The GAA Social with Dublin camog Emma O'Byrne

This week, the GAA Social sits down with Dublin camog Emma O'Byrne.

The 26-year-old, partner of Dublin hurler Conor Burke, made her senior inter county bow in 2018 and while managers have come and gone, O'Byrne has remained.

However, that was not the case in 2023 when polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] - a hormone condition that affects ovaries - led to cyst ruptures on her ovaries which proved debilitating and prompted a period of reflection on her life outside of sport.

PCOS leads to a hormonal imbalance which can heighten heighten anxiety and depression, while acne is another feature of the condition which compounded matters.

"Until then I had never thought about kids but then I had to look at my timeline and look at different options if it turned out I was infertile," O'Byrne said when speaking to Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville on the podcast.

"The condition had forced me to think of myself as a woman rather than an athlete.

"My boyfriend, Conor, he can continue playing if he has kids, but for me I have to think about my career and look at a window where I can.

"I'm 26 so I'm still young to be thinking this, but it has crossed my mind."

While 2023 was disappointing, O'Byrne made up for it the following year when her performances earned her an All-star nomination - the same year as her partner Conor was nominated for a hurling All-star.

"The year I was out and wasn't training at all, he was very supportive," O'Byrne continued

"He's playing at a high level and has a lot of belief in me, so he knows what I'm good at and what I can do.

"Even fuelling, we'd have a routine where we might have a match on the same day, but the day before we'd go out and get a big box of cereal and have a competition to finish it that night for carb-loading.

"He's always making sure I'm doing the right thing and with my condition, under-felling is a big factor."

A native of Drimnagh, O'Byrne began her career with local club Good Counsel, but transferred to St Vincent's in the north of the city - a move she felt was vital for her own wellbeing.

"I was nervous coming back to the club with interactions and expectations of being that player who had to perform consistently well because if you do well then the team has done well, but if you do bad it's your fault."

But now with the same club as Burke, they pair have lofty ambitions for Dublin camogie and hurling.

It has been 42 years since the Dubs won the last of their 26 All-Ireland titles but O'Byrne believes their run to the semi-final two years ago has raised expectations within the group.

"It would always have been the narrative we're bottom of the list and 'oh, they'll have a good go', but the expectation isn't that we'll win an All-Ireland but if we get close that's good enough.

"Things are definitely changing and the belief changed over the last few years when we reached an All-Ireland semi in 2024."