Laura Fitzgerald hat-trick inspires Mourneabbey to Cork LGFA senior A title

An eighth Cork LGFA senior A title in nine years was just reward for a Mourneabbey team inspired to victory by Laura Fitzgerald in MTU Cork on Saturday.

In their ninth senior final appearance in a row, Shane Ronayne's side reaffirmed their position as the top club in the county with a 3-12 to 0-13 win over Éire Óg.

Having rested their inter-county contingent throughout this year's league campaign, the reigning Cork and Munster LGFA title-holders, as they have done over the past decade, delivered when it mattered most.

Laura Fitzgerald had an afternoon to remember, scoring a hat-trick, including two converted penalties, to see off their opponents. Doireann O’Sullivan remains one of the best forwards in the country with six points while Ciara and Meabh O’Sullivan plus Máire O’Callaghan were equally influential.

As for Éire Óg, finishing runners-up for the second year in a row is no mean feat. That statistic won’t mean much to Donal Cronin and his talented panel of players who arrived at MTU intent on knocking the champions off their perch.

Yet the Ovens club’s future remains a bright one as long as they have the likes of Eimear Scally - outstanding on the day - Orlaith and Meabh Cahalane within their ranks.

Laura Fitzgerald had the ball in the back of the net on two occasions (one penalty) inside the first five minutes. Rocked by the concession of those early goals, Éire Óg clawed their way back into contention thanks to Eimear Scally, Maire O'Leary and Meabh Cahalane scores to trail 2-07 to 0-08 at the interval.

The second half was a much scrappier affair with Maebh O’Sullivan called upon to make an important save before her sister Doireann’s accuracy from frees helped push Mourenabbey 2-11 to 0-09 ahead.

Anna Ryan was brought