Lahardane savor another dream day

There was not a more relieved man in MacHale Park than Lahardane manager Eddie Conroy as his side held off Owenmore Gaels to win a second Connacht JFC title.

The Sligo side were unfortunate not to be ahead at the break, with Lahardane goalkeeper Joe Queenan pulling off a number of brilliant saves, before the Mayo junior champions found a purple match in the second half to power through.

“I say more relieved than anything else after that goal went in at the end,” Conroy said. “I knew they were going to come out at some stage, but I didn't think they were going to get a goal. But look, it's great relief to get over the line. It's great for the lads. Look at the community around us. And that's what it's all about. It's all about community.

“The fog, I was getting very frustrated there in the first half because I couldn't see what was happening, and we kind of had set up in the first half that we go at them because we were so used to going behind and then I said no, we got to take the lead. I didn't even know we scored two goals! We couldn't see the first half I'd say in the second half then they started to show a bit more. Look at we came out we had a bit of character in the second half I felt.” 

Jordan’s performance over the hour was outstanding and Conroy hopes he gets a look for the Mayo U20 or senior sides going forward.

“Jordan was excellent. He's been good all year. I had words with him at the beginning of the year where I wanted him to play and then we changed where he was playing into midfield and I think that role suits him in around the middle. He's a big strong lad and he's ball carrying skills, it's unbelievable.

“The power and the pace he had. The power, the pace and even his fielding. He caught four kickouts in a row. Just unbelievable. Look at that's where he is and I hope somebody from the U20s are there looking at him because maybe he does deserve that bit of a phone call or maybe hopefully Kevin was there just to see.” 

Captain Aaron Murphy admitted he feared the game would be called off due to heavy fog before the game and he also paid tribute to Jordan and the entire squad.

“It feels brilliant, yeah. You never think you're going to win that many. You're dreaming of it, but the reality doesn't always come through. Thankfully now, we drove on and we've got another Connacht medal under our belt.

“For a while there before the game we thought it would be postponed but thankfully it wasn't. The visibility was tough, especially when you're from the back kicking it forwards as it's hard to see the runs but the orange ball kind of helped in fairness.

“Kyran got man in the match there and well deserved. He really drove us on, he got dirty ball when we needed it. He definitely deserves man in the match but there leaders all around the field, the backs did well, we got caught a few times but we drove it out.

“We have the depth to come on, and like, there's Benny Joyce coming on and Jarlath Maughan driving us on. It's great to see them lads come on, the fresh legs, and you really look up to them when they come on.

“A lot of us would feel that we left it behind in 2017. We lost the All-Ireland semi-final by two points at a time. We want to go to Croke Park, that’s the dream when you’re a footballer. We'll celebrate tonight and over Christmas and we'll hopefully be ready for the weekend in January.” Owenmore Gaels bossed Gary Mullen felt they were the better side but was left to rue two first half-goals by Lahardane and wished the north Mayo men well in the All-Ireland semi-final.

“We came back into it in the second half there but I think it was the two early goals that killed us in the end in the first half. They were two soft enough goals. Over the 60 minutes I think we were the better team. It's just that we just didn't get the luck of the draw.” “Fair dues to Lahardane, they're a well set up team, a well drilled team, and they deserve it. I hope they'll give it a good shot from here on in.”