Vikki Falconer got a sense that something was up as she taught her primary school class on a Monday last month. "It was quite early in the morning and I could just hear the phone vibrating in my bag," she tells Balls. That something was a nomination for a PwC Camogie All-Star award.
"When I finally got to look at the phone, I'd all these texts congratulating me," she says.
"I tried to keep it from [the class] because they get quite excited. They all love camogie. One of the teachers came in later on in the day and announced it to the class, and they were delighted when they found out."
The possibility that she might be nominated wasn't in Falconer's thoughts. She'd been part of a side which had Waterford's best year since 1945 but it had ended in frustration - both personally and for the team.
62 seconds into the final against Cork, her game was over after she fell to the ground in pain and was carted from the Croke Park pitch. Waterford's team doctor recognised immediately that a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament was likely the problem. The diagnosis was confirmed later by a scan.
August 6th, 2023; Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final at Croke Park. Waterford's Vikki Falconer receives medical attention. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
"It was all kind of a blur, really. I remember it just happened so fast," says Falconer.
"The ball came in, myself and Amy O'Connor were just running for the ball, and whatever way the ball came in, it changed direction, and we both changed direction at the same time.
"I remember just my knee popping out of place and I was on the ground. I wasn't sure what it was but I knew from the pain and kind of what happened, that was the end of the All-Ireland final for me.
"The next two hours for me were just kind of a blur, really. It was just heartbreaking."
Waterford manager Seán Power said after the game that Falconer's injury was "a disaster" for the team. The Tramore player had been detailed to mark Cork's star forward Amy O'Connor. The PwC Camogie Player of the Year nominee finished the game with 3-7 as Cork scored 5-13 and won by 19 points.
Falconer had surgery on her knee four weeks ago. The procedure itself was routine though she was unaware of how much pain she would be in post-surgery and how arduous the recovery process would be.
"I suppose it was my first serious injury and my first surgery," she says.
"I've been told by people how slow it was, but I think for me I didn't really expect it. Now my main thing is trying to bend my leg and get the knee flexion proper, and I'm finding that really hard.
"Going from being active, like five or six days a week running, training and then finding bending your leg a struggle, I am finding that quite hard. You kind of get used to it as well. I'm embracing the time off.
"One of the girls that played for Waterford, Sibeal Harney, she did hers three years ago. I've met with her a few times. She's been really good trying to help me with rehab and prehab as well."
13 September 2015; Waterford's Vikki Falconer celebrates after the game. All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship Final, Kildare v Waterford. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE
In 2011, Falconer was part of a Waterford panel which won the All-Ireland junior title and in 2015 the intermediate title. Following a "jam-packed" four years, in which she also won two Ashbourne Cups with what was then known as WIT, she decided to take a break from camogie.
"I went to Dubai for a few years teaching," she says.
"I'd been playing for Waterford since I was 17. I got to that stage where I finished my college course and I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do.
"I felt kind of happy with myself camogie-wise and felt mentally that maybe I needed that break from it. I just decided to head off for a little while.
"When you're away, the grass is always greener. I always had that in the back of my mind that I did want to come back and play senior.
"When you are playing junior and intermediate, you're always kind of looking at those senior matches wanting to be there, wanting to play in the senior championship.
"I did have it in my mind that I did always want to come back and play."
21 August 2021; Aoife McGrath of Tipperary in action against Vikki Falconer of Waterford during the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Quarter-Final match between Tipperary and Waterford at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
When she did return in 2021, then Waterford manager Derek Lyons decided Falconer - who had been a corner-back her whole life - had potential as a forward.
"I have a lot more appreciation for forwards now, after being up there," she says.
"It's not as easy as it looks. I found the whole transition a bit hard.
"When Sean came in this year, I did just mention that I would like to be back in the backs if at all possible. In fairness, they trialled me out in a few different positions and I went to corner back then. It's been a wild few years."
The pain of the injury was exacerbated by knowing how well she had played this year.
"When you get a bit older and you've kind of been through it all before, you can relax a little bit more before games; you teach yourself to not stress too much," explains Falconer.
Being away as well, it's kind of made me a bit happier being back. I missed it so much. I just wanted to really give it a go for the last two years.
I was really comfortable back in my position this year in corner-back. It took me a while, a few matches to kind of get back into the swing of things.
After playing for a few years, you know your own body, you can get your nutrition right. I felt like I was actually really fit this year. I felt really motivated this year.
That's why I was so disappointed when the injury happened because I did feel comfortable with myself, and felt like I actually was having a good year.
I was really excited for the [All-Ireland final]. I was excited for the challenge ahead: Marking Amy. For that to happen within the first 62 seconds, it was heartbreaking.
I think it's after making me a bit more determined now to get back.
Though the 2023 championship ended in such disappointment for Waterford, it is a season they can look back on as a positive one. They reached their first All-Ireland final in 78 years and their minor side played in their first All-Ireland decider.
"I really enjoyed the year, even with what happened and the way the final went. The support we got from the whole county was a real buzz," says Falconer.
"People forget then as well that we actually beat that Cork team two months previous. We know that, and I think the supporters that were with us the whole way through, know that that wasn't us on the day [in the All-Ireland final].
"I think the Cork game in Munster, when we beat Cork, and the semi-final against Tipperary, that's the team that we are, and that's the team that we've been all year.
"We can kind of drive on next year and hopefully not let that happen again. A lot of that team is in their early 20s. To say now that they've played in the All-Ireland senior final that young, that experience will stand for them."
Before undergoing surgery, 'May or June' was the answer to anyone who asked Falconer when she'd be back on the pitch. Now, she's more circumspect, taking her recovery week by week and month by month. For the moment, she'll settle for just getting back in the classroom.
"You kind of get 'teacher guilt' being out for too long!" she says.
"You're missing the class."
