Dingle management eager to move from potential to delivery in the next year or two

EVERYBODY who has been in a losing dressing room will know the feeling.

It’s not easy to gather ones thoughts, to face the music, after such a disappointing defeat, doubly so when Dingle have been so close on a few other occasions.

But the reason they keep coming back is a reflection of their backroom team who didn’t hide in the aftermath of the defeat, but came forward to offer quite honest and sporting opinions on the factors which influenced the final outcome and what the future holds for an extremely talented, if, quite a young squad of players.

Manager Paul Fitzmaurice offered:

“Very disappointing. Look, we were fully backing ourselves going out there today, plenty of confidence, but we were disappointed, when you put in that effort, the result doesn’t go your way.

“We had a fantastic performance from individuals all around the pitch. We can be very proud of our achievement. We are a young team, people keep saying it, no doubt we will be back again.

“You come to the business end of the championship, it’s always about who is going to throw their body on the line, fellows not normally noted for putting in the big hits were doing it today.

“That’s championship, that’s what brings out the best in fellows. I don’t think there’s that gulf between us, but we have no complaints we gave it everything. Once they (Crokes) came through it was going to be a tough battle, they’re worthy winners, and, into the county final.”

Coach Seamus O’Dowd was equally downbeat.

“We are fiercely disappointed, to be honest, we put in a fierce effort, we felt we were still in the game at half time. We were two down, we came back level, we got a sucker punch, left in a very soft goal and our players had the wherewithal, the courage to come back again, and to go level.

“I suppose at that stage to be fair the Crokes showed plenty of bottle, they pushed on and went two, three points up. So, we are fiercely disappointed, but proud as well, our boys gave it a fierce effort.

“The age profile is in our favour, there’s no doubt about that, but having said that there’s lads in there in their early thirties as well and they’re in their late twenties, they don’t want to be hanging about for the next five, six, years.

“They want to win it now, this year, next year, so I think the future for us is now. So yeah, the age profile is there, but we still have to go out and do it. It’s grand talking about potential, you have to deliver on the big days.”