Even though his charges were beaten in Sunday’s replayed All-Ireland MFC final, the 2012 Dubs boss says he is immensely proud of his players. Furthermore, he is confident that a major breakthrough is imminent for the small ball game in the capital:
“There is huge disappointment. All we ever asked is that fellas would give their best and perform and that is what they did. We have no qualms about that,” the St Oliver Plunkett’s/ Eoghan Ruadh clubman says in The Evening Herald.
“Tipperary were the best team on the day and there’s no fault attached to our lads at all.
“The dual players are only four of 15 lads that started so I wouldn’t have any qualms with anything like that.
“They are great young fellas and massive athletes and after winning [the football final] last Sunday they were probably in a very good space mentally but it is a bit difficult when they don’t get a chance to hurl for those periods of time.
“I got immense enjoyment from working with those guys. They were fantastic. Even the trips out in the car to training might seem mundane but I found them hilarious. It makes the job a lot easier.
“For those young fellas, you can never buy that experience. Look at young Shane Barrett at 16 years of age. If you had told him he’d play in two All-Irelands in one year, he’d say you were in cuckoo land.
“For the rest of the lads to get back here again on the big day is something to work on. This is where everyone wants to be and every young fella wants to play in Croke Park to represent their county. We’re within touching distance.”
Hogan Stand
