Hogan's resilience has brought her this far, now the World Cup awaits

It will be Ireland’s first time at the big dance since they provided the ballrooms in Dublin and Belfast in 2017, so here was catharsis writ large. 

Ireland No. 8 Brittany Hogan. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Brittany Hogan was already a concoction of emotions as the first question was being unspooled in her direction. 

Her bottom lip quivered as she stood there in front of the RTÉ cameras, hands on hips, the player of the match medal draped around her neck.