Heavy fitness work paying off for Roscrea

For the second time in Roscrea’s Munster intermediate hurling championship campaign, manager Liam England had “some harsh words at half-time” for his charges who were trailing Cork’s Inniscarra in Saturday’s semi-final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

And again, the former dual inter-county stars urgings had the desired effect as Roscrea played the opposition off the pitch to go nine points clear as the game moved into injury time. Roscrea’s eventual two point win, after carelessly conceding two goals in added time, earns them a final spot against Monaleen of Limerick on December 4th with the Tipp lads hoping to climax a great year which saw them reclaim their senior status and lift the county Premier Intermediate O Riain Cup, with victory in the provincial decider.

It is a campaign which has really got the Roscrea public behind the team and again on Saturday there was a huge following sporting their red colours and players and management were showered with congratulations at the final whistle.

A pleased but relieved Liam England said afterwards: “It was like the last day (v Ballysaggart). We were not at our best in the first half and there were some harsh words at half-time, but these are a great bunch of lads, and they are never beaten. They just keep going and it worked out.”

He added: “We have trained very hard. We have done 97 sessions, some very intense stuff, and the lads have put in some effort.

“In the last twenty minutes our fitness levels told. We are a team that finishes strongly and that has been the way all through.

“Inniscarra were a very strong and physical team. They fought for every ball, but I felt if we stayed in the game we would come through in the finish and we did.”

Darren O’Connor came off late on with a leg injury, but Liam England is hoping he will have a fully fit squad to choose from for the final.

“We came into this game injury free, and I am hoping we have come through it injury free”, he added.

“Any team in a final will be aspiring to win it. I don’t believe in this notion of being in bonus territory once you win the county final. I am sure that Monaleen will look on this the same way. All teams who reach a final will be there to win so we will be giving it everything.”