Cashel King Cormacs homecoming is joyous after a supreme final effort sees off Swan

Cashel King Cormacs won the county title with huge celebrations sparked across the hinterland.
Following the whistle in Thurles the celebrations commenced.  A delighted TJ Connolly explained that since the team gathered on January 9th the goal remained steadfast.  

“We are ecstatic. It was a tough year but a great year and all through we said we would stick at it,” he said. 

The game hadn’t gone according to plan in the first half with Carrick Swan looking the better, more composed team. Cashel recognised this and TJ Connolly explained the thinking at half time:  “We said at half time that we weren’t going to come here and fall flat and let the occasion get to us. 

“There were questions being asked about us for a couple of years wondering do we have what it takes to get back up to the next level and everyone was calm at half time and focused on doing the business. 

“You have got to give them responsibility Stephen and they know themselves that the hard work has gone in since January the 9th then today was October the 13th and we had it penciled in.

”We had three trophies won this year and space left for a fourth one so we wanted to go back this evening with that cup. It would be a long road home without it.”

The captain of the team was James Cummins who has been steady in the half back line all season and felt that in his 11 years togging out with the flagship Cashel team this was the highlight: “As I spoke to you up in the stadium last week this is a long time coming and I felt we had it within ourselves today.

“We stayed going, stayed composed and I knew if we stayed driving at them we'd come out on top. 

“I knew it would be hard fought but I am just delighted for the team, management and all the supporters.

“We will enjoy ourselves and then we have the Munster campaign and we are delighted now to be up there as Dan Breen hurlers,” James Cummins said. 

Chairman of the club Seanie O’Donoghue spoke outside the dressing room which was packed with well wishers: “Those sort of moments you never get back.

“We have been waiting for this for a long long time. The last time we were in here was 30 years ago so those guys inside there deserve everything they get. We made hard work of it in the end,” he continued.

“We let Carrick into it and they dominated a lot of the possession but I think the turning point was that long range goal from Eoghan Connolly from the free.

“The excitement that is going around Cashel for the week is testament to the efforts put in. When you need big players to step up in the last fifteen minutes you need them and we had them.

“Ger Browne was sprung from the bench and got a fantastic score with his first touch, Conor O’Dwyer got a massive score from centre back, Cathal Quinn was excellent so we had great performances throughout. 

“When push came to shove and we needed players to step up and we had that so now I’m looking forward to next year and our team playing in the Dan Breen.”

Back in Cashel huge numbers turned out for the homecoming as the players were presented to the crowd from the side of a truck.

One by one a roar went up as players, management and officials addressed the large attendence before a communal song or two.

A lone piper played them into the town while St Patrick’s Brass Band kept the atmosphere exciting. The buzz was brilliant and the fun kept going long into the night before the group get ready to prepare for a Munster campaign. 

The final word was left with TJ Connolly who remembered those passed on to their eternal reward: “We remember those who are gone.

“Big Timmy (Moloney) comes to my mind. He loved this team and loved this club and unfortunately he is not here. There are plenty more of our deceased members who will be looking down on us today so I think of their families as well and all those others too for the support they have given us over the years.”