No excuses from departing boss Ryan
By Thomas Conway
A Christmas finale in Croke Park beckoned, but in the end, it proved a step too far for Drom & Inch.
Let’s not deny it, it would have been magical - the sparkling lights, the winter air, the festive decorations on the doorsteps. The stuff of dreams really. But it won’t be happening this year. Not for Drom.
They were second best last Saturday, beaten by a Loughgiel Shamrock’s side which has tasted the agony of defeat on many an occasion in the Ulster championship - almost always at the hands of Slaughtneil. This year, they finally broke that curse, banished that demon.
Before the week is out, they could potentially be All-Ireland champions, if they can overcome the current holders, Sarsfields of Galway. That won’t be easy, but make no mistake, Loughgiel are skilful and swift enough to do it, particularly on a carpet like Croke Park. It will be an intriguing climax to this year’s club championship, one which will surely garner plenty of attention in the glens and across the Gaelic games community.
Whether the Drom & Inch players will tune in is anyone’s guess. They left Kinnegad on Saturday with their hearts broken, their spirits crushed. Nobody would blame them if they were to switch off from camogie for the next few weeks and focus their attention on something different.
They deserve a break. After all, they have had yet another absolutely outstanding year. Their manager, Pat Ryan, was the first to emphasise this.
Following the game, the outgoing Drom boss was as gracious in defeat as he is magnanimous in victory. He poured lavish praise on his players, lauding their diligence and commitment, not just this year but over the course of the past several seasons. All in all, the Drom boss feels that 2022 was another marvellous campaign.
“Look, we won the county league, we won our fourth county final in a row, our second Munster club over the past few years. And all that off the back of four years of constant, constant going, constant playing and training,” he said.
“So, it’s a huge achievement, not just for me but for the players. As I’ve said to people before, I’ve never pucked a ball over the past four years. What the girls bring to it themselves is just phenomenal.
“But in terms of this year, we have three trophies won. Yes, it would have been nice to get to the national stage, to get to Croke Park, but it’s still been a phenomenal four years, and I can’t praise the girls enough, I can’t say enough about them.”
In terms of the match itself, Ryan felt that, in the final analysis, Loughgiel were the better side. He believes that the Antrim club were meticulous in their preparation and had probably researched more or less every aspect of Drom’s game. The Tipp champions never really caught fire, but that was partly due to the sheer effectiveness of Loughgiel’s organisation and structure. They cut off key channels, blocking Drom’s usual routes to goal and negating their half-back line. Ryan felt that that was essentially the difference between the two sides, particularly in the second-half.
“Tactically they had their homework well done on us,” Ryan added.
“They kept our half-back line crowded, so that we couldn’t get ball up to our forwards. The same with our midfield. Then as well as that, they marked the likes of Niamh Treacy and anyone that was going to carry the ball. So, they really did their work on us. I could tell from early in the second-half what was going to happen. They gave everything, we gave everything, but we have no complaints. The better team won on the day, so it is what it is.”
So, is there still an All-Ireland title in this Drom & Inch side? Nobody knows for sure, but next year they will bid for a fifth consecutive county championship and will obviously be intent on defending their Munster crown.
It is a long road back to an All-Ireland semi-final but given the absolute resolve and ceaseless dedication of this group of players, Drom’s best years may still lie ahead of them. A long road back, but a road which they are well-equipped to travel.