Greene proves point and sets sights on retaining Munster title

THESE Mount Sioners never tire of winning titles, and this 33rd senior championship was celebrated with the gusto one would expect from a club winning an historic first.

“It’s a wonderful feeling”, team boss Jim Greene admitted, “especially when you win back-to-back titles for the first time in almost 30 years.”

Still openly disappointed he has so far failed to land the job as manager of the county team, Greene said he felt he had “a point to prove” to guide Mount Sion to victory in successive years. “I think I have proved that point today”, he added.

Fulsome in his praise of every member of the team, including “a fabulous backroom set-up”, Greene said Ballygunner had put a lot of pressure on them but they had coped superbly.

“Tony Browne in particular cleaned up everything in defence and he truly was magnificent throughout”.

The Mount Sion boss said that until they first had Ballygunner out of the way he hadn’t even given the Munster championship a second thought. “All that will change this week, and our aim now will be to put back-to-back provincial titles together to go with the county ones”, said Greene.

Man of the match Tony Browne added: “While Sunday’s semi-final against Patrickswell will be a tough one we won’t be easily stripped of our title”, he said.

“Five championships in ten years, not a bad haul”, was defender Brian Flannery’s post-match reaction . “We left it after us the first day and there was a massive determination not to allow a repeat”.

Flannery, like his manager, praised the backroom team, describing it as “second to none.”

The Tipperary-born player said the win was also down in significant measure to the influential Jim Greene, describing him as “a huge personality in the club”.

On next Sunday’s Munster semi-final trip to Patrickswell, Flannery said now that the shackles are off they can fully concentrate on that one in the week ahead. “We will be giving it a right go, that’s for sure”, he added.

There was a plain and honest acknowledgement from a very disappointed Ballygunner camp that the better side had prevailed.

Gunners chairman, Pat O’Sullivan, who has four sons on the panel, said they can still take great encouragement from the displays of the younger players . “Remember too”, he said, “this is only our fourth championship defeat in the county in the last nine years. Not a bad record, and rest assured the Gunners will be back.”