Laochra Gael

The nineties were a glorious, romantic era for hurling. The Offaly hurlers were central to this revolutionary period. However, by 1998 the establishment was beginning to fight back and Offaly players were on their last legs, without a manager. They surprised everyone when they took a chance on a total stranger. Michael Bond. He led Offaly through a challenging championship, including a controversial semi-final against Clare that featured a premature whistle and a historic protest, followed by a replay victory. He pulled off a great victory when he won the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. He left a lasting impact on Offaly hurling, creating lifelong friendships and being remembered for his leadership, humility, and the dramatic success of the 1998 championship.

Bríd Stack, a former Cork ladies footballer who played during a period when Cork dominated ladies football through the 00's. She was a central figure on that team and Bríd's number of All-Ireland medals amounted to 11. After she announced her retirement, the AFLW showed interest in her and she, along with her husband and son, decided to move to Australia to pursue another sporting career. Unfortunately, Bríd suffered a horrific injury in a pre-season competition in her first year, leaving her on the sidelines with a broken vertebra in her back. Bríd has also spoken openly about miscarriages she has suffered and the importance of sport during those difficult periods, she understands that so many women, including some of her friends, may also be struggling to conceive. 

Ben and Jerry O'Connor's lives have been intertwined with one another for over 45 years, both on and off the field. Today they live just one hundred yards down the road from one another. Ben has three kids, Jerry has three kids. It seems as if their lives have always run side by side. With a different approach, it wasn't long before Newtownshandrum was making progress and The O'Connor twins helped their club reach the ultimate pinnacle winning the Club All-Ireland in 2004. It was time their talents helped Cork reach similar success. During their playing careers, Ben's All-Ireland medals amounted to 3, and Jerry shared the successes on two of the occasions. 

For the Series Finale of Laochra Gael comes the story of Eamon McGee, one of the country's top defenders. McGee's famous tenacity and strength made him a formidable presence in the Donegal backline. However, life has not always been straightforward for Eamon, and he has faced many personal battles that added complexity to his life both on and off the field. GAA was an escape for Eamon during his playing days, and his determination to get back to his best came to fruition in 2012, when he won an All-Ireland medal for his county, under Jim McGuinness' charges.