*Ronan Keane, Gerry O’Connor and Liam Cronin. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
ÉIRE Óg’s first Munster club campaign in thirty five years and provincial final appearance has been “a huge learning curve”.
Ballygunner scaled to the top of the Munster club roll of honour powering to a sixth title with a 0-21 1-9 victory at Éire Óg’s expense. “Today was a huge learning curve. Look, we got to a standard that was good enough to win the Clare championship but we saw a different standard out there today. Maybe it was one that we thought we were ready for but no, they [Ballygunner] are an exceptional team and worthy champions,” manager Gerry O’Connor said following their defeat.
He added, “Their ability to build play from the back and launch repeated attacks was relentless. And we had targeted not conceding any goals which we did but they were able to pick shots from the middle third, get players coming off the shoulder and had a lot more energy than us on the day. But what can you say, once you see them up close, their movement and physicality, they are a soberly conditioned and athletic team”.
Winning the Clare SHC for the first time since 1990 was the highlight of a memorable campaign for the Ennis side, Gerry noted. “But look, they’re ten years down the road in terms of their preparation. We’ve two years done, some of our lads have a year done. And it was always the fear factor that with an inexperienced team like that, we were going to face a really difficult challenge. And we did today. But we’re still incredibly proud of our lads. We’re thrilled to have come out and represented Clare, but ultimately it was just a step too far”.
O’Connor told The Clare Echo, “We now know the bar that’s required to take the next step for us. And that’s probably important, you know, that we’ve a winter ahead of us at training and we know exactly where that bar is. But it’s a large gap based on what we saw out there today”.
Victorious Ballygunner boss Jason Ryan said, “We’re thrilled, it’s just absolutely fantastic. It’s a huge honour to be Munster champions and the lads are in a place where they’ve done so well to get to so many Munster Finals but regaining it today was hugely important for the club so we’re looking forward to celebrating that feat and really soak this in”.
Stopping the Éire Óg attacking threats was the focus for the Munster champions, he outlined. “It was just about keeping the scoreboard ticking over and once we established a gap we looked to maintain that lead and not concede any goals. Unfortunately we gave away a penalty for a finish and it was well finished but overall I thought the lads defended exceptionally from start to finish and did some really good jobs on the likes of David Reidy, Shane O’Donnell, Danny Russell and Marco Cleary, guys that had been really lighting up the championship for Éire Óg.
“We’ve new players coming in this year and overall there are a lot of good young players coming through. Some of them got game time today and there are others chomping at the bit to come on and try and impact the game so the competition for places is huge right now and we’re delighted with that. There’s plenty of appetite within this group, they’re a hungry bunch and they want to win so it’s a privilege to be in their company,” he added.
