Proud but disappointed was the emotion felt by Colm Collins as his Clare senior footballers bowed out of the All-Ireland SFC on Sunday.
Ultimately a single score would stand in their way of making the Super 8s losing on a scoreline of 2-16 1-18 against Meath. โYou either win or you lose, we lost and thatโs it, championship football is about that, I know there is a bit of consolation when it is a close game but not to the lads. Our season is over, theyโve given so much all year long, they came within a score of winning the game but it wasnโt to beโ.
โWe were really focused in on getting to the last eight, we thought we had a great chance, we gave it everything we could and just fell a bit shortโ.
As reporters began to surround the Kilmihil man, Collins spoke of his pride at the panel of players for their efforts in 2019 securing the countyโs Division 2 status and narrowly missing out on qualifying for the quarter-final series.
โThey gave everything to be fair to the players, everyone that was on the pitch and that weโve used all year long but it just wasnโt to be on the day unfortunately but youโd have to be proud of the way they played, youโre always wondering will your team perform and to be fair to this team they perform everyday they go out,, just unfortunate that weโre on the wrong result of a one point scoreline. We were really focused in on getting to the last eight, we thought we had a great chance, we gave it everything we could and just fell a bit shortโ.
At half-time, he admitted โwe were where we wanted to beโ. โWe responded really well to their goal which showed great character, we had no issue at half-time we still felt it was there for us, when you look back on the game there was a period where we didnโt keep the scoreboard ticking, that probably cost us in the end but overall they gave everything and died with their boots onโ.
Conceding a goal less than ninety seconds after Gavin Cooney raised a green flag was crucial. Youโre very vulnerable when youโre after clapping yourself on the back for getting the goal and then the next thing the ball is in your own net but thatโs the way the game went. We came back and there were a few chances you would be sad after but in a one point game you can blame the dog on the sideline, thereโs no point in going thereโ.
With the tie in the melting pot, Colm was as confident as ever Clare could secure the win despite their struggle to draw level. โI felt we were in the game. One thing I thought was if we chipped away with a couple of points, maybe we went for the goal a little earlier was the only thing but they werenโt to know what I knew that there was extra time to be played for substitutions, there was seven minutes played. When you lose a one point game you always feel you left it behind, thatโs the problem but in fairness if you were to be truthful Meath edged it on the day. Youโre always a bit sorry about some of those chances at the endโ.
โThey always stayed ahead of us and Iโd say that bit that cost us was the first fifteen minutes in the second half where we didnโt get much change, that was the period that caught us but they came back and had a go, they tried to force a goal a little early but other than that youโve to be very proud of the players and how they performed and stood up just very disappointed the result went the wrong way for usโ.
