Ladies Gaelic Football

Peil_Winter 2022, January 2023

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30 | WINTER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie But as their sharpshooter superb up front suggested, this award could have been landed at the door of any of the squad. They are a team, moulded together by a hunger for senior football and bringing Laois back to the heady days of when they contested TG4 All-Ireland deciders at the top end. There is a feeling that this team can do great things and we have already watched one team from Leinster come from underdog status, take over the intermediate ranks before going all the way at senior level. It might be hard to replicate the success of Meath but Laois are doing everything right and with Donie Brennan in charge they have a man with all of the experience to lead his players forward. But following on from the 2023 Lidl National Football League, Laois will be thrown in at the deep end. Meath may have lost some vital figures on and off the pitch in 2022, but they are still the team to beat, while Dublin are Dublin. "You have Meath and Dublin, the two best teams in the country," said Nerney. "Meath have proven, with what they have done in the last three years, it's just amazing. It goes to show that any team should aspire to do what they have done. "And you never know, a bit of determination and hard work can go a long way. We will see how it goes. Obviously it's going to be a tough Leinster championship but sure look that's what you want as well. "Of course it's not going to get anymore difficult than Dublin or Meath. And that's in the Leinster championship so it's going to set a good standard for us to see when we go into the All-Ireland series. "It will go to show where we are at as well, so we will see "THEIR 1-13 TO 1-11 FINAL REVENGE, WHERE THEY BEAT WEXFORD, WAS RELATIVELY LOW-SCORING BUT NERNEY CHIPPED IN WITH A BRILLIANT 1-5. IT WAS THE PERFECT WAY TO CAP HER BRILLIANT SEASON AT CROKE PARK." how it goes." Laois started strong in 2022 and a couple of wins over Tipperary and Clare ensured safe passage from Division 2A to the semi-final stages. Unfortunately, Armagh were far too strong in the final four but it was a taster of the cutting edge that Laois will need if they are to compete in senior next year. Confidence was still high even after a difficult 7-18 to 1-9 loss against the Orchard County and Laois had plenty of momentum heading for the TG4 Intermediate Championship. They were knocked out of Leinster at the semi-final stage and that was another setback but they only grew stronger from those. And Laois hit 4-14 in their defeat to Wexford, which was a sign of things to come too. They topped a tricky Group D which included the heavily fancied Tyrone, and advanced to the knockout stages with ease. It was building nicely and Nerney was leading the way up front. Laois scored 6-16 in their quarter-final victory over Wicklow, and 2-21 in the semi-final where they put paid to Clare's chances in a thrilling game that went to extra-time. Their 1-13 to 1-11 final revenge, where they beat Wexford, was relatively low-scoring but Nerney chipped in with a brilliant 1-5. It was the perfect way to cap her brilliant season at Croke Park. "We were saying between myself, Erone and Aisling, it goes to show that there is a lot of respect shown from the other counties because obviously it was on a players' vote," said Nerney. "It was lovely winning an All Star, and as I say, it was lovely to know that it was coming back to Laois." Nerney scored 5-31 in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship and won the ZuCar Golden boot as a result. However, she wants to look ahead and there is plenty to look forward to. "I can't wait now and we are all excited," said Nerney. "Look, every team wants to play at senior level. No matter what sport you play in, you want to play at the top. I can't wait for it, we are so excited, yeah. "We will see how we go and at the end of the day we are under no illusions. It's going to be so tough, it's another step up. "But once you get the players back in, which we have, and another few girls are going travelling, then we have the few new girls coming in. You are always going to have that overturn of players. "We will see how we go." PLAYER FOCUS

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