Experience had a massive bearing on win – Kiladangan boss O’Meara

By James Hayden

Kiladangan manager John O’Meara cut an elated figure in the wake of his side’s three-point victory over Toomevara in what proved an absorbing North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship final on Sunday.

“Finals are never won easily and today was further proof of that,” he began.

“There was never more than a score in it during the match and I thought when Toomevara got the goal it was a big score. It put four between the teams but massive credit to our lads we worked our way back into the game and we went point for point.

“Our experience and maturity coming down the home straight had a massive bearing on the win. We had big plays from our big players at the death. Willie (Connors) had a super block in front of us on the sideline and we got a score out of it. He caught a massive ball which we ended up getting the goal out of and that is what big players do.

”The Sixmilebridge native explained his side’s losses in the last two previous North finals had no bearing on their preparation for the game.

“Coming into the game we didn’t speak about it, the way we work is it’s about the game in front of us is all that counts,” added O’Meara.

“We knew Toomevara would bring a massive challenge and there wasn’t a lot in it in the stadium last year in the county semi-final. The final scoreline wasn’t a true reflection of the competitive nature of the game then and we are just delighted to get over the line here today. The lads are delighted and it's one they certainly wanted to win.

O’Meara added he was reasonably happy with his side’s first half performance but the concession of frees was a point they addressed at the break.

“I wouldn’t say I was disappointed at half-time but that we just hadn’t got into the flow you would associate with us,” he revealed.

“That is credit to Toomevara though and a credit to how close the match was. We did go three points up at one stage and they brought it back to level with us in that opening half.”

He also agreed that Kiladangan’s experience counted in the closing minutes when the game could have swung either way.

“The boys have been here a lot of days and they have been in big tight matches lots of days and that experience definitely told,” he said.

“We had a couple of goal chances ourselves with Paul Flynn and Andy Loughnane going close, but we just couldn’t seem to get the goal but finally we did.

“When the game was there to be won in the last seven or eight minutes, I thought our boys really drove on and went and won it. Big plays like the one for Bryan’s goal won it for us.

“These lads are on the road together a long time and they know each other’s positional sense of where they are going to be. We are a team who like playing the ball a lot. That’s what they enjoy and that’s where these big plays come from.”

Turning to the upcoming race for Dan Breen, the Kiladangan manager said their full focus has always been on defending the county title.

“We will get ready now for the challenge of Clonoulty on Saturday week. It’s going to come thick and fast but that’s what you put the work in for since January. The lads will be raring to go, all they want is hurling and games,” O’Meara concluded.