And with that, Cora Staunton is gone.
While the disappointment of Mayo's All-Ireland final loss to Dublin in September will hurt, Cora Staunton's departure today from ladies football had a far more positive twist to it.
Captaining Carnacon to a sixth All-Ireland senior club ladies title, Staunton can now begin her Australian adventure in style.
As always, Staunton's performance set the tone for what would be a very cagey affair in Dublin's Parnell Park.
Against Cork's Mourneabbey, Staunton contributed seven of Carnacon's 15 points - despite some very close attention throughout.
Mourneabbey, akin to Dublin on the county scene, entered today's final desperate to prove a point. Runners up in 2014 and 2015, last year's championship had ended agonisingly for them at the semi-final stage.
Yet, the gods had an eye for the romantic ending today and Staunton was not to be denied her fairytale ending.
It was by no means straight-forward however.
In a very tightly-contested, heated affair, Carnacon would see out the game with only 13 players on the field - Claire Egan and Michelle McGing both sin-binned in the closing moments.
Mourneabbey themselves would see Cathy Ann Stack binned also coming down the home straight for a late challenge on the irrepressible Staunton.
Numerous wides littered both halves, and, in truth, Staunton's ability to lead her team over the line was perhaps the defining feature in this latest All-Ireland success.
Sixth All Ireland title for #Carnacon, the best send-off for the mighty Cora Staunton as she heads off to compete... https://t.co/PFQeafJdta
— L. NíHéineacháin (@LaobhaoiseNihE) December 3, 2017
Set to embark upon his Women's AFL career when she flies out to Australia on Tuesday morning, Staunton will be certain she has plenty more to give.
After an outstanding club and inter-county career, she can rest safe in the knowledge that her contribution to ladies football has left it in a far healthier state than that in which she found it.
