Kennedy in ‘disbelief’ after Lorrha victory

By James Hayden

Lorrha’s netminder Michael Kennedy was in almost total disbelief after his side were crowned County Premier Intermediate hurling champions on Saturday.

Watching out from his position between the sticks the Lorrha goalkeeper described the last few passages of play of the game as "just unbelievable".

“The last thirty seconds there was heart-attack stuff but those lads in front of me were just unbelievable,” he said.

“Thurles Sarsfields are an unbelievable side and have been training at serious levels. We just ground it out. We knew we had a serious battle here today but somehow, we ground it out.”

Michael’s journey to first choice goalkeeper has been a meteoric one to say the least, stating that never in his wildest dreams did he think he would be lifting the Seamus O Riain Cup.

“I went into goals for a county junior ‘B’ quarter-final last year when we had nobody else to go in. Ronan O’Meara was our fourth goalkeeper with the Junior ‘B’ side, and he came on for the first team in that quarter-final win over Borrisokane last year so that ruled him out. I put my hand up and said I would go in and from that day it has just fallen right for me with being called into the senior team,” Michael explained.

Regarding his perspective on the game from a goalkeeper’s point of view Michael said he thought Lorrha were in big trouble once Sars’ wrestled the lead from them.

“I thought we were in big trouble at that stage,” he admitted.

“I was pucking balls down and Michael Cahill returning them back at me again and again. We dug it out though and it's testament to our management and this superb group of players. Today is Lorrha at its best and it’s just some day for the parish.”