Counihan points to Joanne as inspiration for three in-a-row

Conor Counihan’s knack of defusing the odd incendiary question with laughter was evident again yesterday.

Asked about the paucity of support for his team among the 22,827 crowd, he quipped: “I’d hate to see it if we were unsuccessful!”

It hardly bothered him anyway. Before the game, they got a message from inspirational Millstreet teenager Joanne O’Riordan, who addressed an international gathering at the UN in New York on Friday.