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.
