One of Jemma Quinn's Canadian team-mates pointed out something recently that stopped Shels' late bloomer in her tracks.
"She said, 'You gave up football for nine years, then came up here last year and played Champions League football'," recalled Quinn.
"I'd never thought about it like that, but that's exactly what I did! I'm just here to jump on the ride and enjoy it."
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Noel King invited her to play for Stella Maris' under-14s almost 20 years ago. She stayed with Stella into the senior ranks but then left football behind in her early 20s.
"There wasn't a big incentive to play then," Quinn said. "We weren't being looked after the way the boys and men's teams were."
She was involved in outdoor adventure management, teaching water sports. She went to college, enjoyed her social life and went travelling.
"It all just took my interest away," she explained.
Three years ago she gave into her best friend Natalie Walsh's pleas to join non-league Donnycarney. The club merged with Killester and a rise in standards under manager Thomas Heary and promotion followed.
"I just fell back in love with football again," said Quinn, who was weight training six days a week.
King invited for her to train with Shels in February of last year.
As a 32-year-old, she was hesitant about making the leap. With Killester Donnycarney's support, she went for it.
"I hadn't been paying attention to the League so I was in shock when I went up," Quinn smiled.
"I thought, 'Oh my God, this is well above what I'm used to'. I was shattered. The biggest thing for me was immediately realising the talent that Ireland was producing.
"I said to Noel after, 'I don't know if this is too much' but he said to give it a few weeks. So I signed up."
Quinn credits herself as a good listener and a fast learner - and she soaked up everything from her experienced team-mates.
"I said to myself, 'If I'm going to do it I have to give it a proper go', and I did. It took me four months to get up to speed.
"There were a lot of old habits I had to break after nine years away and I've got a lot of help along the way within the club."
Shels won the double last year. Quinn remembers her stunning Cup quarter-final goal against Saturday's opponents, League leaders Peamount, as a "special moment".
What she is most proud of, even above the silverware, was getting into the team. "It was about not making up the numbers, and I achieved that," she said.
The Dubliner feels it has been coming together in a similar fashion in recent weeks. Shels endured a slow start - like Peamount, they lost key players to Shamrock Rovers for this season - but the Reds are up to third.
"Six of our most talented girls went," she said. "Losing those personalities was the biggest thing. It was a bit heart breaking.
"It was always going to be hard to replace them but I think we deserve a bit of credit for how we handled it. It's really starting to click now and we're definitely a threat to win the League this year."
Some young players came in from Canada and America and other girls have stepped up.
"A great example is Courtney Maguire in goal, it was a big step up for her but she has been fantastic."
Quinn has stepped up, too. Playing in an unfamiliar attacking role, she has scored four goals in the last two games.
"I'm here for this season at least and we'll see after that, I'll be 34 this year," she said, adding that she has reduced her weight training to three days a week to accommodate football training and recovery.
"But I can't wait to be playing in the Champions League again when it comes and I'm going to give it everything."
It's a big weekend for the League, with the second placed Hoops hosting fifth placed Galway as well. Only six points separate the top five.
"I couldn't be happier about that because you don't want two teams running away from the rest," Quinn reflected.
"In order for this sport to grow, especially in Ireland, we don't want a league of two halves. To keep girls here you want a competitive league, competitive teams and people turning up four days a week giving it everything.
"Look at Galway and Bohs, the fantastic seasons they're having right now, and Shamrock Rovers as a new team, whether they have the best players or not, to gel them together into a team is going to be hard and they've shown great resilience so props and fair play to them.
"This is exactly where I want to be playing, I don't want to play in a League where it's completely miles apart between teams.
"I'm buzzing for it this weekend, especially after the last couple of performances I've had and after getting off the goal mark.
"This weekend is going to draw a lot of attention to the League - and with Shels and Peamount kicking off at 2pm on Saturday, I'm sure every other player in the league will be watching."
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