Former Ireland international Siobhan Killeen urges collective action after positive coronavirus test

Former Republic of Ireland international Siobhan Killenn says everybody in the country will need to play their part to get through the covid-19 crisis after she tested positive for the virus.

Killeen, a hospital radiographer at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, is self-isolating at home after receiving her test results on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Dublin GAA star noted symptoms on Sunday night and was swab-tested the following morning, before being informed of her diagnosis on Tuesday.

“I’m doing fine. I took a turn on Sunday evening, I got the sweats in the sitting room after working that morning, and a really bad headache,” Killeen told the GAA’s media team.

“Up until that point, I was really well, really busy in work but quite active as well.

“I went for a run on the previous Friday, had a training session on my own on the Saturday, and a cycle after work on Sunday morning.

“I felt good, it wasn’t like my energy levels were low. On Sunday evening, I took a turn for the worse, and became unwell.

“That lasted all through the night, aches in my legs that travelled to my back. I never really got respiratory symptoms, I didn’t have difficulty breathing, a sore throat or cough.

“It was the sweats and headache and while, looking back, I may have coughed once or twice over the weekend, it was nothing out of the ordinary.”

Killeen spent seven years with Raheny United and Shelbourne, winning two Women’s National League titles and four FAI Cups, before stepping away to concentrate on GAA.

The Raheny native won nine caps for the Republic of Ireland senior team between 2014 and 2017 and has since won All-Ireland titles at club at intercounty level with Clontarf and Dublin.

As a diagnostic radiographer, Killeen is on the front line of the effort to treat and restrict the spread of the virus.

“I’m not an infectious disease expert, I’m just listening to what I’m told. I’m working in a hospital and taking the advice of experts, and following suit.

“We will get through it, once we all play our part, and everyone has such a big role to play. We need to obey the regulations that are being put in place.

“Radiography is about diagnostics and we’d be very much in the front line in terms of diagnosing illnesses.

“One of them is Covid-19 and we were well prepared in terms of information, education, supplies.

“I wouldn’t have considered myself vulnerable but the stats are that 25 per cent of cases are healthcare workers and I was just maybe around it more often.

“I’m self-isolating for two weeks from when I first showed symptoms but I’m not thinking too much about that, especially when you’re 24 hours in a room.

“I’m taking it day by day and I’m quite well. I’m Covid-19 positive but I feel healthy and well and the hospital have been great.”