Sarah Tierney is captain of the Mayo Gaelic football team that meets the four-in-a-row seeking Cork in Saturday’s Lidl National Football League Division One final (live on TG4 at 7.15). She joined her county’s senior panel in 2007 as a 16-year-old, but that was the last year they won a national trophy, when they beat Galway in the league final.

Before then they’d been the dominant force in the women’s game, reaching five consecutive All-Ireland finals between 1999 and 2003, winning four of them.

So far this year, though, they have been flawless, winning all seven of their games in the round robin phase of the league. These included their first victory over Cork in nine years and coming back from seven points down to beat Kerry in the semi-finals, Cora Staunton kicking the winning point deep in added time to put Mayo in their first league final since 2013 (when they lost to . . . yes . . . Cork).

Seven points down to Kerry? Presumably you reckoned that was the end of your league campaign?

Ah well, we never lost hope. It was a poor performance in the first half and we knew that, so we gave ourselves a good talking to at half-time. We knew we were a lot better than that and there was a lot more in the tank. And then we gave it everything in the second half.

I think a lot of the younger girls really stepped it up and started taking responsibility, which was a big thing for us. We have a fantastic bunch this year, they all keep fighting to the bitter end. We put in a tough few months in training and we just have a “never give up” attitude.

That was your eighth successive win in the league – explain your success.

We have a fantastic management team who all bring something different to the table. And with the team itself we just have a really great mix of experienced players, the likes of Cora, Yvonne Byrne, Martha Carter, and younger players like Niamh Kelly who’s having a super year. There’s great competition for places, so that keeps us on our toes.

And along the way you beat Cork, for the first time in almost a decade (by seven points in the round robin phase back in January). Was there a sense that they weren’t quite the force they were since the departure of manager Éamon Ryan and the retirement of Valerie Mulcahy in particular?

Ah no, they’re still a fantastic team, and they have younger players coming through, the likes of Eimear Scally who’s phenomenal. I wouldn’t go by that match – both teams were a bit rusty – and Cork have grown in confidence through the campaign. I wouldn’t underestimate them in any way, shape or form. I still think they’re a brilliant team with brilliant players and brilliant leaders.

And after their shaky start, here they are, in their ninth successive league final, going for a four-in-a-row. Are you sick of them?

[Laughs] But they’re a lovely bunch of girls: you couldn’t be sick of them!

But while they’ve kept on winning, All-Irelands and leagues, it has been a frustrating few years for Mayo as trophies have eluded you?

Yeah, but there are a lot of counties on the same level, and Cork have got the better of all of us. But this year I think the experience of the younger and older players is coming together. The likes of Niamh and Sarah Rowe, they have great confidence. People looking at our team might only think it’s the “Cora Show”, but there are a lot of brilliant girls.

You’re a trainee

accountant with Deloitte in Dublin, so you’ve done a fair bit of travelling between there and Mayo?

Up and down, I know the road like the back of my hand. It’s a huge commitment this year, but eight wins in a row is making it all worthwhile. There are a lot of the girls in college in Dublin so they’re up and down with me. It’s great to have their company, you don’t really feel the journeys at all. It certainly eliminates a social life, but any girl who plays intercounty football has to make huge sacrifices. Hopefully it will be all worthwhile in the end.

What would it mean to captain Mayo to their first national trophy in almost a decade?

Ah look, it would actually mean the world. The girls have put in so much time and effort this year, training hard, it would be just fantastic to win it with that bunch and management. I’d be so proud of the girls if they won on Saturday. Yeah, it would mean the world.