All-Ireland is a positive story for Roscrea - Smyth
By Stephen Barry
Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré manager Willie Smyth acclaimed their All-Ireland success as a massive lift for the town.
The school last captured national honours in 2014 and it has been a long process to find their way back to this stage.
After accepting the Niall McInerney Cup, overjoyed joint-captain Sam Dooley hailed Smyth as "the heartbeat of our school" in his speech.
"It's massive for Roscrea because Roscrea often gets bad press for various reasons," Smyth said.
"But it's massive for the school. It will encourage all the boys and girls into hurling. The girls are in the camogie Munster final as well.
"Nothing beats winning and it just gives everyone a lift, basically. We had a great week in school this week, Kindness Week, and everyone was in good form. It kept the hurling low key enough, so the build-up was good.
"We'll enjoy this one. Those lads… I could go anywhere with those lads. They're one group of special lads. They never gave as much as a bother for the five or six years they're in the school. They're just that type of lads.
"We're losing seven or eight but we've another few coming along. We're building.
"I know people will say it's division D but in 2014, we won the Paddy Buggy, the B Colleges, and we dipped a bit, as you do. It happens in clubs and counties and everything, you go through cycles. We're back in ‘C’ next year so we'll build again."
They had to battle all the way and even did it without injured Tipperary minor panellist Aaron O'Donoghue.
"He broke his ankle bone in the semi-final. He was a huge loss,” Smyth revealed.
“He would've been probably county full-back. I'm delighted for him now as well because he was gutted.
"It's fantastic because those lads have worked for years. We've come up short year after year and they stuck at it.
"They really put in a huge effort this year. We had to go to the well in Munster a few times and they came through in tight games. Confidence built and they got it into their heads that they could do that.
"That was a real test and they dug it out. It's fantastic. A dream come true, to be honest."