Miller finally arrives in big time

Dublin Airport’s arrivals hall has been the scene of many a triumphant homecoming for Irish sporting stars and fuelled the dreams of future generations of icons, and yesterday, it saw a few more march through.

Growing up, Alison Miller watched so many of Ireland’s heroes make a glorious return home, never daring to dream that she too would walk in their footsteps.

Yesterday, as part of Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning rugby team, the winger and her team-mates walked into that terminal to wild acclaim.

“It was fantastic, absolutely unbelievable. I’m usually at home watching these things thinking it would be great to be part of something like that so having seen lots of homecomings to actually be the person walking through those doors and be at the other end of it was amazing. It was just unreal,” she beamed.

The flying winger was one of the brightest stars in Ireland’s galaxy this tournament, with her five tries lighting up the historic campaign, but Miller reveals that joy wasn’t her first emotion when the final whistle blew on a tight and difficult game in muddy Milan on Sunday.

“Initially I was relieved, then it hit home that we won the Grand Slam so it was unbelievable. Last year we had a very good run so we knew we were good enough to challenge for the championship but the Grand Slam wasn’t planned at the start of the year, our goal was World Cup qualification and we achieved that when we beat Wales.

“To actually do all this and remain unbeaten throughout the campaign was an amazing feeling but I’m still having to pinch myself to make sure it’s real,” Miller added.

The PE and history student has no time to let the magnitude of her achievements sink in, however, as college assignments had to be crammed in last night before jetting off to Hong Kong for the International Sevens tournament the Irish team take part in this week. The sweet thrill of a Grand Slam makes the long hours spent training worthwhile, she said.

“We’re amateurs so we have to deal with college or jobs and families during the week and it can be tough sometimes leading into games if you’re trying to get work done and get ahead of things.

“Winning at the weekend was an amazing feeling and all the sacrifices have paid off, they were well worth it in the end.”