Waterford's ladies footballers are fighting for senior survival this weekend when they face Tipperary in the relegation final.
The two sides finished bottom of their respective groups in the All-Ireland series, and now know that they must win to remain a senior side for 2024 at the first time of asking.
The Déise have found themselves in the relegation final twice in the past five years - beating Monaghan last year, and Tipperary in 2018.
Waterford were relegated to intermediate previously in 2008 but regained promotion in 2015 following failed attempts in 2010 & 2012.
Former attacker Michelle Ryan spoke to the LGFA in 2019, reflecting on the heartbreak of relegation for a county that has such a history in the competition as Waterford does.
"At the time, we'd gone through a few years at senior where we weren't competing and we were going out and maybe going through the motions," the Ballymac native said. "We didn't have the strength and depth in the panel and the players to progress in senior. I'll never forget losing that relegation match; it felt like the end of the world."
For a team of the standing of Waterford, with the success they and the Ballymacarbry club team had on the national stage throughout the 90's and into the 00's, relegation must have felt like an entirely impossible situation to be in.
Since their promotion back to the top table in 2015, Waterford have been able to contend with the other top teams, albeit with the two relegation deciders in 2010 & 2012 to preserve their place on top.
Ryan said that "people couldn't believe that Waterford ladies football were going to be intermediate...but, looking back at it now, it was probably the best thing that happened, and it had to happen."
It wouldn't be fair to draw comparisons between that Waterford team and the current crop.
Pat Sullivan's 2022/2023 squad have pulled off some massive results in beating Meath and Donegal in the league as well as coming agonisingly close to both Kerry and Cork.
Their championship has not gone to plan this year, but being drawn in a group alongside Donegal and Meath was always going to be a tall order, especially when a team only has two games to secure their status.
Tipperary meanwhile were promoted from intermediate in 2019, following a win over the now All-Ireland Champions Meath.
They have remained a senior side since then, albeit with a relegation battle along the way in 2021.
The loser on Saturday will have a second chance at staying up, with Cavan & Laois contesting the other relegation qualifier. The losers of both ties will face off in the final, with the losers of that game heading down to intermediate in 2024.
The action gets underway on Saturday at 2 o clock in Piltown.
