ABBI Stafford bagged a hat-trick of goals in the final as the Irish Defence Forces finally got their hands on the LGFA Interfirms 7s cup.
Runners-up in the previous two competitions, the Irish Defence Forces swept to glory at the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown on Saturday.
And it was Offaly native Stafford who stole the show for the winners, who were captained by Waterford native Gráinne Kenneally, now playing her club football with Kildare senior champions Eadestown.
The newly-crowned champions signalled their intent with a 4-2 to 1-2 semi-final victory over CUH, with Stafford and Leah Walsh both netting twice.
That set up a final clash with AIB, last year’s winners who had defeated the Defence Forces in the 2024 decider.
AIB, Interfirms champions on five previous occasions, defeated Abbvie by 1-6 to 1-2 at the semi-final stage but the Defence Forces dethroned the 2025 champions with an impressive final display.
With Stafford netting a first half brace, and Ciara Moran also raising a green flag, the Defence Forces led by 3-2 to 0-2 at half-time.
In the second period, Stafford completed her hat-trick to help seal a 4-5 to 0-4 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,” Kenneally reflected.
“Unfortunately in the last two years, under the management of Siobhan O’Sullivan, who wasn’t here with us today unfortunately, we came up just short. We’re glad to get the win today and for Sully as well, who’s put so much into Ladies Football in the Defence Forces.”
Paying tribute to Stafford and Walsh in attack, Kenneally added: “Leah with the left boot and Abbi with a right boot, between the two of them, they got the majority of our goals today.
“It’s pretty intense, all go, end to end, goal to goal,” Kenneally added.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Shield honours on the day went to Moate Community School, captained by Michelle Delaney.
Moate CS got the better of the Irish Prison Service in the final, running out narrow 0-4 to 0-3 winners.
Ends
