County exertions take their toll on Kilruane

By Liam Hogan

Kilruane MacDonagh’s manager Liam O’Kelly said that his team played to the last but were up against a great Ballygunner side who are not All-Ireland champions for nothing and there is nothing to suggest they won’t win it again in 2023.

“Our lads went down fighting today,” he said following Sunday’s Munster quarter final defeat.

“They have been outstanding all year and it has been a super journey.

“Look, three hard games in two weeks and I think it took its toll. We won a county final, and we are entitled to have a few days off, but we regrouped well during the week.

“These (Ballygunner) are a quality side. They are Munster and All-Ireland champions and playing them in their backyard. Who is to say they won’t go on and win the All-Ireland again.

“Our lads have been phenomenal and phenomenal all year. We kept playing until the end.”

O’Kelly admitted that his side played well in the first half up to the time that Ballygunner scored their first goal approaching half time before they added a second a few minutes after the break. He felt that Ballygunner found it much easier to find their players and their movement is good.

“The goal before half time was very unlucky,” O’Kelly added.

“We won possession in the half back area and could not get the ball away. It was a hard blow before half time and then we conceded a second after half time. But that’s the team they are. They will kill you in those places.

“They are good at finding players and winning rucks. They are as good as some county teams with quality players like Dessie Hutchinson and Pauric Mahony. But then they are a quality side. It was a pleasure to play against them and a pleasure to represent our county.”

He added: “But we have quality players also like Niall O’Meara and Cian Darcy.

“Losing Niall was a massive blow. We lost Aaron (Morgan) with a hand injury that was serious enough that could not return. He has been massive all year and played the last four games with a broken finger.

“We brought in guys who got their first taste of senior hurling. We have the under 21 and that campaign is starting soon with nine from this panel involved. Look that’s our journey.

“Next, we will be playing junior football, a county semi-final and our lads will want to win that as well and that’s the way it always been this year.”