Kelly challenges Moycarkey to bottle hurt

Moycarkey/Borris manager Denis Kelly has challenged the players to use the hurt of this final defeat to come back and take the final step to county glory in twelve months’ time, writes Shane Brophy.

Their run to the final for the first time in 42 years was one of the stories of the championship but there was no fairytale ending as they struggled to break down a resolute Thurles Sarsfields side who got the perfect start with a goal inside eleven seconds.

“It was a sucker punch,” admitted the Toomevara native.

“That’s a killer blow against the win. The target in the first half was to soak up the pressure, kill the clock, and stay in the game.

“Seven points (at half time) wasn’t unmanageable. You can cut a seven point deficit in five minutes so we weren’t too upset but we couldn’t keep the scoreboard ticking over in the second half and Sarsfields were soaking up the pressure and there was no getting past them for a finish.

“They were picking off points which were vital to them and we were struggling to get our scores and that was the difference for the finish.

“That’s the way it goes. Eoin Purcell has been quiet all year and showed up today and got 1-4, it is usually an unsung hero that comes to the fore in the final. We needed that, Jack Hayes showed glimpses at the start but didn’t get enough out of that.”

Kelly added: “I’m disappointed for the lads but it was a great experience for them to be in a county final for the first time in 42 years.

“The parish has been brilliant, the colour has been brilliant, we are disappointed now but when we look back on it, it has been a good year.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day so I am very lucky to have jumped into the hot seat. The boys had great work done already, we built on that this year getting to a final and next year, the challenge will be to win one as the talent is there."