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www.ladiesgaelic.ie | AUTUMN 2021 | 43 By DARAGH SMALL L orna Fusciardi couldn't have picked a more apt setting to call time on her inter-county career. The 31-year-old Wicklow defender was part of the team that claimed the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship with victory over Antrim at Croke Park. And Fusciardi, who was pregnant when they were defeated by Fermanagh in last year's decider, said it was time to put a full stop on her Wicklow career. "Oh my God, it's just amazing, I'm just so chuffed," said Fusciardi. "I've been playing for 13 or 14 years but we were here in 2011 and actually got to play twice. "I stopped to have two kids in between but other than that I kept going and I am just so chuffed to get back. "I'm done, I was here ten years ago and now I am just happy to go." Wicklow were fantastic en route to their third West County Hotel Cup success, with a 2-17 to 1-9 success on this occasion. Meadhbh Deeney scored 1-4 while Clodagh Fox chipped in with 1-3, and they were able to withstand a late Antrim comeback when Gráinne McLaughlin found the net for the Ulster county. But the foundations were built upon Wicklow's fast start, they were 0-6 to 0-0 ahead after 11 minutes and Antrim were left chasing the game. "That's obviously what any team could hope for, a really good start from the get-go ," said Fusciardi. "Work-rate off the ball, our forwards were on form. A good supply of ball in. Just overall, I thought everyone was amazing. "I suppose when Antrim got that goal, the legs were probably going a little bit. There was a bit of 'oh God, what's going to happen now?' "But I think we did keep calm and collected and I thought our defence as a unit did really well to keep them out. It was never not going to be a tough game. "We did put in a good shift and I am just so glad it came out in our favour." The final victory had been ten years in the making for this Wicklow team, ever since their brilliant triumph over New York in 2011. Fusciardi was involved that day too, and the Foxrock-Cabinteely star, just like the team, has been on a journey ever since. In recent years, Wicklow were relegated from the intermediate ranks in 2019 before they returned to the junior final last year. However, in a Covid-19 disrupted year, where the Player Interview: Wicklow's TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship winner, Lorna Fusciardi Clockwise From Top Left: 1 Lorna Fusciardi of Wicklow celebrates at the final whistle. 2 Clodagh Fox of Wicklow celebrates scoring her side's first goal. 3 Sarah Delahunt, Wicklow. BOWING OUT IN STYLE INTERVIEW