Eighth time lucky for Laois

A record crowd of 21,387 attended yesterday's All-Ireland women's football final in Croke Park, and this morning every one of them is reaching for the aspirin.

Tense, nervous headaches were unavoidable after a whirlwind climax that, when the dust finally settled, had Laois celebrating their first senior title at the expense of defending champions and strong favourites Mayo.

It was a game where the momentum swung wildly between the two sides but eventually seemed to settle on a par. With the countdown clock entering its final minute, Mayo's standout forward Cora Staunton brought the sides level at 2-13 to 1-16 and all thoughts switched to a replay.

But a fatal error between the Mayo goalkeeper and Staunton handed Laois a last gasp free. Staunton illegally collected the ball inside her own 20-metre line, and that allowed Laois' own potent forward Mary Kirwan to coolly convert the decisive score.

Having lost their previous seven final appearances, the last of which came in 1996, it was hardly surprising that Laois went giddy with celebrations. But for Sue Ramsbottom, they joy was unsurpassed as she also had the memory of six of those losses.

"This is proof that if you don't succeed, try, try and try again," she said. "Because that's what I did.

"And I can't describe this feeling, but I know I'm the happiest woman in Ireland. If a women won the Lotto last night by God she still wouldn't be as happy as I am."

Ramsbottom contributed a crucial four points - all from play - to the 2-14 total but she was quick to pay tribute to the whole team, as well as all those Laois teams that came before her.

"Mary Kirwan had a fabulous game. It wasn't that our heads went down but when we needed something she was brilliant. But all the girls here had a huge part to play, and we're more than delighted. And to all my previous comrades, all the ones I played with in the years gone by, it's a special day for them as well.

"Mayo must be devastated because they are a great team, and they lost out in the very last minute."