Jimmy Geoghegan: Sam's story should encourage others to keep going

What is it about this part of the country, the Royal County, and international rugby lock-forwards? Maybe it's something in the water because we appear to be able to produce them on an on-going basis. There’s Moynalvey giant Devin Toner, of course, who won 70 caps for Ireland and is about to bring the curtain down on his honour-filled career with Leinster.

There there is Marie Louise Reilly, from the Summerhill area, who played in the second-row for Leinster and Ireland and also won her fair share of honours. She was, for example, part of the Irish team that won the Ladies Six Nations Grand Slam in 2013. That was a big day indeed for Maz and her family. She also went on to appear in a number of World Cup finals.

More recently the baton has been taken up by Sam Monaghan who is from Navan. Her story of how she came to be an international lock underlines the point that it's never too late to find your niche in sport - within reason of course. Her story is also a salutary tale in how fate can lead us down unexpected and intriguing paths.

A talented Gaelic footballer Monaghan (who is now 31) won an All-Ireland u-16 medal with Meath and played for the seniors. She moved to England some years ago. It was there she started to dabble in rugby. Turned out she had a real aptitude for it, her skills no doubt honed by the fact she played Gaelic. Sam played for a club in Brighton before rugby giants Wasps signed her up. She was on her way.

Her performances brought her to the notice of the Irish management and she was called up. She willingly answered her country's call, making her debut last year against Spain, and proved well capable of mixing it with the big girls on the international stage, with her power and neat off-loads among her biggest strengths. She played a major role a couple of weeks ago in helping Ireland achieve a late, dramatic victory over Scotland in the Six Nations.

Unfortunately Ireland won't be involved in the forthcoming Women's World Cup - a shock defeat to Spain effectively put paid to those lofty ambitions - but hopefully Monaghan will add to her international caps. Her story should encourage those who are looking to make an impact in a sport to not give up even though they might be at a stage in their careers when it looks like they have missed out out on the big time.