For now Laurie Ryan is concentrating on Athlone Town, and trying to help the Midlanders push up the Women's Premier Division table.
They currently sit in seventh position, some eight points adrift of leaders Peamount United. It's just four games in, so still plenty of time to make that rise. Next up for Athlone is a date with Galway United on Wednesday evening.
The game follows on from her day job as a lecturer in sports science and nutrition at the Technological University of the Shannon's Athlone campus. Two plates to keep spinning; not so long ago it was three, as Ryan also lined out for Clare in Gaelic football. That said she still follows the fortunes of the latter, none more so than last Sunday when the Banner County qualified for Lidl National Football League Division 3 final.
"I'm not in with Clare but I'm obviously keeping a close eye on them," Ryan said at the launch the 2023 Gaelic4Girls programme.
"They had to win by a big score [against Longford] to be in with a chance of reaching the league final. From the word go they had goals on their mind [Clare won by 7-15 to 2-03]. It's brilliant for them to be in the final after getting relegated last year. There was a different format last year, we played less games and got relegated. This year they go to play every team and are in the final which is fantastic."
In 2022, Ryan played in the Women's FAI Cup final against Shelbourne. On the same day and, in another code, her club Banner were taking on Ballymacarbry of Waterford in the Munster senior club final. She had a choice to make. Being skipper of Athlone meant she would be at Tallaght Stadium. Efforts were made to get the Munster clash fixed.
She told RTÉ Sport at the time: "We won the county championship and made the Munster final, which is on at 3pm on Sunday as well," said Ryan.
"It was a bit of a disaster. We tried to get it pushed back a week because there is a gap week there, but the other team, Ballymacarbry from Waterford, didn't approve. There is a big chance of winning it with Mourneabbey of Cork knocked out because they would have been our stumbling block in the last few years.
"The minute we won the Munster semi-final, we knew and sent an email to the Munster Council straight away to get it changed but I have been really lucky the girls have been understanding of me being captain of Athlone.
"My loyalties are there at the moment, but it's disappointing to miss the big days with the club as well."
For Ryan, there was cup disappointment on both fronts last November.
A few months earlier, her grandmother Rita Ryan, with whom she lived with for a few years, passed away. As a result there were less trips down to Clare and with it came the decision to put her inter-county career on hold, for now. Yes, there is a sense the 29-year-old will be tempted to wear the saffron and blue again.
"I've definitely not ruled it out," she added.
"I do miss it and I'm still playing with my club, we have league matches coming up.
"Once you play Gaelic football it's like a cult, you can never get away from it. No decision yet as to whether I'll play for Clare this season but as I said I'm not ruling it out."
In assessing Athlone Town's season so far, Ryan did admit expectations were heightened even before a ball was kicked.
"People were expecting a lot from us. In saying that we lost players during the close season, so you never know how long it's going to be for things to gel with a new team.
"We got off to a great start winning the President's Cup. We were lucky to host that in Athlone; it was a big occasion. We were delighted to get the first piece of silverware in the club. We then went out the following week and lost to Peamount [3-1]. They are an in-form team who will be challenging for the league and the cup this year. It's up to us to get up to that level and make sure we're in with a shout."
And what of the Shamrock Rovers' entry into the league.
A positive development, says Ryan.
"Anything that strengthens the league is only going to promote it and make it better. The recent Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers game: look how good the quality was. Shamrock Rovers, with their money and backing, will push other clubs to get to that level.
They've come in to win the league. Peamount, Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers, Wexford will challenge. We're hoping that we'll be up there as well.
