Despite being a fit and healthy 27-year-old, Dublin star Siobhan Killeen found herself in an uphill battle recovering from coronavirus.
On a day where HSE and NPHET chiefs warned of a surge of Covid-19 cases among young people, Killeen shared her story at Monday's briefing.
The radiographer contracted the deadly virus working on the frontlines in March, but struggled to shake off the illness.
In an ominous warning to young people, Killeen urged them not to underestimate the threat of the bug.
Killeen said: "The after-effects of this disease are very serious, even for those who are fit and healthy. I was in very good health, but it was a very tough battle.
"I, probably like many others, was naive in thinking that my age and health would protect me from a very infectious disease.
"Three months after my diagnosis I am still on the long road to full recovery. I thought it would take a two week period of feeling the worst of Covid.
"In reality, the weeks and months following my isolation were the toughest.
"I was fatigued. My fitness levels had deteriorated, I had shortness of breath when exercising and I had feelings of worry.
"As a Dublin footballer I was not expecting my recovery to be so tough or take so long.
"I know I had a very good baseline of fitness, I was in great health and it was a very tough battle."
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