‘Hopefully now we can bring what we have gained from the league and push on for the championship’ – Dublin’s Leah Caffrey

She played there in the Mini Games, and in Cumann na mBunscol.

And she has been cheering on the Dubs there as long as she can remember.

Her uncle, Pillar Caffrey, was managing Dublin in the noughties. They were exciting afternoons in the sun. When the ‘Sold Out’ sign would go up for Leinster Championship games.

Before that, he also had a prosperous spell in charge of the Na Fianna senior footballers.

Leah always valued Pillar’s wisdom. A spoonful of advice was only a phone call away.

She is also proud of her father’s exploits. John, one of the Twelve Apostles.

Dublin beating Galway in the 1983 All-Ireland final. Heffo playing John as a third midfielder.

The Heff – always a pass ahead of the opposition, a man before his time.

John nurtured the generations at St Declan’s College in Cabra. Himself and Bernie never miss a match.

Na Fianna is in their children’s bones – Aoife, Leah, Seán and Hugh.

Sport was always a part of Leah’s DNA. She admired Serena Williams.

Serena’s competitive streak made an impact. And, for Leah, the bigger the mountain, the better.

Her biggest task of all came in last season’s All-Ireland final.

It was the best woman-marking job the game had ever seen.

She managed to contain the heartbeat of the Kerry team, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

It was akin to Michael Fitzsimons scaling the Cliff of Killarney.

Leah has that dart of acceleration, and the courage to make the most timely of blocks.

She showed such bravery and skill against Cork two weeks ago in DCU. Cork looked certain to score a goal.

“Melissa Duggan broke and created an overlap,” recalled Dublin manager, Mick Bohan.

“But Leah, as Leah does, made an incredible block to snuff out the opening.”

She makes quite the habit of doing that. Opposition forwards can feel her shadow on their boot laces.

And, when the time is right, she can break forward with gusto.

Despite Dublin's handsome victory in Armagh, Kerry’s win over Galway last Sunday means that there will be no National League Division 1 final for the Dubs.

Yet Leah has enjoyed the campaign. “Every time you go out, you know it’s going to be a match of high intensity.

“The standards keep on improving. The league is the ideal preparation for championship.

“You want to perform well, and get the result. But at the same time, it’s the perfect platform for introducing new players and giving them game-time.”

She was once that young player herself. “I remember growing up my big hero was Sinéad Goldrick. I admired her so much. She played with such determination.

“I used to watch her all the time, and then it was unreal that, suddenly, I was on the same team as her. It was brilliant to be able to do that.

“One of the good things now is that due to the improved profile of women’s sport, young girls have no shortage of role models.

“We see it at our matches. The amount of young children who are there supporting us. It’s lovely to see.”

Leah urges them all to work hard at their craft, but to also have fun.

Football is her haven. And when she was studying in DCU, sport and study was the perfect recipe.

She helped the college to capture the O’Connor Cup. Her trophy cabinet also contains All-Ireland titles and All-Star awards.

One of the most treasured accolades is Dublin’s All-Ireland Minor success in 2012.

Fintan O’Curry was the manager. Dublin beat Tyrone in Birr. Her dad, John, was part of the management crew.

Colleagues included future seniors Ciara Trant, Olwen Carey, Sarah McCaffrey and the Dublin captain, Carla Rowe.

The following season, Paul Gilheaney gave her county senior debut for a League game against Meath.

After collecting two All-Ireland crowns in 2017 and 2018, Leah took some time away.

She watched the 2019 All-Ireland final in Vancouver. She longed to be back walking among the flowers of the Botanical Gardens.

She returned to climb the steps of the Hogan in 2020, and again last August.

Dublin's displays in this year's league paints an optimistic picture.

“You learn so much from the league. You meet teams who play with different styles and systems.

“It has become very competitive. It’s always hard to know who is going to come out on top.

“And, as what happened this year, it once again came down to the last day. That causes much excitement.

“It’s all about taking what you can from each game and trying to be better for the next day.

“Hopefully now we can bring what we have gained from the league and push on for the championship.”

And when that journey is over, Na Fianna will be in action in the senior championship.

The Glasnevin side have reached two finals in the last three years. Leah’s sister, Aoife, wore the captain’s armband.

When Na Fianna last won the Michael Murphy Cup in 2014, Leah was in the number 4 jersey.

No doubt, they’ll be well in the mix again. Just like the Dubs.