All Ireland winner Lawlor chats about that brilliant afternoon in Croker, her family's support, and heading away to OZ

It capped the perfect year, her decision to return to the inter-county fold, and just before she jetted off Down Under, Emma Lawlor was overwhelmed leaving the Croke Park pitch. The victory over Wexford also ended a barren spell for Laois on All-Ireland’s final day, dating back to 2001, when her aunt was one of the mainstays for the O’Moore County. Laois and Lawlor have been on a journey since then and it was almost like destiny had conjured up the perfect occasion to land the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship in front of her whole family.

“My family are a big football family,” said Lawlor. “My auntie is Tracey Lawlor, she has four All-Stars and was the person I looked up to the whole way. “I was only very young but my nanny and granddad would have brought me to all of her matches. Just seeing her playing, she was amazing. I always said that I wanted to be just like her. She was my inspiration.
“She was playing in the 2001 team and last Sunday was a big day for my family considering my auntie was playing in the last All-Ireland and I was playing in this one. The whole family was there."

“My dad, Declan, trained me since I was five too. He was over my club team and he is still over it. My family is how I got into playing football. They keep me going and they keep the hunger there. “They got me into it and as I said, I’m playing since I’m five so you have to love it if you are playing it that long.”

The 21-year-old missed out on Laois’ run to the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-final last year, along with their triumph in the Lidl National Football League Division 3 Final. When Covid-19 struck, she saw an opportunity to help in the local nursing home and upskilled as a healthcare assistant to dedicate her time to the cause.
It was a huge effort and while Lawlor’s promising inter-county career had to take a back seat, she maintained her club football with St Paul’s and she was also able to play for DCU. Lawlor had joined up with Droimnín Nursing Home in Stradbally, where she devoted much of her time to caring for the elderly.

“I wasn’t able to commit to football as much as I wanted to because I was working four or five 12-hour shifts a week. I was working a lot of nights then as well. And with how bad the pandemic was, I felt I couldn’t leave it,” said Lawlor.
“I did all the courses for healthcare assistants and then I went and worked with them. I was aware of that particular nursing home and I knew they were struggling at the time of the pandemic. It was hard to step away from the panel last year, after playing with them since I was 16, but I think the year out made me hungrier for football. It got the passion back that I wanted to play football. The break was the best thing ever and once you take that break, you want more (football).”

Laois manager Donie Brennan phoned Lawlor before the start of the season. Lawlor combined with a ruthless attack for Brennan’s side in 2022 and it yielded rewards right the way through before Laois went to Croke Park last week and defeated Wexford 1-13 to 1-11 in a thriller.

“Even from the start of the year this year when Donie rang me, as soon as I went back in I knew it was the right decision. No matter if we lost the All-Ireland or won it, I knew it was the right decision but to win was the icing on the cake, it made it all worthwhile,” said Lawlor. "Donie said when he came in three years ago, he wanted to get us back to playing senior football. It might have taken three years but we are there and the hard work that we have put in and the feeling after the match, it’s just indescribable, it was amazing. When that hooter went we were all just relieved and over the moon."

“It is great to be back playing the likes of Dublin and Meath in Leinster now, that is where everyone wants to be playing. That is what you have to play to be the best footballers and the best team, you have to be playing the best to be the best. The girls will be looking forward to it and I will be cheering for them from Australia.”

Lawlor heads to Sydney in November with her boyfriend Justin, a trip they have longed to take but only at the right time. And there is no time like the present.

He has always wanted to go. I said I would finish my first degree first, I have been studying since I did my Leaving Cert, I went straight into college and never took a gap year. I said I would take a year or two break now and go and see what it’s like. I will definitely play with Laois again when I come back from Australia.”