Seven years after her collapse, it was while playing Gaelic football for Bryansford that agony struck McCartan again as she suffered what proved to be a near-fatal epileptic seizure after a heavy fall.
It was a major trauma which she has no real recollection of, but knows that her family were called to be at her bedside as she went into an induced coma, with medics informing the family that she may not survive.
"Yeah, crazy. Completely crazy. That day the defibrillator was actually brought to the pitch because they thought it was my heart again, they didn't realise it was a trauma-related seizure. It was scary times."
Her brother, Miceal, was the coach of the team, but she notes that "it's a hard day to talk about, there is not much mention of it in the house".
The natural question is, how did she feel well enough to return to playing after coming so close to dying?
"I live and breathe for the sport, I have been brought up to love it. My dad was a massive influence in my career, my whole family were as well.
"Firstly they didn't want me going back on to the pitch but said they weren't going to stop me and 'if I really love it, go back but just be careful'.
"The doctor said it was my call completely if I feel fit to do it, but if I ever feel unwell to please just step off the pitch and tell somebody."
And with that McCartan had to go and step on the pitch. It was a training night, after all, and she is still playing club camogie for Liatroim.
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