The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Maher: ‘It’s great to get over the line’
Kilcummin boss Willie Maher was chuffed to bits at his side’s victory over Fermoy in Mallow
KILCUMMIN manager Willie Maher couldn’t be happier when he spoke to the press in the bowels of Mallow GAA club’s impressive stand after help guide his club to their first Munster crown.
Maher’s take on the game and in particular the early stages of the contest could hardly be questioned with his view on what really counted on the day as clear as the final gap between the two sides.
“Ah sure luck it is nice to be Munster Champions, I think it is Kilcummin’s first Munster Championship and Munster Final ever and it is great to get over the line – that is what it is all about getting over that line.
“In the first half we were down early, they got a goal from a penalty – I suppose the second penalty really was the one, if they had got that they would have been five points up and the way they were setup they were hard to break down and I think it would have been a savage battle to come back from that, but from there both teams missed a lot of chances and there were a lot of turnovers but look we came out of it at the end and that is what counts for us.”
Maher knew that his side didn’t have the best start imaginable but was delighted with their methodical response to the challenge even though Fermoy has some opportunities.
“We seemed to get stronger as the first half went on and before we went in we got two very good points to go in up by two. I think we got a few good points at the start of the second half as well and I think we were in control for all of the second half really – now they had one very good goal chance too but we probably have one of the best goalies if not the best goalie in the country and I though he played outstanding today.”
The score line was hardly that impressive from a stats point of view, but Maher was delighted with the standard of score his side notched up.
“I thought we kicked some very good points from play. I thought Matt Keane kicked two brilliant scores from play before half time and in the second half Kieran Murphy kicked a really good score with Philip Casey also kicking a vital point.
“We were staying that three or four points in front and I suppose when we got the goal we came the whole length of the field with it and it was a cracking goal – I know Fermoy had pushed out, but the game was over after that really.”
The manager was aware that nerves on and off the pitch seemed to be a major factor early on as both sides couldn’t seem to make the ball stick.
“Yea, I suppose it was the fact that it was a final and for us on the line and for the players it was all new. A big crowd and a lot of crack with the officials – like that you are only able to move a certain way on the line.
“I don’t think Fermoy have been in too many finals either so there are always going to be a bit of nerves.
“In a club game you [managers] could be running half way up the field, but here you felt a bit jailed. I wouldn’t be used to that – it was funny and unusual for us all.”
Winning a Munster crown is obviously a big deal for Maher and his team but in the grand scheme of things life goes on and in Kerry football circles there is always another big challenge just around the corner.
“I wouldn’t say it was onwards and upwards, but we have the O’Donoghue Cup now and we are in the semi-final of that in two weeks’ time and if we can get over Currow we will be in the final and I think all the big teams are in the other half of the draw and I think that is fixed for December 26 – so that might be something to look forward to,” he said with a big hearty laugh.
“The club had been senior for 20 years which was a huge achievement for a relatively small club from the edge of Killarney. We said before every game this year and we said it here today that we were 20 years a senior team, went down and now we went straight back up again.
“I think that eight senior teams in Kerry is just too tight. To me it just doesn’t make sense having only eight, we should have at least twelve, but the powers that be have it that way so look we will be out in April to hold our status again but we could be down again – it is ultra-competitive, dog eat dog.”
We came the whole length of the field with it and it was a cracking goal... the game was over after that