Smiles all round for new champs
NAOMH Moninne captain Andrew McArdle is affectionately known as ‘Smiley’ to most people and the name couldn’t be more apt as he basked in the glory of leading his team to Senior Hurling Championship success.
The skipper, who dedicated his side’s victory to Patsy Mulholland and his younger brother Evan, paid tribute to the effort everyone in the club put in to ensure the Paddy Kelly Cup returned to Naomh Moninne for the first time in seven years.
‘That was a real team effort as everybody got stuck in right from the start and we really had to be on our game as it was tight the whole way through. We said beforehand that if it was tight coming into the closing stages we would have to dig deep and this is just what happened.
‘We had a few nervous moments near the end but I always felt we would be strong enough to handle anything that was thrown at us. We had prepared well all season and I think we deserved the victory’, and while he conceded that St Fechins gave them nothing easy, they could take a lot of satisfaction from the manner of the victory.
‘It was a great, great game and a good honest battle but they are the games you love to win as you really have to fight for everything you get,’ he added.
Meanwhile, winning manager Brian Brady also reflected on a job well done and praised the efforts of all involved.
‘I’m just delighted that we got over the line and I suppose the initial reaction is more relief than happiness at this stage. I really am delighted for all the lads in the panel and all the supporters who were brilliant here today.
‘We knew it was going to go right down to the wire but fortunately we came through in the end. Both teams set up not to conceded a goal so it was always going to be about taking your points. We set ourselves a target of 20 and we got 16 but thankfully that was enough,’ added Brady.
The manager was also loud in his praise of Man of the Match, Ronan Geoghegan who showed as steady nerve to score eight of his team’s total.
‘Ronan is an exceptional free-taker and he was brilliant today. In fairness he has been excellent all year and thankfully he stepped up to the mark when we needed him today,’ added the manager.