The Irish Defence Forces finally claimed the LGFA Interfirms 7s title on Saturday, ending a run of two successive runner-up finishes with an emphatic victory at the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown.
Offaly’s Abbi Stafford was the standout performer in the final, scoring a hat-trick of goals as the Defence Forces defeated defending champions AIB by 4-5 to 0-4.
The Defence Forces, captained by Waterford native Gráinne Kenneally, had signalled their intent earlier in the day with a 4-2 to 1-2 semi-final win over Cork University Hospital.
Stafford and Leah Walsh scored two goals apiece in the win, setting up a final against five-time champions AIB, who had beaten AbbVie 1-6 to 1-2 in their semi-final.
AIB had also beaten the Defence Forces in the 2024 decider, but they would not repeat that this time.
Two first-half goals from Stafford, together with another from Ciara Moran, gave the Defence Forces a commanding 3-2 to 0-2 interval lead.
Stafford completed her hat-trick after the break as the Defence Forces closed out a convincing nine-point win.
“This is our third year coming to the Interfirms competition – it’s a great day, all the better when you go home with a bit of silverware,” said captain Kenneally.
She also paid tribute to manager Siobhan O’Sullivan, who couldn’t attend on Saturday, and to the attacking contributions of Stafford and Walsh.
“It’s pretty intense, all go, end to end, goal to goal,” Kenneally said of the seven-a-side format.
“A lot of sprinting and high-intensity running, but we had a panel of eleven, and we showed the best of the Defence Forces here today.”
Moate Community School won the Shield competition, edging the Irish Prison Service 0-4 to 0-3 in the final, with Michelle Delaney captaining the winning side.
Sport for Business Perspective
The LGFA Interfirms competition is a great example of sport extending beyond the traditional club and county structures and into the workplace.
Competitions like this can boost staff engagement, wellbeing, and team culture while also giving players another competitive outlet as their sporting lives increasingly run alongside demanding professional careers.
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Image Credit: LGFA
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