Immediately after winning the Player of the Match award in the All-Ireland Ladies Football Intermediate Championship final against Wexford on Sunday, Laois fullback Aisling Donoher found her mother in the crowd.
"My biggest supporter, along with all my family, and my kids," Donoher told Jerome Quinn as they stood on the Croke Park pitch.
"She was just like, 'Hug me! Will you just give me a hug?!' I was all over the place."
31 July 2022; Laois players celebrate with Dan Donoher, aged 3, son of Laois player Aisling Donoher, after the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Intermediate Championship Final match between Laois and Wexford at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
In attendance at the game were both of her children, Dan and Sophie. Two years ago, Dan came to national attention through the 'Do It For Dan' campaign to raise money for the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare neuromuscular disease.
For Donoher, the Laois victory, coupled with her own personal award, was a remarkable return to action.
"Dan was over in the Cusack end with my husband Niall. I just couldn't wait to wrap my two arms around him," she said.
"After three years out, I asked myself, ‘Am I absolutely crazy going back?’ but I said I'd go for it. I'm so happy the group of girls I joined up with, they are a really special group.
"We were all with each other from day one. We all had each other's backs. They supported me the whole way through. I'm just so happy that it went our way today.
"Yesterday I was at Dan’s Little Blue Heroes graduation. I was there with six other very sick kids. The girls came along, we were all standing watching them graduating.
"I mean this is a game of football, it’s amazing, but it’s only a game of football. You have to enjoy it and make friends, if you win, great, and if not, you make the best of friends.
"Today, I was Doing it for Dan - and Sophie - but I was definitely doing it for Dan."
Aisling Donoher interview after Laois win 2022 intermediate title
‘I was definitely doing it for Dan!’
Aisling Donoher capped a remarkable return to playing @LadiesFootball by winning the @SportTG4 Player of the Match.
Aisling's family ran a fundraising campaign for her son Dan who has a rare disease that can only be treated in America. pic.twitter.com/PDBlGYC7B0
— Jerome Quinn (@JeromeQuinn) July 31, 2022
