Megan Connolly is still only 26 years old, but the versatile Cork woman believes the captaincy at Bristol City - and an influx of Irish youth - has nudged her into the next phase of her career.
Connolly moved to the Robins in the summer after four years at Brighton and Hove Albion.
She was immediately given the armband by boss Lauren Smith who trusted Connolly to provide crucial experience as the newly team promoted team prepared for life in the Women's Super League.
That faith has been rewarded by a string of fine displays. Bristol may be bottom of the table, but Connolly has flourished, picking up the player of the match award in Sunday's 2-0 loss at Manchester United and generally growing into a role she admits she was nervous about taking on.
"I'm loving it," she said ahead of the Republic of Ireland's UEFA Nations League double-header with Hungary and Northern Ireland.
"I'm loving the place, the team is great, management is great, the club is great, so for me personally I’m enjoying it. As a team coming into the WSL this year it’s a massive challenge but it’s a long season and I believe that we’ll stay up. I believe we’ll get more wins, get more results.
"I fit in quite quickly, which I was kind of nervous about because being at one club for so long, a new start is hard. But everyone has been amazing. It's made it easier when you feel settled so quickly, to be able to just focus on the football, focus on being able to influence the team, develop yourself. It's a great group."
Connolly was speaking at Ireland's Castleknock Hotel base, where Peamount United teenagers Ellen Dolan and Freya Healy arrived on Monday to link up with the seniors for the first time.
Interim boss Eileen Gleeson has been keen to flush youth into the squad.
And for Connolly, looking after the newest recruits has become an important part of international duty.
"Taking that [captaincy] role on you kind of take that responsibility of… when you're here you are representing yourself and how you are at your club," she said.
"When I’m in here, obviously you have the younger players, the Peamount girls coming in. Yes you want to be performing yourself but it’s a team game. You want to support your team-mates. You want to help them out.
"I’ve always prided myself on being a team player even when I wasn’t a captain or anything like that. Coming in here I take a bit of pride in the fact that I am captain at Bristol and I’ve kind of come in here and represent myself quite well, just keep trying to be a good teammate."
The Girls in Green sealed promotion to the top tier of the Nations League with victory in Albania last month.
They have the group won, but Friday's home game against Hungary, and the trip to face the North at Windsor Park the following Tuesday, represent opportunities to maintain the momentum so impressively generated over the last three months.
"The World Cup feels like years ago now honestly, with the amount of games we've played with our clubs and the Nations League now," added Connolly.
"Over the last few years we’ve built something amazing. We’ve built a great foundation. I think now we’re just trying to keep building, keep adding to that. We’ve always progressed, added foundations and layers.
"Every campaign we’re trying to progress based on what we’ve done previously. The year has been good."
"Our support has been amazing, and the crowds that do come out, they're always loud."
As for the prospect of taking on some of the big guns at the Aviva Stadium in the spring's Euro 2025 qualifiers, Connolly has one dream target: "England!" she laughed.
"To be fair I've never played England. Look, the crowds have been great in Tallaght, we’re getting there, but no matter who we play it would be nice to have a sellout.
"Our support has been amazing, and the crowds that do come out, they’re always loud – if it’s five, six, seven thousand, we are always appreciative of that. We’d just love to see it continue to grow. Whenever they’re out they are always loud."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Hungary in the UEFA Nations League on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on 2fm
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