Now playing her club football in Scotland, Erín McLaughlin hopes to draw on her experiences in the League of Ireland as Glasgow City prepare to face Athlone Town in the UEFA Europa Cup.
The Irish international will be hoping to make it back-to-back starts for The Original Trailblazers when we face the reigning League of Ireland Premier Division champions at the Peasy on Wednesday night having played her first 90 minutes in our last league outing, with her maiden goal for the club also coming in the 5-0 win against Montrose.
And with her attention now firmly set on our First Qualifying Round clash, McLaughlin is raring to come up against familiar opposition having played against Athlone Town during her time with Peamount United.
"It was actually quite funny because I had said to the girls: ‘Imagine if we get a team in Ireland’ and I know a few girls in the Athlone team, so I was chatting to them, too” Erín said.
“We were the first names pulled out of the draw and it was just a bit crazy.
“It’s amazing that me and Emily (Whelan) will get the chance to play for Glasgow City back home in the away leg. To go back and play in Ireland is not something we thought we’d get the chance to do after moving away.
“It’s nice that our families might be able to come and support, and even just the chance of seeing some familiar faces and playing somewhere familiar.
"Donegal is quite far away from Athlone, but I’m sure some of my family and friends will make the effort to come and watch.”
Before that visit to Athlone in the away leg next week, McLaughlin shared an insight on what we might expect from our opposition at the Peasy.
The Irish side, nicknamed the Pride of the Midlands, were only founded in 2020 and won their first League of Ireland title last season, with this being their maiden term playing on the European stage.
McLaughlin knows what it takes to thrive in the league Athlone are currently unbeaten in after 17 games played, having won the division herself with Peamount in 2023.
“Athlone are a good side, especially right now,” Erín explained. “They are the top side in Ireland.
“They have come a long way. Me and Em were speaking about them, and a couple of years ago, they probably weren’t the best side, but they have grown a lot and have really invested.
“You can see the investment with the players they are getting in – the players who want to go and play for them. That’s where their success is coming from.
“Their forward line is good and they can be very dangerous on the attack. They are definitely a good team.
“But, both teams have players who are not scared to go and be creative in what they do. No team will go in with fear, and I think that’s why it is going to be a really good match-up.”
Last season, the midfielder was battling in the Women's Super League 2, then called the Championship, with Portsmouth. That high-pressure environment, she believes, has put her in good stead for fighting at the other end of the Scottish Women's Premier League table and on the European stage with City.
"Coming into this environment at City, you want to win and do well," Erín said. "As a footballer, that’s what you want to do.
“It does feel like a bit of a complete turnaround. Last season, you were focusing a lot on shape and building in a block, but coming here, there is a different focus on a lot of different things.
“Both teams wanted to do their best, and both were amazing to play for, but it’s just pressure in a different circumstance, but you can use it the same way to motivate you.
“We knew, especially towards the end of the season, at Portsmouth that every game we had to get something from it. It’s the same here – every game counts for something because of the level we're playing at and how close the league can be at the end of the season.”
And with the imminent Europa Cup now included in an already demanding schedule, our No.6, who could make her first European appearance for City against Athlone, knows every player in the squad will need to be ready if they are called upon.
"We were looking at the schedule for September and the number of games we have coming up is insane,” Erín said. “But, that’s what you want as a footballer.
“Leanne (Ross) has done such a good job of creating a big squad where she has people in every position.
“If you’re not starting, you know exactly what your job is when you come in. We are never going to be stuck. Every person in the squad is going to be needed.
“Especially coming into these three-game weeks, everyone should be and will be ready to play because you just don’t know what is going to happen.”