Kilruane’s cruel twist of fate

Kilruane exited the senior championship by the bitterest margin and in the most gut-wrenching of circumstances.

To give Thurles their due, had the boot been on the other foot and they surrendered a significant lead late in the game their “bottle” would have been questioned. Of course, it is hardly fair in any circumstances to attribute the other crowd scoring more than you to some psychological meltdown. But if it must be done then let it work both ways and acknowledge the character of Sarsfields. They have been tested several times recently and are still standing. What such an outcome also does is emphasise once more the stubborn nature of sport when it comes to change. It often seems a team has to go to the well several times to get over an experienced successful opponent and even then, as Mayo footballers can attest, perhaps still to no avail.

Small margins are nothing new either around Cloughjordan. Kilruane people of a different generation will recall the County finals of 1978 and 1980 both against Roscrea which came down to a puck of ball. Kilruane had one hand on the four-in-a-row only for Roger Ryan coming on as a substitute and digging out a late goal to bring the Dan Breen cup to Roscrea as Kilruane felt the hand of history on their lapels.

Ronan Maher’s intervention will have evoked memories of that day and shows how cruel the whole process can be. Even Kilruane’s great run in the 1970s required four unsuccessful County finals before they got over the line. Their day might be coming again but not this year though they might have benefitted from going a hurdle or two further.

 

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