Mourneabbey end wait for title
LADIES’ SFC CLUB FINAL
MOURNEABBEY 1-13
FOXROCK-CABINTEELY 1-7
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 with an emphatic triumph over Foxrock-Cabinteely at Parnell Park.
The Cork outfit came up short in the 2014, 2015 and 2017 deciders, but with Doireann O’Sullivan in outstanding form, they overcame the challenge of the Leinster champions.
O’Sullivan, who won her first TG4 All Star award a week previously, already had two points on the board for Mourneabbey when Fox-Cab corner-back Emma McDonagh was sent to the sin-bin with just five minutes gone. Shane Ronayne’s team took full advantage – Laura Fitzgerald (two), O’Sullivan and the lively Ellie Jack (two) finding the target to give them an 0-8 to 0-1 lead. Fox-Cab settled upon McDonagh’s return with points from inside forwards Hannah O’Neill and Amy Ring only for Mourneabbey to respond with another avalanche of scores.
After the outstanding O’Sullivan raised white flags either side of sister Ciara’s first of the day, she set up Fitzgerald for a palmed finish past Aisling Tarpey.
While Foxrock-Cabinteely responded with a superb Fiona Claffey goal within a minute, Ciara O’Sullivan subsequently pointed to give Mourneabbey a 1-12 to 1-3 interval lead.
Although the breeze was a significant factor during the first half, Pat Ring’s side – who were also searching for their first title – had their work cut out on the resumption. Without breaking loose in attack, Mourneabbey always remained in control.
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 she did open her account to move Mourneabbey nine clear.
Foxrock-Cabinteelt battled back with three points from skipper Amy Ring in the final-quarter but it wasn’t enough.
Scorers – Mourneabbey: D O’Sullivan 0-6 (3f); L Fitzgerald 1-2; C O’Sullivan, E Jack 0-2 each; E Harrington 0-1. Foxrock-Cabinteely: A Ring 0-4 (4f); F Claffey 1-0; A Connolly (f), S Goldrick, H O’Neill 0-1 each.
Mourneabbey: M O’Sullivan; E Meaney, CA Stack, A O’Sullivan; S Conroy, R O’Sullivan, K Coakley; M O’Callaghan, B O’Sullivan; E Harrington, C O’Sullivan, N O’Sullivan; E Jack, L Fitzgerald, D O’Sullivan. Subs: S O’Callaghan for C O’Sullivan (16-18, blood), S O’Callaghan for Fitzgerald (42).
Foxrock-Cabinteely: A Tarpey; A Murray, S Quinn, E McDonagh; S Goldrick, N Collins, L Fusciardi; T O’Sullivan, C Ní Mhurchadh; F Claffey, A Connolly, L Nerney; A Ring, H O’Neill, C O’Riordan. Subs: R McGovern for O’Riordan (h-t), L Ahern for Nerney (40), J Egan for Murray (51), S Delahunty for Fusciardi (53), H Dennedy for Connolly (58).
Referee: B Rice (Down).