Kilshannig celebrated All-Ireland glory last Saturday, the Cork club winning the Ceol Uirlise (Instrumental Music) competition at the All-Ireland Scór Sinsir final in Castlebar.

Sarah Sexton is smiling but the moistening of the eyes reveals the hurt. A tough, uncompromising defender, an inspirational leader, her ethos is centred on the primacy of the unit, the team.