Gaels respond to Comerford’s rallying call

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS wing-back Sean Dowling, pointed to centre-back and captain Andy Comerford as the driving force in their victory.

“God, he’s the best captain I ever played under, the best leader, and he showed it there again today, led from the front. He’s such a rallying force; what he said at half-time was, I’ll go out that door, all ye have to do is follow me; I’ll do the hurling, ye do the same and we’ll be coming back here with the cup.”

Given that O’Loughlin’s trailed at that point by five points had failed to make any impression on a superbly-drilled Young Irelands defence, did Sean Dowling believe his captain, or did he, like most of those in the packed stands, believe the game was gone?

“Under normal circumstances you would, but in the last four matches O’Loughlin’s have played, we’ve come from behind in every one of them.

"Our attitude is never-say-die; even if we go three or four points down we stay cool, get the scores, get the points, keep piling on the points, the goal will come. It did, we got the break again today, just like we did the last day.”

County cup under his arm, captain Comerford, hero of the hour, had the grin of a happy man, a happy but very relieved man.

“An unbelievable win, I suppose you could say we stole it from them really. I’ve been in some close matches down through the years but that has to cap the lot.

"There’s unbelievable character in this team, lots of brothers, and that makes a big difference. Each one of us is fighting for one another, doesn’t want to leave anyone down, and that means a lot in club hurling, in any team, Young Irelands also.

“They had us under unbelievable pressure, in the first half especially. I was kind of giving out to our half-forward line but looking back at it they were under pressure themselves, the Gowran half-backs were coming out well.

"Their defence, Tom Drennan and a few of them there, were hurling really well but I think they took a bit of an ould break towards the finish and the Wexford-man (Colin Furlong) caught the ball, did a bit of a Tony Doran on it, set up the goals.”

Another vital grab was that made by O’Loughlin’s keeper Kevin Cleere from over the nose of DJ Carey in the dying minutes.

“Kevin came out there to contest with probably the best man over the last ten years under a dropping ball, caught it over his head.

"DJ was outstanding today but I’ve known him since he was U-14 and I’ve always said, when he’s injured, that’s when he’s at his most dangerous and it showed again today, got some magnificent scores. Fair play to our lads that they could soak that up, come back and win the game.”

Leinster now, can they do it?

“We’ll enjoy tonight, then go on the road, but we won’t be easily beaten.”