Two goals in the last minute scored by team captain Caroline O'Hanlon from Armagh earned the 2006 TG4/O'Neills All Stars a deserved win in the Ladies Football exhibition in Dubai.
Overall, they were the better-balanced side, building an early lead and showing good character in coming back after a score from Laois player Tracy Lawlor less than two minutes from time promised to give the more highly-rated 2007 side victory.
However, O'Hanlon came to her team's rescue with her late scores, having played a pivotal role all through at midfield.
'It was a very tight match all through,' she commented.
'It was great to be out here with all these great players but at the end of the day there was a lot of pride at stake too. I was just lucky to get the chances at the end.'
Ladies Football Association President Geraldine Giles was delighted with the standard displayed by the two teams.
'It was a great exhibition. Fair play to the girls they went all out and it was very competitive,' he said.
'I think that neutral spectators didn't realise how high the standard was.'
Cork goal-scorer Valerie Mulcahy lived up to her reputation by putting the ball in the net for the 2007 combination in the fourth minute.
Interestingly, however, after Laois player Martha Kirwan brought the 2006 side level four minutes later and kicked a lead score shortly afterwards, they stayed in front all the way to the interval.
Kirwan followed up with a quick goal and with O'Hanlon and Meath's Grainne Nulty to the forefront, they played the better football.
However, they were relieved to see goalkeeper Katrina Connolly from Sligo bring off a vital save.
It meant that at the interval, they were in front 1-10 to 1-7.
The second half was a very lively affair, with the 2006 team continuing to impress.
Nevertheless, a steady improvement from the opposition, with team captain Juliet Murphy giving good leadership at midfield, resulted in the lead changing hands.
Firstly, Mayo forward Fiona McHale went through for a goal and scores from Juliet Murphy and Valerie Mulcahy had the teams level with just seven minutes remaining.
During that time, Cathy Donnelly and Monaghan's Niamh Kindlon swopped points before Tracey Lawlor rewarded the 2007 team efforts with another lead score.
And, it looked like deciding the game until Caroline O'Hanlon struck gold with two shots to the net in rapid succession.
Scorers: 2006 All Stars - C. O'Hanlon 2-0; M. Kirwan 1-3; D. O'Brien 0-3; N. Cleary, N. Kindlon and G. Nulty 0-2 each; M. O'Donnell, S. O'Connor and A. Matthews 0-1 each.
2007 All Stars: V. Mulcahy 1-2; F. McHale 1-1; T. Lawlor 0-3; J. Murphy and D. O'Reilly 0-2 each; M. Quinn, G. Begley and C. Donnelly 0-1 each.
2006 All Stars: K. Connolly (Sligo); C. Marley (Armagh), M. Kelly (Tyrone), S. Dooley (Meath); A. Daly (Galway), B. O'Donnell (Armagh), P. Fogarty (Laois); C. O'Hanlon (Armagh, capt.), M. O'Donnell (Waterford); N. Cleary (Cork), G. Nulty (Meath), S. O'Connor (Kerry); M. Kirwan (Laois), N. Kindlon (Monaghan) D. O'Brien (Limerick).
Inter-change players: L. Muckian (Laois), A. O'Donnell (Armagh), M. Kirwan (Laois), E. Flaherty (Galway) and A. Matthews (Armagh).
2007 All Stars: M. Kelly (Wexford), R. Hallahan (Waterford), A. Walsh (Cork), R. Buckley (Cork); C. O'Hara (Mayo), B. Stack (Cork), B. Corkery (Cork); J. Murphy (Cork, capt.), B. Leahy (Kildare); A.M. Cox (Leitrim), M. Quinn (Leitrim), T. Lawlor (Laois); V. Mulcahy (Cork), G. Begley (Tyrone), D. O'Reilly (Cork).
Inter-change players: C. Donnelly (Tyrone), S. Brennan (Leitrim), F. McHale (Mayo), M. Carter (Mayo).
Referee: Declan Corcoran (Mayo).
