Aine O'Gorman has revealed that last month’s World Cup play-off against Scotland was win or bust for her international career.
The 33-year-old says defeat would have seen her hang up her green jersey - permanently this time.
O’Gorman had previously retired in September 2018, before reversing that decision 18 months later.
READ MORE: Rovers' Euro campaign concludes in defeat as Hoops left to rue barren run in front of goal
Instead of ending her Ireland career in disappointment at Hampden Park, however, she can sign off in style with a historic World Cup appearance next summer.
She has even secured a passport for her three-month old son James.
“For me personally it's a dream come true,” said O’Gorman, who still has to pinch herself when she thinks ahead to a trip next year to Australia.
“If we didn't win that game in Scotland it probably would have been my last.”
O’Gorman feared that her chance to play at a major tournament had passed her by - but that the deeper they went into the recent qualification campaign, the more the belief grew that history would finally be made.
“Look, that game against Australia - and it’s interesting we’re playing them now - in September last year was a starting point,” she said.
“We got a win and then we got this belief and started the campaign against Sweden.
“We lost 1-0 but might have nicked a goal late on.
“We went away to Finland and got that result (a 2-1 win). We really kicked on from there.
“There’s a belief in the squad which was never really there before but it still feels surreal when it happens.
“When you sit down after the Finland game, you know you're going to a play-off and you still look at all of the permutations (including a possible inter-continental play-off next February).
“For it to happen the way it happened was kind of like it was meant to be.”
Ireland’s World Cup preparations begin next week when Vera Pauw takes her squad to Marbella for an eight-day training camp.
It will include a behind-closed-doors training match and then a full international on November 14 against World Cup-bound Morocco.
One of the big talking points ahead of the World Cup will be manager Pauw’s contract situation, with her current deal set to expire at the end of the tournament.
Would O’Gorman like to see her sign a new deal?
“Yeah, look, obviously she has done an incredible job,” she replied.
“We are the highest ranked that we have ever been - 24th in the world at the moment and 15th in Europe. We've qualified for a World Cup. Hats off to her for that.
“So I think it's up to her personally whether she wants to stay on and go for another campaign or not, and I think we will cross that bridge after the World Cup.”
Her focus right now is on the training camp and friendly against Morocco.
“It’s good that we have a game coming up. It was a window that there were no games planned for,” said O’Gorman.
“That’s what happens when you qualify for a World Cup. It will be a good game to get back together to start our preparations after the highs of qualification.
“It still feels surreal. I do be driving along in the car some days thinking ‘Oh God, we’re actually going, we did it, that’s just mad’.
“It probably feels more real now that we know who we’re up against - Australia, Canada, Nigeria.
“It’s great that we have this window coming up now so that we can focus on doing what we have to do to be the best we can and compete.”
Onto more immediate matters and O’Gorman would not comment on her club future - with rumours growing of an imminent switch to Shamrock Rovers.
The Hoops will return to senior women’s football in time for next season under the management of former UCD boss Collie O’Neill.
While she gave nothing away, she did says that having Rovers back would strengthen the Women’s National League.
“Obviously a club of their stature, it's a professional club in a professional environment so that's the way the game has to move forward,” she said.
“Now Bohs have a team and Shels have a team so for me it's progress.”
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