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4 // Ladies Gaelic Football Association SENIOR CLUB ALL IRELAND FINAL PEIL Winter | Issue No 4 | Volume 14 By Jackie Cahill HERE were some clues and pointers that this would finally be Mourneabbey's day. In their All-Ireland senior club semi- final victory over Kilkerrin-Clonberne, the Cork stars travelled to Galway and took out Carnacon's conquerors in impressive fashion. In team manager Shane Ronayne's eyes, this was a "controlled performance". When interviewed for the match programme ahead of the Final, Ronayne spoke about how that display had to be "replicated and up a notch" against Foxrock- Cabinteely to finally get Mourneabbey over the line. victory over Fox-Cab was fully-merited. Ronayne's pre-match sentiments were echoed by team captain Bríd O'Sullivan at full-time. The 24-year-old was utterly convinced that if Mourneabbey played up to scratch, they'd win the game. "For us as a team, it's a special moment," said O'Sullivan. "This has been such a massive effort not only for this team, but for the whole community of Mourneabbey and beyond. "It really is just a special moment for the community and we can't wait to share it with them." The Mourneabbey squad decamped to the Citywest Hotel for a wild night of celebrations before returning home on the Sunday. Tears flowed and bonfires raged as they made it home – this time as winners. The full-time whistle at Parnell Park had unleashed a torrent of emotion but Mourneabbey had a firm stranglehold on this one from a long way out. "From midway through the second half, it was a case of holding out," said O'Sullivan. "When it comes down to those last few minutes, you're trying to hold onto the ball. This, after all, was the team's fourth All-Ireland Senior Final appearance in five seasons. Mourneabbey would be haunted by more ghosts or ready to exorcise some demons. It was very much the latter and prior to throw-in, Ronayne spoke about "a bit of a calmer camp." He added: "We had put so much pressure on ourselves in previous years, we know we have to win but we're going through the process and taking each day as it comes. We try to play to the best of our ability and let the result take care of itself." Not even a 40-minute delay en route to Parnell Park could derail Mourneabbey. They would reach the Holy Grail and a 1-13 to 1-7 T Ellie Jack of Mourneabbey in action against Aedin Murray of Foxrock-Cabinteely