*Ciaran Russell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ÉIRE ÓG had “more to give” in the Munster club senior football championship.
Clare’s champions were knocked out in the provincial semi-final for the third time in four seasons after losing to Tipperary winners, Loughmore-Castleiney.
There is a bright future for Eire Og football according to key player Ciaran Russell.
Speaking moments after bowing out of the Munster senior club championship before an attendance of 928 at the semi-final stage at Cusack Park on Sunday, he didn’t hide his disappointment at the result. “Yes they (Loughmore-Castleiney) were hungry today but so were we. They got a few breaks and we probably didn’t defend as well as we wanted to. They are a good team but we have to hold our hands up. The best of luck to them in the final”.
Ciaran continued, “they were strong on the break and they won a lot of the 50/50 balls. Sometimes the bounce of the ball just isn’t with you. Look we can have no complaints, no excuses. We had the best team we could have had on the field. We all tried as hard as we could but things didn’t go for us on the day”.
Reflecting on the season, the former inter-county defender said, “it’s been a good year. When we sit back and reflect, it’s been good and we are absolutely delighted to have won the Clare championship. We are on the road a little longer and we probably felt that we had a little more to give in this competition. Unfortunately this is the third time in recent years that we have fallen at the same hurdle but, look, we got back up before and went again”
Concluding he said “it’s all about finding lads for the future and we have had plenty of them training all year with us. There is a bright future and there is still a lot of life in the old lads as well. There are great people involved. We will re-group and go again next year”.
