RTE viewers have hailed Kildare ace Mary Hulgraine as 'inspirational' after she appeared on Friday night's Late Late Show.
The goalkeeper appeared on Friday night's long running chat show as she spoke openly about overcoming her addiction to Oxycontin and alcohol as she broke back into the county panel.
Hulgraine travelled to America to play College Basketball and while over there was prescribed Oxycontin after undergoing surgery and the Kildare player opened up on Friday night's show.
And speaking about her addiction to Oxycontin, Hulgraine said: "I was given it post surgery. I just remember taking it. I never really touched anything and I remember taking this and not only did it take away physical pain, it took away emotional pain and mental pain. It was just like numbness.
"My head always had a lot of noise going on and all that disappeared when I took the painkillers.
"That screaming head was always there and for it to be gone I was like 'this is a miracle'.
"I was on a very strong dose and I probably shouldn't have been on what I was on and then I had another surgery on my leg and after that I was on an even stronger dose.
"I remember thinking in my own head 'this is a bigger operation, I'm going to get more of this drug'.
"My thinking had changed completely."
And Hulgraine added: "I came home, it was like my dream was shattered and I didn't want to be here.
"When I came back I was straight away looking for something and that's where my alcohol addiction took off.
"I used basketball as my escape outlet then it was oxycontin and alcohol and other drugs."
And she added about her experience playing with Kildare, saying: "I went back into the team in 2016 thinking it would get my life back together and it would give me structure and maybe it did for a day or two...
"I didn't know what was wrong with me, I thought I had a mental illness. I didn't know I had a problem with alcohol and drugs.
"I had thought so long that I didn't want to be here, this was reoccurring for a long time and I abused things for years and I woke up one day and said 'I don't want to be here anymore' and decided I was going to take my own life.
"I have a dog called Bailey...and that dog kept me alive. I'd look at him and say 'who's going to mind you'.
"For me, I drowned myself and my feelings for so long that I stopped feeling and then when I had seen this dog the feeling inside my chest was just love.
"I don't know what changed in my thinking and said I wonder if I stop drinking will my head normalise."
And RTE viewers praised Hulgraine with one saying: "Wow Mary Hulgraine is such a brave, strong and inspirational lady"
While another said: "Your interview was very inspiring on The Late Late show Mary. You told your story so honestly and bravely. All the best for the future"
And another added: "Such a brave strong inspiring lady"
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
