'Nobody is invincible' - Dublin great Siobhán McGrath reveals stroke scare

This Sunday she will stroll into Croke Park for Dublin’s first All-Ireland final appearance since she pulled the curtain down on her own lengthy time in blue

ACT F.A.S.T.: Former Dublin footballer and stroke survivor Siobhán McGrath joined the Irish Heart Foundation in encouraging people to know the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke as a stroke can strike at any age. The Irish Heart Foundation’s ‘Act F.A.S.T. – Minutes Matter’ campaign highlights the key signs of stroke: F- facial drooping, A- arm weakness, S- slurred speech and T- time to call 112 or 999 if you see any single one of these signs. Visit irishheart.ie for more information. Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

As it does every midweek morning, Siobhán McGrath’s alarm started humming at 7am on Thursday, June 9 of last year. She woke and was immediately hit with a wall of exhaustion. Grogginess too.

She had trained with her club, Thomas Davis, the evening before. A tough session, but nothing she wasn’t used to. And certainly not something that could explain away how fatigued she was feeling.