Claremorris manager hails experienced heads after tough victory

Claremorris ladies manager Aidan Brennan praised his team for having the strength and courage to hold on for victory in their All-Ireland Junior semi-final against Erin’s Own Lavey of Derry on Sunday afternoon.

Claremorris last scored in the 42nd minute when Ashleagh Sammon hit the back of the net for their fifth goal of the game and they were made to withstand a barrage of forward momentum from their opponents.

Their task was made all the more difficult by the issuing of two yellow cards in the second half. Brennan said they could have had things wrapped up by then but for some spurned chances in the first half.

“We got a good start as we have done in most games but we should have put the game to bed in the first half. We missed a load of scores, we kicked some soft ball into the goalie's hands. There was a little bit of lack of composure,” he said.

“We lost two girls in the second half. I suppose we played half of the second half with a player short. You just have to hope that the heads will hold, that we won’t give away anything soft.”

“We knew what was coming, we saw Lavey playing last week and we knew they’d fight to the very last and they did.”

“Realistically there was the kick of a ball in it. That’s all the difference there was. But it’s a credit to our girls that they had the courage and the strength to hold on.”

He was full of praise for the older players on the team who used their experience to help guide a predominantly young team. 16 of the 26-player panel are underage.

“We’re lucky that we have four or five really seasoned players that have held their heads, stood up to the mark and brought these younger girls along. It’s probably what our senior team here in the town is missing is a couple of those figures.”

“We talked about this at the club AGM only recently. You look at the Ballina's and you’re looking at lads football, you have the county players that are there, the David Clarkes and so on, that give that bit of experience.”

“It was the same with us here, it was the older girls that held the team together and allowed the younger girls to come in.”

He said this was a great day, not just for the GAA club, but for the whole town of Claremorris, as they now look ahead to an All-Ireland final taking place a few days before Christmas.

“It’s a great day for the LGFA in the town, but also a great day for the GAA club. Everybody has been together behind this. It’s a great movement in that sense, us pulling towards a one-club situation here in the town.”

Brennan said that not winning an All-Ireland wouldn’t be the end of the world but they will aim high in the final against O’Donovan Rossa of Cork in two weeks.

“I got what I wanted out of it this year. They got promoted, they got back up to intermediate football and we got the team together. If they win an All-Ireland, it’d be great for them, a great starting point for them. I think some of them have huge careers ahead of them.”

“But if they don’t win, so what? They’ve made a point this year of how of footballers they are,” he said.