Laois' last line of defence Eimear Barry relishing another step up after memorable 2022

It may have taken a couple of phone calls to convince her but reminiscing on her return to the Laois fold, Eimear Barry is certain she made the right decision.

Laois were crowned TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate champions after they defeated Wexford, with their goalkeeper one of the stars at Croke Park.

A crucial save in the second half to deny Wexford forward Aisling Murphy ensured that Barry won the ZuCar Golden Glove award and it capped a brilliant year for the O'Moore County and their 37-year-old shot-stopper.

"My performance wasn’t too bad, the kick-outs were good," says a modest Barry.

"You make a couple of saves and it’s a bonus in the Ladies game, they don’t expect you to save because maybe the standard of goalkeeping hasn’t been as good as it is now.

"There was one save and I know there was another goal gone in. But at the time in the game, the save that was made, it was a crucial moment because Wexford were coming at us.

"It would have given them a good bit of momentum if they had got a goal because there were only ten minutes gone in the second half.

"They would have had plenty of time to build on it. The goal they did get, maybe we had time to run down the clock. It might have been only about six minutes left. It was a good day."

Barry prides herself on her kick-out and she knows that was crucial against Wexford. Laois scored heavily in the Intermediate ranks this year – Mo Nerney ended up claiming the ZuCar Golden Boot award too – but those attacks usually begin from deep, with their goalkeeper acting as playmaker.

"Kick-outs are a huge thing in the Ladies game. The kick-outs were important for us to build a platform in the final," said Barry.

"It’s down to the girls, I can only kick out the ball and if the girls aren’t