*Corofin/Ruan’s Robin Mounsey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Securing a first-ever U21A title represents a “brilliant occasion” for the clubs of Corofin and Ruan.
Speaking after the seven point final win over Newmarket-on-Fergus, Corofin/Ruan mentor Joe Cahill was clearly pleased with the victory. “This is a brilliant occasion for both Corofin and Ruan. We have dreamt about this day. Ruan won this title twice back in the seventies. Corofin have never come near this. It’s a brilliant occasion, two clubs coming together and united with the sole focus of maybe not winning everything but competing at the highest level and creating players than can go back to their adult clubs and be key players”.
“These lads had to be coached at under 16 and minor but the last two years at under 21 they were on auto pilot. They are a great bunch of guys, you talk about building character and building standards of excellence. These lads come to training and they want to perform,” the Corofin man added.
He acknowledged that the second quarter was vital. “We had to step up and open a gap. We knew we had to get a great start. Great respect to Newmarket, they came up and they wanted too compete in under 21 A. It was a tough battle and we knew we had to get a good foundation”.
Looking to the future Cahill agreed that this win “is a great foundation for both clubs. The remarkable thing about this group is that we have only one player that we lose out of this squad next year but that doesn’t guarantee you anything. We have to go back and work hard and keep improving. Ruan and Corofin are in a great position as regards hurling and hopefully either one will make the breakthrough to senior. That’s the ambition for both to try and get up to senior where these players deserve to be”, he concluded
