"We’re just happy that we’re in with a chance of winning it the next day." - Padraic Maher

County Finals can come down to small margins and big moments, with Willie Connors' late point consigning Thurles Sarsfields and Kiladangan to a replay in two weekends’ time.

“At the end of it, we’re just happy that we’re in with a chance of winning it the next day,” said Thurles Sarsfields manager Padraic Maher at full-time.

“I thought we were going to pull away there, but they came back late and went a point up.

“We had a couple of opportunities near the end where we could have taken a score and put us ahead, but look, we’re delighted to get another crack at it,” he remarked.

The excitement in the closing stages was palpable to the supporters in Semple Stadium on Sunday, and the late drama was owed to the intensity that the teams brought to the game. That was the view of Maher when reflecting on the contest.

“The intensity was very high throughout, lads weren’t giving each other an inch and you know, it’s a county final and that’s what you have to expect.

“I think the two best teams in the championship this year have made it to the final and they showed that there today.

“It was a very tough game and I think it will stand to both teams so it’ll make for an intriguing replay.

“It would be worse if we were beaten by a point, which easily could have happened.

“It is what it is, we’ll move and I think there are a few things that we can improve on, which is great, and we still have a chance to do that,” he added.

Similar sentiments were given across the white lines from Kiladangan boss John O’Meara who looked back on the game with relief as much as anything, although he was happy that his team could dig so deep to put a result out of the hat late on.
“We’re delighted to be still in the championship first and foremost,” said a relieved-looking John O’Meara.

“Secondly, I thought after getting the goal that we might have kicked on because we hadn’t been playing well, especially in the first half. We wouldn’t have been happy with the performance.

“To be fair to Thurles and to give them credit they came back after we got the goal and tagged on a few points, but I’m thrilled with our lads, and how they fought and got a result out of it on a day where we maybe weren’t at our best.

Another top-quality final is now on the menu in the coming weeks with Sunday week the touted date for the game, and O’Meara believes lessons will need to be learned from the drawn final in order to tip the scales the next day.

“We’ll be back down to training on Tuesday night again and normally the team that wins the replay is the team that learns the most from the drawn game, so we’ll have a look and see what we can take away from it and be ready for two weeks time,” he finished.