MOURNEABBEY FORWARD LAURA Fitzgerald says losing their Cork crown in 2020 is a major driving force behind their charge for All-Ireland glory this weekend.<\/p>\n
\n Mourneabbey’s Laura Fitzgerald.<\/p>\n
Source: Seb Daly\/SPORTSFILE<\/p>\n
Mourneabbey have been the dominant club in Ladies Football for the best part of a decade, winning six consecutive Munster titles, and back-to-back All-Ireland triumphs in recent years.<\/p>\n
But they encountered their first major slip two years ago.<\/p>\n
That defeat at the hands of West Cork was a devastating blow to Shane Ronayne\u2019s side, who were seeking a county seven-in-a-row at the time. The sides had tussled in the two previous deciders, and West Cork ensured that they would not be denied a third time.<\/p>\n
Despite the result, Mourneabbey were briefly expected to represent Cork in the provincial championship, as West Cork were unable to progress due to their status as a divisional outfit. There were other complications regarding West Cork\u2019s eligibility in the Cork championship, but in any case, the competition ceased at county level due to Covid-19 restrictions that were in place at the time.<\/p>\n
Mourneabbey launched their reboot in 2021 with an effort that brought them back to the summit in Cork, after a five-point win over \u00c9ire \u00d3g in the county final.<\/p>\n
They added the Munster title after getting the better of Tipperary\u2019s Aherlow which effectively marked a provincial seven-in-a-row for the Cork champions.<\/p>\n
A crushing victory over Dunboyne followed in the All-Ireland semi-final to send them through to a showdown with Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway in the Currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Ladies senior club final this Saturday.<\/p>\n
The clash will also be a repeat of the 2019 All-Ireland final where Mourneabbey defended their title.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt came crashing down,\u201d Fitzgerald recalls of that 2020 campaign that ended in defeat.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot that we thought our reign was over but we were extremely devastated to have lost that match, we didn\u2019t perform particularly well. But that\u2019s the making of a great team. If you don\u2019t perform on the day, that\u2019s it, you can\u2019t have any complaints.<\/p>\n
\n Mourneabbey were All-Ireland champions when the final was last played in 2019.<\/p>\n
Source: Lorraine O\u2019Sullivan\/INPHO<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were technically supposed to be training for a Munster competition but that didn\u2019t transpire. But definitely it was the ingredient that made us that bit hungrier this year. We came back to training as if we lost all six county titles. We had to seriously make up for the loss that we\u2019d just experienced.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a couple of years won previously, and not that it meant nothing, but we had to redeem ourselves massively in Cork itself. We went out with a purpose this year definitely.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe let the committees and councils fight that one out, but we can only train and play when we\u2019re told to. West Cork were a serious outfit so we had no issue with them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe trained for about two weeks before the competition was called off but I think there was issues with us representing Cork in the Munster championship because we hadn\u2019t won the county final.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fitzgerald has been in impeccable form for her club this year, netting 10 goals in their last three games. Four of those came against Dunboyne in the All-Ireland semi-final as part of an emphatic 30-point win.<\/p>\n
That result was particularly significant given that it was against a side that contained talented duo Emma Duggan and Vikki Wall who were central to Meath\u2019s incredible All-Ireland triumph.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t keep count,\u201d Fitzgerald replies modestly when her tally is relayed to her.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI am just very lucky to be playing on the pitch and to be scoring goals, finishing off moves which others have started.<\/p>\n
\u201cCollectively we have worked on being that more clinical and ruthless as well which is what Shane really pushes for. coming into this stage of the All-Ireland series if the goal is there you just have to take it because it is probably the difference at the end of the game so it is something we have worked on collectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just very fortunate for the position I play in and the players I have around me. To be honest, I\u2019m just one of 15 that\u2019s on the field at any given time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kilkerrin-Clonberne will bring a considerable fight to\u00a0St Brendan\u2019s Park in Birr this weekend. Galway star sisters Louise and Nicola Ward are key components in their system, along with fellow county teammate\u00a0Olivia Divilly.<\/p>\n
Revenge for the devastation they suffered in the 2019 All-Ireland final must surely be on their mind too. It was Fitzgerald who kicked the decisive score that day with a last-minute free and she has vivid memories of how hard their opponents were to shake off.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir fitness levels,\u201d she begins when asked for her memories of that day. \u201cThey were a serious outfit, they had 15 very good players on the pitch at all times.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know Nicola [Ward] went off injured but you wouldn\u2019t have known with the replacement that came on. They were relentless and the fact that it went down to the last 20 or 30 seconds kind of shows that\u2026 the only thing only thing on our performance, I don\u2019t think we were 100% ourselves and we\u2019ve reflected on that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know we weren\u2019t at our very best that day but still fought to win. We\u2019re definitely going to have to bring our A game on Saturday or else it\u2019s going to be game over.\u201d<\/p>\n
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