Dublin play their first match as All-Ireland champions this Sunday in Letterkenny as the LIDL National Football League gets underway.
The women's game was given a massive boost for 2018 with the news that eight league ties will be played as double headers with men's league fixtures.
Dublin defender Sinead Goldrick welcomed the news at the launch of the league in Lidl HQ in Tallaght.
"It's brilliant. Last year we played Mayo in Croke Park and that was the only double header last year and this year there's eight. The main one I think a lot of people are excited about is that double header in MacHale Park [against the] Mayo ladies and men's teams.
"It's absolutely brilliant because you get that question asked a lot [playing before men's fixtures] throughout the years and one thing that you keep saying is double headers and throughout the league I think that's something that's possible. So to have eight games throughout the year, more games televised, it's exactly what you want.
Goldrick is hopeful that it will see more Dubs supporters attend games involving the senior women's team.
"If they come out and watch the game, they'll get to know the teams, how they play, the rivalries, the personality of each player. So I think it's just really good to get people engaged in our game."
There has been a lot of debate recently about the amount of training and games expected of GAA players around the country but the Foxrock/Cabinteely club woman is relishing the cut and thrust of regular league action.
"You want to be playing as much games as you can. I really enjoy with the league that there's a game each weekend because that's what you want, you want to be playing games, you want to see what standard and level you're at.
"It's a new year now so you don't know where team's standards are so it's going to be good against Donegal this weekend, a really tough game, to see where our standard is."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dublin’s opening Div 1 LIDL NFL fixture with Donegal takes place this Sunday Jan 28th in <a href="https://twitter.com/StEunansGAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StEunansGAA</a> <br>O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny<br>Throw in - 2pm <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COYGIB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COYGIB</a> <a href="https://t.co/zvGnVdBg1e">pic.twitter.com/zvGnVdBg1e</a></p>— DublinLGFA (@dublinladiesg) <a href="https://twitter.com/dublinladiesg/status/955712424652484608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Having just taken the All-Ireland crown that was a permanent fixture on Leeside for so long, Goldrick revealed that they are aiming to make an impression on the league as have the women from the Rebel County.
"Cork, I think they're going for their fifth or sixth league title so that's something we're striving for. We have Donegal, a really tough game this Sunday, then we have Westmeath, then we have a double header against Cork.
"[The hope is] to win those games and there's a lot of new players in our team this year so I think that it's a good starting point for people to fight for a jersey. Everybody says new year, new canvas and I think the league gives opportunity for players to step up."
