Relief for Burgess

By Liam Hogan

Burgess were hampered by injuries all year and it was timely to get all their players back for this game, said selector Niall McGrath following their win over Clonakenny.

They won just one game when they beat Moneygall in the North semi-final but lost the final to Ballina and there was a repeat in the first round of the county championship with further defeats coming at the hands of Moneygall and Upperchurch/Drombane, and then Templederry but were back at full strength at the right time.

“To be able to bring on Donagh Maher, Joe O’Dwyer, Stephen Murray and Eoin Hogan did help,” McGrath admitted.

“When you have a player like Joe O’Dwyer out injured. He played very well in the league and was a sub on the Tipp minor team last year. He was a big loss. Yes, David Nealon did step up.

"Stephen Murray was also out injured and I don’t know how he played in those last few minutes. His Achilles is gone. He has spent the last eight weeks trying to get back.

"Tony Dunne was injured with his ribs and Conor Grace came on as well and was another player on the Tipp panel last year. We brought on Eoin (Leahy) Hogan and Leahy does what Leahy does, snaps a few balls and lays on a few scores.

“We have to be happy with the way Burgess performed and we could have won the game by more. When the lads needed to back it up, they did.

"Donagh Maher was brilliant. For 37 years of age, he looked to me the Donagh of 2014 when we reached the senior North final. He just led by example and scored two points from centre back.

“Realistically, a relegation battle is not where we wanted to be. Be it senior or premier intermediate, both are so competitive. There is not much between any of the teams. A run of bad luck can put you under pressure but in fairness to the lads, they trained well over the last three weeks and one what they had to do and that was it,” said Niall who was called into the selection committee three weeks ago after working with Borris-Ileigh this season.

“We are happy enough where we are. We have good four or five young lads coming through from under 21 and that is good for us. Out under 15 team are through to a county final so we have a chance going forward," McGrath added.