels a win.
"I think so," she tells RTÉ Sport. "It would be great if we could get through that and get one up on them."
They are certainly well within their rights to feel like it is their time to come out the right side of this fixture.
Ward didn’t feature in the last championship meeting, a game few in maroon will need reminding of, with Cork putting 6-19 on their opponents on their way to a 24-point winning margin in the 2017 quarter-final.
There have been some near misses.
In 2015 a replay was required in the league final, with Rena Buckley kicking the winning point in the closing minutes. Their championship campaign that year also ended at the hands of the decorated Rebels, this time squeaking through with two points to spare.
In a year of huge progress for the team, 2019 ended with an All-Ireland final defeat, to add to their league final loss at the hands of Cork.
Some observers believe Galway’s more challenging route to the last four will stand them in good stead. Bare minimum victories over Tipperary and Monaghan pushed them to the pin of their collars in Group 2, in contrast to the Rebels who enjoyed a points difference of +21 in their wins over Kerry and Cavan.
Ward isn't buying into the notion that Sunday's opponents are somewhat undercooked.
"Cork are really experienced. They know how to grind out matches as well. They have threats all over the pitch and such high quality forwards in Ciara O’Sullivan, Orla Finn [pictured above] and Aine Terry, who got three goals last time out."
The build-up to the game has dominated by the switch in venue from LIT Gaelic Grounds to Parnell Park, but the 23-year-old remains philosophical.
It has reopened the debate regarding whether the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association [LGFA] should come under the GAA umbrella, with some criticising the LGFA’s stance to remain outside the tent.
There are bigger things at stake than a pitch
Ward admits things could potentially operate in a more seamless manner if that were the case, but points out that co-operation between the bodies has been evident.
The semi-final was originally due to take place last weekend in Thurles, but the game was moved to facilitate Cork’s dual players.
"In that sense, the LGFA did really well. We accepted that as well. We have to accept this and we have to move on because there are bigger things at stake than a pitch."
Simply playing championship football was something the pediatric nurse felt was beyond her just a year ago.
Injured on club duty in last November’s All-Ireland Senior final defeat to Mourneabbey, she required surgery on the same knee she injured the previous year.
Cartilage lodged behind her knee had to be removed and she was beginning to make peace that returning for June in time for the championship was a long shot.
The pandemic of course changed all that.
Towards the end of April, she tentatively took her first run. A highly significant day in fact as it was also her first day at work in Crumlin Children's Hospital. It would be September before she completed her first full training session.
"I was quite worried I wouldn’t play any football at the start of the year, but in my situation, Covid definitely helped me in returning to sport. I’m extremely thankful to play any match. I’m excited to play any match, never mind an All-Ireland semi-final."
Ward cares little about the venue on Sunday, it is 100% about the result.
"Each year we have been breaking the barriers."
It is only a little over 12 months ago that every member of the Galway team had their first championship run-out in Croke Park in the semi-final defeat of Mayo.
The focus is on continuing the journey, and that would mean getting the Cork monkey off their backs.
"Each year we have been breaking the barriers. Getting to Croke Park last year was a massive confidence booster to us as a team. We gained a lot of experience from that and we are hoping to use that this week."
Nicola Ward was speaking at the launch of Lidl One Good Club, a five-step youth mental health awareness programme for local clubs, developed in partnership with the LGFA and Jigsaw.
