Maye delights in securing All-Ireland final spot

Even though Colm Maye provides well-reasoned analysis in his post-match interviews, it was obvious that there was an enormous sense of satisfaction emanating from the Charlestown Sarsfields clubman after his side moved just one win away from lifting the Paddy Drummond Cup.

During his chat with the Western People, Maye was adamant that his charges have more in their locker in terms of quality. However, his side emptied their collective gas tank while all five replacements brought fresh energy and an appetite for work, which pleased Maye most of all.

“I am a bit critical of them at times. I am always looking for more, but I can’t fault the effort of the lads. The work rate they put in around the pitch, every one of them. That was the most pleasing thing. Yeah, we racked up a big score but if you don’t work hard, you won’t score anything.

“Today the work rate from every one of them, one to 15 and the lads that came in dived straight in and got to work. It is a sign of a good team that you are bringing in subs, and it is not weakening the team and if anything, it is making us stronger,” he stated.

After the Connacht final victory over St. Joseph’s College, the St. Nathy’s joint-manager had emphasised the need for his side to be quicker out of the blocks. Even though Mount Saint Michael looked dangerous up-front early doors, St. Nathy’s played a free flowing and direct style that saw them move 2-5 to 0-4 up after the first quarter.

Maye was pleased with the way his side went about their business and how they responded to Aaron Duffy seeing a goal disallowed for a square ball before half time.

“We didn’t get that start in the Connacht final but this time we did. We were moving the ball fast at times and when we do move the ball fast, we are a hard team to stop. We were unfortunate for a third goal there in the first half and for other teams that could have sucked the life out of them. But our boys regrouped and we got the next score again after that. It was a great, positive first half even though there is stuff we can work on as well,” he noted.

The second quarter will be an area St. Nathy’s focus on as they come up against a Cnoc Mhuire Granard side who also enjoyed an emphatic semi-final victory. They were outscored 0-6 to 0-2 in that period of the game, but Maye was pleased with how his side hung tough before producing some eye-catching passages in the final period.

“I remember turning to Fr. Paul to ask him how long was left (to half time) and he said seven minutes and I remember thinking this is going to be a long seven minutes. In fairness our boys stuck in there until half time. They (Mount Saint Michael Rosscarbery) are a good side.

“I know the scoreline flattered us a bit there in the end, but they were in at and they put a serious game to us in the first half. We got lucky then the second half, we just opened up our wings and we flew really.

“It was emphatic in the end, but it didn’t feel like that going in at half time. Even 10 minutes into the second half, we struggled to get to the pitch of it, but when we did get to the pitch of it we really turned in a great second half performance. We are absolutely delighted to get back to an All-Ireland final again,” he concluded.