Déise defender Megan Dunford is back for her ninth season in a white and blue shirt. The vice-captain is one of the tightest markers in the country.
"My first year was 2015 when we won the intermediate All Ireland so I've been here a while. I always thought of myself as one of the younger people on the panel but now I'm one of the oldest! The years do fly. Every year you go back, it has to be more enjoyable than the last. You wouldn't go back if it wasn't. I'm really enjoying it."
The inter county environment suits the Abbeyside full back. "It is a professional set-up and there are standards that you have to meet. We are competitive people and it's the competitiveness that drives us and the love for a challenge. Every year, you're playing the best. I've grown up with football all my life. I've been playing county since I was 12. It becomes second nature, it's all you know really. My best friends are on the panel so it's another year with your friends. We have a core that have been together since eleven and twelve, they keep you going and we push each other."
Waterford will face Kerry in the opening round of the Ladies National Football League on Sunday in Piltown. Players and management are happy to use the Kilkenny venue as their home ground. "Everyone is competing for pitches at this time of the year. There's leagues for hurling, camogie, football, underage, there's just a lack of pitches at the moment. We've been training in Piltown for a good while now so it's nearly like a home pitch to us. It's a great facility so we're happy enough to get it."
Hear more from Megan Dunford and Hannah Power on Lár Na Páirce from 6.10.
