The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Three of four spots now taken in County SHC
ABBEYDORNEY manager Ian Maunsell reflected on the missed goal chances, the St Brendans goal which, maybe, should have been ruled out, but given the qualities of St Brendans he was delighted to have shared the spoils and was full of praise for his charges who could well be boosted by the return of some key players for the replay.
“We missed a couple of goal chances, and, we missed one or two frees, but, we were delighted in the end to get a draw. Ardfert won a championship only four years ago, they have gone on and won three All Ireland football titles, they are bred to win and we were delighted in the end to come back and draw.
“We think it’s a very good day for us anyway. It [St Brendans goal] looked like it came off the Ardfert player, who was standing inside near the goalie. We were down at the bottom dugout, and we thought it looked like a square ball. There are two umpires there within five or six feet and you would think they would have called it. These players have put in a great effort. I am there now four years, and, there’s one thing about them, they will never give up, no matter how bad things get, they still keep going, they have a great attitude in fairness, look, they’re a great bunch of lads, I wouldn’t doubt them.
“He [Michael O’Leary] is supposed to be home in the next few days. We thought we would have him tonight, unfortunately we didn’t, look, he will be a plus. We are hoping to have another two players with Michael to come back as well, so, three extra players will increase our options coming off the bench, so, hopefully we will have everyone back. It would be unfair to have players out again next weekend, so, we are hoping for two weeks time.”
Given the position St Brendans were in, going into added time, the St Brendans Chairman Ger Hussey was understandably disappointed with the end result. But then the level of their performance has pretty much summed up their season to date, so, a lot of work to be done, before they can harbour ambitions of regaining the championship crown.
“Being five points up you would think you would get over the line, but Abbeydorney weren’t going to give up, they kept fighting. The goal, I suppose, came easy enough in the finish. A ball that was turned over, we had possession and it went straight down. In hurling that’s the way it goes.
“I think we were slow starting again tonight, we seem to be slow in most games, it takes us ten minutes to get into the game, which, you can’t do, you have to go from the very start.
“We got the goal at the crucial time, but relaxed again and that’s something you can’t do. Very disappointing [first half wides], very disappointing, because, playing with the wind, I think a lot of them were scoreable.
“I think we weren’t sharp enough, rushing it a bit, and, they’re chances you should be getting at least seventy per cent of. I thought our backs were outstanding again tonight. I thought we lost our way a bit up in the forwards, we weren’t winning enough possession.
“We are not winning enough of the dirty ball, the fifty, fifty ball on the ground, and, that will have to be addressed. We are not making it easy for ourselves, it’s difficult, we are struggling to get over the line, playing very well in patches, losing concentration, doing a few silly things and it’s costing us.
“But we will have to get on with it now, knuckle down to training. I don’t know when the replay will be, if it’s a week, we will go with that, if it’s two weeks, we will go with two weeks.”