Ballydonoghue manager steps down

BALLYDONOGHUE team manager John O’Carroll who confirmed that he was stepping down from the position offered no excuses whatsoever, being extremely complimentary of St Senans success.

“They were the hungrier, better team on the day. They harried us, and, chased us for every ball, and, we just couldn’t match it today. We make no excuses, the bottom line is that we went out three Sunday’s in a row. We thought we would be the sharper team today, they were sharper from day one. Probably, a few times we took a few wrong options, but, look, hand it to them, their first one ever, we won’t begrudge them. That was a goal (St Senans) which was coming, I think maybe Senans could have got a goal before it so we have no complaints, the better team won on the day. The replay against Ballyduff probably didn’t help us but Senans were well prepared, and, they are well deserving winners.

“The middle third of the pitch was really where we lost this game. We had four attacks early in the second half, one point would probably have settled us, it just didn’t come, and, every time we got turned over, Senans grew, and that was the story of the game. We just didn’t rise to the occasion, and, there’s not that much more we can say about it.

“I am stepping down as manager, I will leave that (next season’s objectives) to the next manager. I won’t be putting any pressure on any fellow. It would be good for these bunch of players to see a new manager, maybe a new approach. I have six years in the job, I think, it’s time to see something new.”

Cathal Kennelly, St. Senans, breaking past Thomas Kenneally, Ballydonoghue, in the North Kerry final