Casey Howe still finds it hard to believe where football has taken her. The Northern Ireland international, who grew up in the small County Fermanagh town of Maguiresbridge, is now plying her trade at Celtic, one of Scottish women's football's leading clubs, and admits the whole experience still feels somewhat unreal.
The 23-year-old forward marked just her second appearance for the Hoops with a moment to remember, curling home a stunning left-footed strike in the 82nd minute to break the deadlock in a 3-0 win over Montrose in the Scottish Women's Premier League.
"Being just a young girl from Maguiresbridge, it is pretty surreal to do this," Howe told BBC Sport NI, reflecting on how far she has come since her earliest days in grassroots football.
Howe's path to Glasgow's East End has been anything but straightforward. Long before she was training at Celtic's modern Barrowfield base, she was being ferried by her parents to sessions in Ballinamallard, Cookstown and Belfast several times a week. Those journeys, she says, were foundational to her development.
"They wanted to give me the best platform to be the best I can," Howe said of her parents. "They were massive in enabling me to take these opportunities and get these opportunities because if it wasn't for them sacrificing a lot of driving, a lot of miles, I wouldn't be here."
That groundwork paved the way for a career that has since taken her through Linfield, Glentoran and Sligo Rovers, including a treble-winning campaign with Glentoran. A standout spell at Athlone Town in the League of Ireland Women's Premier Division then opened doors in Britain, leading to a move to Nottingham Forest and later a promotion-winning stint with Wolves. Along the way, Howe also earned her first Northern Ireland cap at just 17 and has since gone on to win 14 caps for her country.
Now settled at Celtic, Howe believes the club's tactical demands and attacking philosophy under head coach Grant Scott are helping her evolve as a player. "It's definitely a big improvement tactically, and we're adapting to different styles, getting used to how Grant Scott wants us to play," she explained, adding that the squad are continually refining both their tactical understanding and technical execution.
As an attacking player, Howe says Celtic's expansive, front-foot style suits her game perfectly. "We're trying to play a nice attacking brand of football, and as an attacker myself, that's the way you want to play and want to be a part of," she said. She believes the freedom to make varied runs and drive at defenders brings out the best in both individuals and the team as a whole, making Celtic difficult opponents to face.
"I've played under people in the past where it's almost robotic," Howe reflected, contrasting that with her current environment, where players are trusted to express themselves. "It just makes for an all-round performance, team-wise, because everyone's moving... it definitely gives you confidence."
Howe remains conscious of the barriers facing young players from Fermanagh, where access to elite facilities is limited compared to larger footballing hubs. "A lot of the time, a lot of girls, even young girls now, will still have to travel up and down," she said, drawing on her own experience of long commutes in pursuit of the sport.
Looking ahead, Howe hopes her progress at club level will translate into further success for Northern Ireland. "I want to leave the Northern Ireland shirt in a better place than when I came in," she said, expressing a desire to build a lasting legacy for the national team.
She is equally motivated by the example she can set for the next generation of players back home. "If I can leave women's football in Northern Ireland, in Scotland, in England that 1% better than when I joined it - that's a win for me," Howe said, hoping her journey might inspire young girls in Fermanagh to believe a professional career in football is within reach.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.