Longford Slashers star Grace Shannon a shining light in the Croke Park title triumph

Grace: “I know, it is absolutely incredible. Last year after we lost the Leinster Club final to Dublin’s St Sylvester’s, we thought we might not be back, but we thankfully came back stronger. 

“However, if you had told me earlier on in the year when we were losing a lot of league games and were not going well, that we would win an All-Ireland final, I would never have believed it. 

“So, to win this All Ireland crown is absolutely incredible, and it is down to the players and the management really.”

Tony: “It is often said that winning the county title is the hardest achievement to pull off. You had a very tough match to win the county title against Carrickedmond last year and again this year against Clonguish, winning both county finals by just a point, but that just seemed to propel you in the two Leinster campaigns and even more so this year.”

Grace: “One hundred percent, the hardest thing we did last year and this year was to get out of the county. Everyone in the county just knows each other so well. Clonguish went close to beating us, they are a brilliant team, and the same with Carrickedmond last year.

“It is so close in Longford, but once you get out of Longford, the shackles are off and you can just let yourselves go and show what you can do.”

Tony: “You had three great wins in Leinster including that four-point victory over Skryne of Meath in the Leinster Final. Suddenly, you went one better than last year, and were Leinster Champions and into an All Ireland semi-final against the Mayo and Connacht champions Charlestown.”

Grace: ‘I remember on the day we were crowned Leinster Champions, the management told us that we were back training the following Wednesday in preparation for a tilt at the All-Ireland title. I was incredulous and thought it was a joke, but no, they were very serious about it. 

“That shows how dedicated and close we are as a group and we worked hard all year long, but now we can enjoy a break and enjoy our successes. 

“I love all these ladies that I play with for Slashers and I could not imagine playing with a better group anywhere else.”

Tony: “You have been together a long time, winning six minor titles in-a-row, then six adult county titles in succession, one Junior, one Intermediate, and this year completing a four-in-a-row of Senior Championships, and now the Leinster and All-Ireland Intermediate Championships, so a rapid rise over the years for this team through the various adult grades.”

Grace: “All the girls are unbelievable and it takes such huge commitment to come back every year and keep winning and keep improving, and today is the pinnacle. It’s just a tremendous achievement for everyone connected with the team and the club.”

Tony: “Slashers were favourites coming into the All-Ireland final and you got off to that brilliant start with Aisling Cosgrove’s early goal.

 “You played that brilliant ball into Kara, she looked up and spotted Aisling and delivered that pin-point cross for her to finish the ball to the net, and then you scored two goals yourself as well.”

Grace: “We have got such incredible pace and vision in our team and most teams cannot cope with that. My sister Kate is an incredible kick passer and so is Jessica Barry and they are incredible finishers as well. Our defence were outstanding also and especially in the first half when we were up against it, there was no getting through our defence.”

Tony: “You mentioned the defence and in the opening twenty minutes, the player-of-the-match at that stage was probably Emily Reilly with her two outstanding blocks including a goal-line clearance, and her crucial interception on Lorraine O’Shea when she would have been clean through on goal.”

Grace: “Emily was unbelievable, she was so good at timing her tackles and making those blocks, but the other five backs played brilliantly as well. The two wing-forwards coming back, nobody sees the hard work that they do, the work of Lisa Nolan and Kyana Lee is just amazing. An all-round team performance.”