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www.ladiesgaelic.ie | WINTER 2019 | 29 But disaster struck when the footballers went under in recent years, and it took the valiant efforts of manager Donal Dineen and his right-hand man Christy Twomey to help turn things around. The players were immense, and Keane was a major driving force this year on the back of her All-Ireland success with the county minors. Donoughmore lost their championship opener against Douglas but they regrouped through the round robin phase. They ended up a county final where they dispatched Valley Rovers, then they took care of Kerry's Kilcummin, Old Mill from Limerick in the Munster semi-final and Galtee Rovers in the provincial final. They beat Navan O'Mahonys in the All-Ireland semi-final before their titanic struggle in Ballinasloe in November. It's been a whirlwind few years for the club, but coming from nothing to winning All-Irelands again made it all the sweeter for Keane and her teammates. "Donoughmore were winning loads and they were like superstars to me when we were younger. We used to look up to them. It was good to get that inspiration from them so young," said Keane. "But in 2017 we didn't have an adult team at all, it was just good to build up the players, and now for the younger players coming up there is a team for them to look at. When we were training there was no adult team to look at for inspiration. "It was hard at the time. You knew that it would be more of an effort to even put up an adult team. It is just so good to have an adult team back again and competing at the top level." Keane was selected alongside Buckley at midfield for the final but the Cork legend pushed forward to the half-forward line and she scored 0-7 in a player of the match display. Keane was as industrious as ever around the middle third. Her remarkable engine allowed her to get up and down the pitch, and stay fighting until the 80 minutes elapsed. But Donoughmore were destined to be champions on this occasion, after Rachel Kearns' goal and late equalising point forced the game into extra-time. "Since we went out on 6 January, our first goal was to just win the county final," said Keane. "We have been bonus territory ever since. It was a massive team effort from everyone and thank God we got over the line. "This is the ultimate dream. Everyone is dreaming of it since they were younger. "It is the ultimate goal to win an All-Ireland with your club and we have done it." Clockwise from above left: Rena Buckley of Donoughmore receives the Player of the Match award from Marie Hickey, LGFA President. 2. Rena Buckley of Donoughmore in action. 3. Donoughmore captain Eileen Lyons lifts the trophy. 4. Cork players celebrate with The Aisling McGing Minor 'A' Cup.