MATCH REACTION

EAMONN Fitzmaurice referenced Tommy Griffin’s return to the Pobalscoil set-up as being crucial to him being able to divide his time between the School and the Kerry Seniors so it felt appropriate for Griffin to take the media duties after a busy weekend for the Kerry boss between both this and Castlebar the previous night.

“We’re delighted with the win but we still feel like there is more to do in relation to the Final. The lads really put their shoulder to the wheel today in getting the win but conceding three goals would be something we would be disappointed with along with giving the Sem some late chances to get something from it in the end,” the Pobalscoil trainer said.

The significance of ending the Sem’s run was not lost on Griffin as he spoke of how much it says about what Pobalscoil have in their own ranks. “We’ve always admired the Sem for the success they have had and I think we’re lucky in one way to have had two groups of players capable of beating them when you look at the resources they have not just in terms of players but off the field in terms of coaching as well. We’re looking forward to the Final with the Green now and while there might not be a lot of history between the Schools at Corn Uí Mhuirí level, these players would have faced each other a fair bit in the age groups up along.”

For the Sem, their double provincial and Hogan Cup successes are now for the history books but Gary McGrath had no complaints about their run coming to an end on Sunday. “You can’t go nearly 30 minutes like we did without a score and expect to win. We were happy with the response to Pobalscoil’s first goal and to be leading by four points but those two goals in quick succession approaching half-time were something we could never fully recover from. In fairness the lads gave it everything in trying to change things at the end but we’re proud of their efforts this year especially in winning the O’Sullivan Cup as well for the fifth year-ina-row,” the Sem manager said.

McGrath had expressed a willing to step down from the senior side prior to the campaign before agreeing to stay on but he said any decision on his future will be left until their Frewen Cup side’s campaign is completed.

“We have a tradition that when the Frewen Cup side move up to senior their management goes with them but we will decide on that another time. The future is encouraging for the school with the Frewen Cup and other sides and I think you could make an argument that Pobalscoil and ourselves have been the two most successful schools in the country with the success we have both had in recent years in both competitions.”