Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1481776
42 | AUTUMN 2022 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie INTERVIEW "THE TRADITION THAT THE COUNTY HAS, AND WE HAVE A GOOD, STRONG CLUB SYSTEM IN PLACE AS WELL, WE SHOULD BE UP SENIOR. NOW WE ARE THANK GOD. I'M JUST HAPPY WE GET TO BRING A CUP BACK TO LAOIS. "DAY LIKE THIS ARE RARE. WE'RE JUST CRYING OUT IN LAOIS FOR A TEAM TO SUPPORT AND I'M JUST HAPPY THE ENTIRE COUNTY GOT BEHIND US, BOTH THE HURLING SIDE AND THE FOOTBALL SIDE GOT BEHIND US," Sarah-Anne Fitzgerald of Laois in action against Aisling Halligan of Wexford during the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final match between Laois and Wexford at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. The Slaneysiders refused to throw in the towel, however, and a late goal from Caitriona Murray left them within range of their O'Moore counterparts. In the end, Fitzgerald was grateful they had created significant daylight before Lizzy Kent's charges came storming into contention during a compelling final-quarter. "Thank God we had that cushion. I think if we didn't have that cushion, it would have been a different story come that second half. I think the two teams would have gone in very differently in the dressing room, but thankfully we had that cushion. We didn't panic either. "I suppose our only downfall during the game was nearly that goal towards the end, but thankfully that came in the last few minutes, not earlier on in the second half, when things could have gotten really ropey. "We held out and I think we learned a lot throughout the year. I think that was a really, really mature performance, one that we've been waiting for all year and no better day to do it than in an All-Ireland Final." Lining up alongside Fitzgerald and the youthful Emma Lawlor on the inside line for their successful march to an All-Ireland was Timahoe ace Mo Nerney. A debutant in 2013, Nerney was Laois' scorer-in-chief against Wexford with a superb haul of 1-5. This brought her final tally in the All-Ireland series up to an astonishing 5-31, earning her the ZuCar Golden Boot award for 2022. While acknowledging it is a dream to play on the same team with someone of Nerney's calibre, she is quick to point out there is more to her game than scoring prowess. "She's unbelievable. Everyone knows she can score, but what really impressed me this year is just her work-rate. It was just incredible. That's Donie, he instilled that in us. It starts with work-rate and he pushed us to the limit. He pushed me to limits I've never been pushed before and we got the just reward." Every bit as crucial to Laois' success was a strong defensive effort that kept Wexford at bay for long stretches. Coming up against a player in Aisling Murphy who had registered 8-10 in advance of the game, Aisling Donoher (née Quigley) produced an exceptional performance at full-back that made her a deserved recipient of player of the match. Donoher first lined out for the county in 2005, but had been away from the squad in recent years after she and her husband Niall (himself a former Laois footballer) welcomed two children into the world. However, like Fitzgerald, she jumped at a chance to get back involved when Brennan contacted her last winter. Given the challenges she had faced off the pitch in caring for her son Dan - who captured the hearts of the nation when the 'Do It For Dan' campaign was launched in the early weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic - Fitzgerald was delighted to see Donoher thriving on the big stage. "The bedrock of our team is built on our defence. The blocks that they made were unbelievable. The whole full-back line, the whole half-back line. Eimear Barry pulled off an incredible save there at one stage. It was unbelievable. "Aisling Quigley there, she rolled back the years. She's an inspiration to everyone and what she did there in that match, to get player of the match. I'm over the moon for her." Winners of the Brendan Martin Cup in 2001 - and runners-up on seven occasions before that - a return to the All-Ireland senior championship is long overdue for Laois. Although it isn't something she is ready to contemplate just yet, Fitzgerald agrees it is crucial for the midlanders to be back in the top-tier of ladies football once again. "The tradition that the county has, and we have a good, strong club system in place as well, we should be up senior. Now we are thank God. I'm just happy we get to bring a cup back to Laois. "Days like this are rare. We're just crying out in Laois for a team to support and I'm just happy the entire county got behind us, both the hurling side and the football side got behind us," Fitzgerald added.