Alan Flynn keen to keep the good times coming
Kiladangan captain Alan Flynn was magnanimous in his appraisal of his side’s win over Toomevara following a grandstand finish to what was a memorable North Tipperary Senior Hurling final.
By James Hayden
“Toomevara really put it up to us and we knew they really would,” he began.
“We have hurled them so many times and we are getting the rub of the green at the moment, but it is going to turn eventually. They came at us and gave their all, but I suppose the experience of the county final last year and the experience this team has built up over the years really stood to us.”
“We went behind in the county final as well last year but that taught us that there is always time left. I felt we played really well when we scored the goal, and we got on top in the half-back line and the full-back line. The lads up front came up with massive plays. We stuck to our game plan until the final minute and that’s what got us over the line.”
The Kiladangan captain agreed that in the opening half he felt his side were hurling within themselves but that this changed for the second half.
He continued: “We started okay in the second half but when they got the goal it really sunk us.
It was like we were waiting for Toomevara to do something and when they did something we had to respond and start hurling.
“Our response was good though but, in a way, we did the same against Borris-Ileigh and Templederry in the quarter and semi-final. We were hurling within ourselves, and it is something we will have to look at going into our upcoming county championship campaign."
As regards Kiladangan’s defence of the county championship, Alan said the players were under no illusion as to the challenges they will face in a group containing Clonoulty/Rossmore, Templederry Kenyons, and JK Brackens.
“We are under no illusions as to what we face,” he added.
“In the first round against Clonoulty but to go in as North champions and while it's nice to have the cushion we know what challenges we are facing as reigning north and county champions.
“The county championship is a serious competition and we are under no illusions.
We will still be going to top our group. You can’t be complacent in any way. We all know Clonoulty are a massive team, and we know we have to be ready.”
In his acceptance speech, the Kiladangan captain also paid a touching tribute to his former team mate Paddy Coen, who passed away in November 2022.
Flynn said: “It’s very important to remember Paddy because he would have been with us today and he would have been togged out here.
“It really rocked the community and Kiladangan GAA club really kept the place together.
It was a really tough time throughout the parish, but we could all rely on each other and the club to help us through that time.
“We are still working through it and even though it’s a year and a bit ago it's still on your mind.
It was an extremely dark time but when you have days like this it does serve to put a smile on people’s faces.”