First half profligacy cost us admits Kellaghan
Coralstown/Kinnegad manager Paschal Kellaghan was fulsome in his praise of the players for an heroic effort in Sunday’s Westmeath SFC final, one which just fell short against a formidable St Loman’s, Mullingar side.
The Rhode native was magnanimous in defeat and said the experience will stand to his players, whom he expects will be keen to bounce back next year.
“There’s plenty in that dressing room very disappointed that they didn't get a run as well and you know it's difficult for them after putting in a huge year. But at the end of the year if you told us we would be league champions and with five minutes to go we’d be drawing with St Loman’s going down the stretch in the county final, we probably would have taken it,” he remarked.
“But the last five minutes, it just went away from us and congratulations to St Loman’s, they are worthy champions. They're an unbelievable club and they're doing everything right and have some phenomenal players, and the very best of luck to them. Coralstown/Kinnegad should be equally as proud of the young lads there and they should keep building on that.”
Kellaghan felt the experience gained by St Loman’s over the past number of years was a key factor.
“The boys gave everything there in fairness; they never gave up and got back to a draw with four or five minutes to go. At that stage a 50/50 call for a free just went against us. The next day it might go with us. I thought the referee had a great game, his first final as well, so big, big moments, big calls, but he was excellent,” he remarked.
“Our guys were excellent as well, just a little bit disappointed in our first half; we showed a little bit of inexperience. We forced it a little bit in the first half - seven wides, four into the goalie’s hands. Against a St Loman’s team you can't really do that.
“But we brought it right down to the wire and I thought if we were there or thereabout with 10 minutes to go, we’d win it and it ended up we didn't. But I’m immensely proud of all the boys and the club, after a tough year and a tough week. The people of Coralstown/Kinnegad should be very proud of these young lads; they’re only very young, and we’ll be back definitely.”
Coralstown/Kinnegad got on level terms three times in the second half but just couldn’t get their noses in front.
“It just shows that the energy and the fight our lads have and, on the flip side, just shows you that experience that St Loman's have. The big player John (Heslin) came short for a couple, just controlled it, drew a free an odd time, maybe.
“He just settled it down, you know,” he observed.
“With 15 or 20 minutes to go, I thought we were starting to take over; that energy was starting to come. We had to give something to the crowd to get excited about, and we did. I just can't fault the effort of the guys.”
He said his players will be stronger as a result of Sunday’s defeat.
“The chances We missed in the first half - experience will bring that on and they won’t be just as snappy at it the next time.
“There was a strong breeze there at the same time and they probably just didn't judge that, but they’ll learn from that.
“They're a very good side, a young side, a great club and we need to build on this now,” he said.
Kellaghan opted to man-mark danger man Ronan O’Toole and it worked to a large degree.
“Eoin (O’Brien) did really good on Ronan, who is one of the best players in the county and indeed in the country. Him and John had a great battle and Sam McCartan was there as well and Maxi (James Maxwell) was picking him up at times,” he observed.
Kellaghan expects his players won’t dwell on the setback for too long.
“We will probably be hurting for a few days, but maybe we’ll go and enjoy a few pints tonight maybe and have a chat and unwind. When you have a young team they'll forget about it; they’re not going to forget about it easy, but they’ll think about it and they'll come back next year again, knowing that they were only two points off beating the best team in the county,” he added.