O’Carroll offers no excuses

IT’S always difficult to come to terms with a defeat in the immediate aftermath of a loss especially in a Championship final, but Ballyduff selector Anthony Carroll, while obviously being quite disappointed, was frank about the factors that contributed to Kilmoyley’s success and was sporting in offering his congratulations to the winners.

“We are disappointed, the lads are very dejected out there. In fairness to Kilmoyley they played well today. Shane Brick was a massive asset to them, and fair play to them for getting him back. They used the rule and Shane improved from the last day as well, so he was influential in all of the good work they did.

“They probably took us around the field a lot. Our boys tried to match them and keep after them. At times we did it, but we lost our shape as well. We were probably depending too much on trying to get goals.

“We made a few changes brought on fresh legs, it worked for us in fairness. The hurlers on the ditch would say why didn’t we do it sooner, but we had to kind of measure out our game. We probably lobbed in a few balls at the end of it as well, probably should have put them over the bar, but we wanted a goal. We got the goal, maybe it was a bit too late. But look, it didn’t happen, a draw, extra time, with the legs would we hold out, I don’t know. But in fairness to Kilmoyley they played well, they’re deserving champions, and I am delighted for them.”

Looking forward, which is never easy after a loss, O’Carroll was hoping that some of the older lads would stick around to come back and challenge for the title next season.

“A few of them are very young, but if you look at the other side there’s a few of them over thirty as well. I hope they don’t retire. I think there is a mass of experience there. I mean, Aidan Boyle was a big loss to us this year, he thought he could go on but he couldn’t make it. But maybe if we had Aidan inside in the full forward line with Padraig (Boyle), there might be something else we could have got out of it. Some of the players are young, and played well today. They got a bit of stick after the last game, they probably didn’t play as well as we wanted them to play, but in fairness they stood up and were counted today, and we are delighted with them.”