Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1192470
www.ladiesgaelic.ie | WINTER 2019 | 17 By DECLAN ROONEY "The way it finished up for myself, it's the stuff of dreams really. Kicking the winning point in an All- Ireland final, it's mad." T o make the moment even sweeter for Laura Fitzgerald and Mourneabbey, her score came at a time when it was virtually impossible for Kilkerrin-Clonberne to respond with an equaliser, meaning that the 23-year- old had wrapped up a second straight All-Ireland Senior Club Championship title win for her side. It was a colossal battle as two of the game's heavyweights fought it out in the Gaelic Grounds decider. The Galway and Connacht champions, playing in their first All-Ireland Final, raced into an early lead, but a goal from Fitzgerald brought her team back into contention. At the death, the memorable moment arrived. "You don't really want to be in that position as a team in the end of a game but all I wanted was to see the ball going over the bar," said Fitzgerald. "I had a few shots in that game and they didn't go in the right direction but thankfully the one that mattered found the right spot. "After one move broke down Doireann (O'Sullivan) said 'the next ball we get, it has to go over the bar' and when it came to me there was just one option. At that stage you don't have time to think about anything. I just got the ball and swung a leg at it. "When the goalie was getting the ball for the kickout I saw how long was left. There were ten seconds to go – there's a photo of me kicking it with 19 seconds left and the ball is leaving my boot – and once we pushed up on the kickout that was it then. We were delighted." "It was unbelievable after the whistle. I can barely remember the couple of minutes on the pitch afterwards. Everything was a whirlwind". Delight is a real understatement though, as the final whistle triggered scenes of jubilation from the North Cork supporters. As the last-gasp hero, it was no surprise that Fitzgerald won the Player of the Match award from broadcasters TG4, but those few minutes seems like a blur now, she says. "It was unbelievable after the whistle. I can barely remember the couple of minutes on the pitch afterwards. Everything was a whirlwind, but when we got into the dressing room, Shane (Ronayne) was a ball of emotion. He was so proud of us. "We couldn't believe it ourselves what had happened. It hits you on Sunday then when you