Niamh Collins: It might sound corny but playing for Dublin is my dream

Niamh Collins had a strong belief that she was always going to play for Dublin.

The Foxrock Cabinteely defender went to watch the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship Final in 2003 and a lightbulb went off in her head.

"People might have asked me before did I look up to the men, and of course I did, but I have a very specific memory from 2003 and I would have been 10 or 11 and I went to the 2003 All-Ireland women's final and Dublin lost but it was very significant for me in my player career that it's what made me want to play for Dublin," Collins said at the launch AIG’s new #EffortIsEqual campaign.

"It went so far it influenced my decision as to where to go to secondary school in that I wanted to speak Irish on the podium if I ever got there. It was very much a defining moment for me."

From there Collins began to climb the underage ranks while continuing her club career with Foxrock. She progressed through the age groups and then when she was around 16 or 17 she believed that she might be able to crack the Dublin senior team. A couple of years of heartbreak at the hands of Cork hardened her drive but with back-to-back All-Ireland titles now under her belt she feels that playing for Dublin is exactly as she expected.

"It might sound corny but it is your dream and you're doing exactly what you want to be doing," added Collins. "Mick Bohan does say to us to relish these days because when they're gone, they're gone. We play to the highest level and it'll probably only happen once in our lives so it is the dream."

A business student, Collins said that she takes a keen interest in the analytical side of the game and reviewing her own performance but noted that the biggest contributor to Dublin reversing their fortunes over the last few years has come from within the squad.

"I can't put my finger on one thing but for me personally with my interest would lie in analysis. I'm in the process of finishing a masters degree in business analytics and personally for me having goals and KPI's has been incredibly informative on my own play and being able to do that self-analysis has been really beneficial to me but if you're going to be honest about it what makes a team is how people train and what we put into training. "It's the 30 people that train and care about what happens on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and not just a Sunday in July. It's putting in the effort from day one and I think it's something Dublin can be really proud of. We beat each other up on that pitch half the time but that's because everyone wants a jersey and to be in that first XV come June."

#EffortIsEqual recognises that the effort, commitment and dedication amongst male and female players is equal. AIG also announced their new sponsorship which will see AIG become the Official Insurance Partner of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. Follow AIG Ireland on social & on www.aig.ie to learn more about #EffortIsEqual.