Dowling happy to get another shot

By Shane Brophy

“We are delighted to be getting another day,” said a relieved Thurles Sarsfields manager Mark Dowling at the final whistle.

While it was Loughmore who conjured up the equalising score in injury time, Thurles themselves had come from two points down inside the final ten minutes, having weathered a relentless Loughmore fightback after half time.

“We got a good start but sometimes that can be a bit of a curse as you can go into a bit of a comfort zone,” he added.

“They got a bit of momentum late in the third quarter and early in the last quarter but we got a great response out of our lads going two down and hitting three on the trot to go one up.”

That aspect is one Dowling feels his side will grow from, having not gotten the credit, he feels, for getting to the final.

“It stuck in my throat all year that some people were questioning the spirit in this group and regardless of what they did in any match they didn’t seem to get any credit,” he said.

“If nothing else today, we showed people that we have a bit of spirit too and there is good fight in our lads, as good as there is in anyone else.”

He added: “It could have gone either way.

“With all these matches they tend to see-saw and both clubs will be happy to get another day out of it.

“We are glad of the two weeks. We’ll be hurling nearly into December which is probably something you aim for at the start of every year.”