Nothing to Mourne this time around
Mourneabbey 1-13
Foxrock-Cabinteely 1-7
By DAIRE WALSH
DRIVEN on by the heartbreak of final defeats in three out of the past four seasons, Mourneabbey were finally crowned All-Ireland Ladies Senior Club Football champions yesterday at Parnell Park.
The Cork outfit came up short in the 2014, 2015 and 2017 deciders but with Doireann O’Sullivan (0-6) in outstanding form, they overcame the challenge of the Dublin and Leinster champions in fine style.
Dynamic county star O’Sullivan, who won her first TG4 All-Star award a week previously, already had two points for Mourneabbey when Fox-Cab corner-back Emma McDonagh was sent to the sin-bin with just five minutes gone.
Shane Ronayne’s charges took full advantage with Laura Fitzgerald (two), O’Sullivan and lively Ellie Jack (two) giving them a 0-8 to 0-1 advantage.
Fox-Cab settled upon McDonagh’s return with points from inside forwards Hannah O’Neill and Amy Ring (free) only for Mourneabbey to respond with another avalanche of scores.
After O’Sullivan raised white flags either side of sister Ciara O’Sullivan’s first of the day, she set up Laura Fitzgerald for a palmed finish past the stranded Aisling Tarpey.
The beaten 2016 Finalists Foxrock/Cabinteely responded with a superb Fiona Claffey goal within a minute to leave it 1-12 to 1-3 at the interval.
And Dublin star Sinead Goldrick reduced the gap with a neat point on the right-flank but they breathed a sigh of relief when Eimear Harrington and Ciara O’Sullivan rattled the crossbar in quick succession.
Harrington also fired a 44th-minute penalty past the post, though the industrious half-forward eventually opened her account to move Mourneabbey nine points clear.
Fox/Cab earned three points from Ring in the final quarter but it wasn’t enough.